Matthew 5

Christ teacheth the mountains what men are blessed, 1. Compare his disciples to salt, light, and City seated upon a hill, 13. Declare that he come to fulfill the Law. Consutes the Exposition of the Ancients of the sixt commandement, 17. Of the seventh Commandement, and of the Bill of Divorce, 27. of Swearing, 33. Of Revenge, 38. Commands forbearance, 40. Liberality and true love even towards our enemies, 42.

1. And [Jesus] seeing multitude, went up into a mountain, and when he was sate down his disciples came to him.

2. And having opened his mouth, [An Hebrew manner of speaking, when any one begins to speak premeditately, with earnestness and freedom, for the instruction of other. See Job 33:2. Acts 8:35.] he taught them, saying;

3. Blessed [are] the poor of spirit; [that is , the humble and broken – hearted, who understanding their own nothingness, have lowly conceit of themselves, relying only on the grace of God in Christ Jesus, Psal 51. 19. Isa 57 verse. 15] for theirs is the Kingdom of the Heavens.

4. Blessed [are] they that mourn, [that is to say who sorrowful for sins, of which sorrow is spoken also, 1 Cor. 5.2. and 2 Cor.7.9. to whom are opposed those that live in all jollity and voluptuousness, Luke 16. verse 19, 25.] for they shall be comforted.

5. Blessed [are] the meek, foe they shall inherit the earth. [That is, peaceably possesse it; which promise indeed concerns this present life; but especially here is understood that which shall be fulfilled in the life to come. See Psalms 37:11.]

6. Blessed [are] they which hunger and thirst after righteousness, [That is, who very earnestly long for, and endeavour after the true righteousness in Christ] for they shall be satisfied

7. Blessed are the merciful: for they shall be shewed mercy.

8. Blessed are the pure of heart; [That is, who are purified by the spirit of Ggod from the desilements of sin, and from all manner of hypocrifie, Ephesians 5:26.] for they shall see God. [that is, shall perfectly know him, and behold his glory, 1 Cor. 13.12.]

9. Blessed are the peaceable, [Gr. peace- maker, who not only are peaceable of themselves, but likewise promote peace among others, Hebrews 12:14. for they shall be called the children of God.[that is, they shall be so indeed, and be acknowledged for such.]

10. Blessed are they that are persecuted, for righteousness sake; [that is, for the righteous cause of Christ and doctrine; like as in the following verse: for my sake] for theirs is the Kingdom of the Heavens.

11. Blessed are ye when [men] revile you, and persecute you, and lying speak all [That is to say, all manner of] evil [Gr. evil word] against you [that is to say, which croseth you, or is to your prejudice] for my sake

12. Rejoice and be very chearful, for your reward [Namely, which God promiseth, and shall give you, not of merit, but of grace for Christ sake, Romans 6:23, 3Cor.1.20. and so also Matthh 6. 1. and in other places frequenty] [is] great [Gr. much] in the Heavens: For so have persecuted the Prophet, which [were] before you. [that is, before your times, or in former times.]

13. Ye are salt of the earth : [So teachers are called, because as the slat makes savory, and preserves it from corruption, so they also by their doctrine make the souls of men acceptable to God, and preserve them destruction.] Now if the salt become unsavory, [that is to say, lose its saltnesse or sharpnesse, and vertue] wherewith shall it be salted ? It is good for nothing any more,. but to be cast out, and to be troden under foot of men.

14. Ye are the light of the world: [Because they enlighten others with their doctrine; and must also carry a light before them their lives, 1 Pet 5.3.] A City lying above on a bill, cannot behid.

15. Neither do men light a candle, and set it under a corn – measure, [or, bushel] but on a candlestick and it shhineth to all that [are] in the house.

16. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works; and glorifie [or, praise and magnifie] your Father which is the Heavens

17. Think not that i come to dissolve the Law, or the Prophets, [That is to say, to alter, or to disannul the doctrine of the Law, or the Prophets] i am not come to dissolve, but to fulfill [them] . [that is to say, to expound, observe them, and to accomplishh that which was prefigured and foretold,]

18. For verily i say unto you, until hheaven and earth passe away, [That is, perish, or be changed. See Psalms 102:27. Hebrews 1:11. and the Annotation upon thhe 2 Pet 3.10] there shall not one tota [this is the least letter of the Ggreeks, as Jod of the Hebrews, Whereby Christ would say, that even the least thing which is written in the Law shall not perish] or none tittle [that is, stroak of a letter, or point] passe away from the Law until that all of it shall be come to passe

19. Therefore whosoever shall have dissolved one of these least commands, and shall be called the least [that is to say, shhall not at all he esteemed there: Or, shall not enter thereinto, as is expounded in the following verse.] in the Kingdome of Heavens: But whoso shall have done and taught [them] he shall be called great in the Kingdome of the Heavens.

20. For i say unto you, except your righteousness be more abundant then that of the Scribes and Pharisees, that ye shall in no wise enter into the Kingdom of the Heavens.

21. Ye have hhead thhat it was said [by] the Ancients, [Or, to the Ancients. Hreby Christ understands the perverse interpretations of the Scribes and Pharisees, whho had so taught for many years before; and not the doctrine of Moses and the Prophets; which appaers 1. from the former verse. 2. Because hhere are doctrines consuted, which are not found in Moses and the Prophets: see verse 43. 3. Because nothing is added by Christ, but what is found in Moses and the Prophets: as may be seen by these places of the Old Testament, which are here set down, Exodus 20:13. Deuteronomy 5:17. Ex . 20.14. Deuteronomy 5:18. Deuteronomy 24:1. Exodus 20:7. Leviticus 9:12 Deuteronomy 5:11. Exodus 21:24. Leviticus 24:20. Deut . 19. 21. Leviticus 19:18.] Thou shalt not kill: but whosoever killeth, he shall be punishable [or, liable to be punished] by the Judgement.

22. But i say unto you: whosoevr is angry with his Brother unjustly, [that is, without cause, or lightly.]he shhall be punishable by the Judgement . [or sentence; whereby are understood the Judges, whhich in all Cities punished the murderers, Deut21. 21] And whosoever saith to his Brother, Raka, [It is Syriack word of the reproach, and is much to say, as empty – wit, or silly – head. Other think that it comes from swewing; and other that thereby is exprest a noise which men often make, thereby to give understand their anger, contempt, or reproach against their neighbour; as men commonly use to do by, sie upon thee, or the like.] he shall be punishable by the great Council.[This was the highest Council in Jerusalem, called the Sanhedrim, which had the Judgemen of the weightiest matter, and therefore also sentenced the guilty to the greatest punishments. See Deut 17. and 2 Chron. 19.] But whoso saith, Thou fool, he shhall be punishable by Hell fire. [Gr. to, or in the gehenna of fire. Gehenna come from the Hhebrew word Gettinnom, that is, the valley of Hinnom, lying near city of Jerusalem, Josh.15.8. oin which Valley before – time the Idolatrous Jews caused their children to be burned alive between the glowing arms of the brazen image of Moloch. See 2 Kings 23. Jeremiah 7:31. which seeing ot was horribel pain of Hell. Bt these punishments of death, whereof one is greater then the other, Christ shews that all these sins deserves eternal damnation; but that the shhall be punishhed more grievously then the other in the Judgement to come.]

23. If therefore thou shall offer thy gift upon the Altar, [This hathj respect to the worship of God under the Old Testament; but it is likewise withal understoos of the worship of the New Testament : although there be no such external altars and offerings in the same, Romans 12:1. and chap 15.16. Philippians 4:18. Heb 13. verse 15, 16. or, bring to the Altar.]

24. Leave there thy gift before the Altar, and go thy way, first be reconciled to thhy Brothher, and ven then come and offer thy gift.

25. Be quickly well – minded [towards] thine adversary, [That is, bear with, or agree with him that for debt or otherwise goes to Law with thee] while thou art yet on the way with him: left perhaps the adversay deleiver thee over the Judge, and the Judge deliver thee over to the offer, and thou be cast into prison.

26. Verily i say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence, until thou shalt have paid the last penny. [Gr. Duadrant, whichh was one of the least coins which was used worth a little more than a farthing, according to and taught reckoning.]

27. Ye have heard that it was said [by] the Ancients, thou shaltnot commit adultery.

28. But i say unto you, that whoso looketh [on] a women, to desire the same, [Namely, for uncleanness] he hhath already commited adultery with her in his heart

29. Therefore if thy right eye [That is to say, what soever temporal thingg most preciuos, acceptable, or needful to thee,] offend thee, [that is, should provoke or cause thee to sin ,] punk it out, [that is, rather put such a thing away from thee: for it is profitable for thee, that one of thy members perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into Hell.

30. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee; for it is profitable for thee; the one of thhy members perishh, and not thhat thy whole body should be cast into Hell.

31. It is likewise said; Whosoever shall forsake his wise, [That is, whosoever shall divorce himself from hiswife,] let him give her writing of divorcement . [Of this writing of divorcement, see Deut 24. verse1, &c. Malach 2.14. and Mat. 19. verse. 7. out of which places it appears, that God never approved of rath divorces]

32. But i say unto you, that whosoever shall forsake hhis wife, otherwise then for the cause of fornication, he causeth her to commit adultery; and whosoever shall marry her that is forsaken, he commiteth adultery.

33. Aggain ye have heard that it was said [by] the Anetents; Thou shalt not break thine oath, [That is, not swear so, as nit keep thine oath] but thou shalt keep thine oaths unto the Lord. [that is, pay that which thou hast promised by oath to God or men,]

34. But i say unto you, swear not all, [Namely, neither, or unnecessary, nor deceitfully, nor by the creatures. For a right and necessary oathh is not forbidden; as may be seen, Romans 1:9. and chapter 9.1. and 2 Cor.1.23. and chapter 11. 31. and chap 12.19. Gal 1. verse. 20. Phil 1 verse 8. 1 Thess. 5. 27. Heb. 6. vers. 13,16,17. Revelation 10:6.] neither by the heaven, because it is the Throne of God:

35. Nor by the earth, because is the foot – stool of his feet neither by Jerusalem, because it is the City of the great King.

36. Neither shalt thou swear by thine head, because thou canst not make one hair whhite or black.

37. But let your word yea, hhe yea, nay, nay; [That is, in your daily dealings, and ordinary discourse, use simple, true, and upright words. See James 5:12.] what is above these [that is, that which is added even to supersluity, by vain and unnecessary swearing, or otherwise.] that is of the evil one.

38. Ye have head, that is was said, An eye for an eye, and tooth for tooth. [This Law which was given to the Magistrates, was by the Scribes and Pharisees mis – interpreted, to private revenge, whichh Christ here in the following words reproves.]

39. But i say unto you , that resist not evil but whosoever smiteth thee on the right check, turn to be the other also. [Namely, rather then that should strevenge thy self. For that this is not simply to be understood, appears form the example of Christ himself, John 18:23. And so also must the two verses next following be understood.]

40. And if any will go to Law with thee, and take thy coat, let him thy cloak also.

41. And whosoever shall compel thee [In the Greek, a Persian word is used, whhereby is signified a Courtservice, where unto the subject were compelled to carry the burdens of the Posts, (or Messengers) or to lend and drive their Asse, &c for this purpose. The same word is used also, Matthew 27:32.] to go a mile, go with him two [miles]

42. Give to him that ntreats [any thing] of thee, [or, desires, ask] and turn not away from him, that will borrow of thee.

43. To have heard that it was said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour , and hate thine enemy. [This stands no where in Gods law, but the contrery whereof stands Deut32. 35. pROV 25.21]

44. But i say unto you, Love your enemies, blesse them which curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for those that offer violence unto you, [Other wise reproach you, like as the same word is taken, 1 Pet 3. 16.] and persecute you

45. That ye may be [That is, that it may appear that you be] the children of your Father which is in the Heavens. For he causeth his sun to arise upon the evil and the good and rains upon the just and unjust.

46. For if you love [Namely, only as appears out of the following verse.] these that love what reward hhave ye? Do not the publicans also the same?

47. And if you salute [or, friendly intreat] your brethren only, what do you more then others? Do not also the publicans so?

48. Be ye therefore perfect, like as your Fther which is in Heaven is perfect.