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More Matthew commentaries
Matthew 2:1-12
The Anticipation of the Messiah
Matthew 2:13-23
Flight to Egypt
Matthew 3:1-6
The Preperation of the Messiah
Matthew 3:7-12
The Pharisees and Sadducees
Matthew 3:13-17
The Baptism of Christ
Matthew 4:1-11
Three Major Tests
Matthew 4:12-17
Persecution of Followers
Matthew 4:18-25
Ministry in the Synagogue
Matthew 5:1-12
Character of a Christian
Matthew 5:13-20
Fishing for Men
Matthew 5:21-26
To Murder in the Mind
Matthew 5:27-32
Divorce and Remarriage
Matthew 5:33-42
Unfair and Unreasonable Treatment
Matthew 5:43-48
Love Your Enemies
Matthew 6:5-18
Practice of Prayer
Matthew 6:19-24
The Love of Wealth
Matthew 7:1-6
Judging and Hypocrisy
Matthew 7:13-23
A Professing Christian vs a True Christian
Matthew 7:24-29
Building on the Right Foundation
Matthew 8:1-17
Healing Miracles of Christ
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Unfair and Unreasonable Treatment
Matthew 5:33–42
» View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway)
Have you ever heard someone say, “That is not fair?” I once heard of a missionary couple who had spent their whole life on the mission field and were returning home on a ship where the majority of the people were drinking and gambling. When the ship landed and the gang … More
The Lord addresses the matter of oath making of which the Pharisees were notorious for. The basis for Old Testament oath-taking is found in Lev.19:12, Duet. 23:21 and Numbers 30:2. Oaths taken in the name of the Lord were binding and it was a very serious matter to break them. By old Testament law oaths were to be made only in God’s name. However the Pharisees would swear by heaven, by the earth, by the Temple, by the hairs of their head etc. Then when they wanted to get out of the agreement they would say it was not binding since God Himself had not been involved.
Jesus is saying that all promises are sacred and when truth is profaned, God’s name is profaned. He goes on to say that oaths should not even be necessary but that one’s life should be sufficient to back up his words. Just mean what you say and say what you mean (v. 37). Jesus gives the following five examples of how a believer should react to unfair or unreasonable treatment (v. 38-42):
Application
Discuss ways you can put each of these principals into practice in your life.
Matthew 5:33-42 (English Standard Version)
"Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.' But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply 'Yes' or 'No'; anything more than this comes from evil. "You have heard that it was said, 'An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you."
View this passage in NIV (Bible Gateway) »
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