The Pulpit Commentary on Matthew 5:43-48

The Pulpit Commentary · Joseph S. Exell and contributors · Public domain

Perfection.

Here is an attainable perfection, for it comes to us as a promise as well as a command. But what is it?

I. IT CANNOT BE THE ABSOLUTE PERFECTION OF GOD.

1. There is an infinite difference between God and man in their being.

2. There is an infinite difference in their presence.

3. There is an infinite difference in their power.

4. There is an infinite difference in their holiness.

II. IF THE PERFECTION BE NOT ABSOLUTE, THEN IT MUST BE RELATIVE. As God is perfect in his relations to us, so must we be perfect in our corresponding relations to him.

1. Our Father is perfect in his relation to us as Creator.

2. Our Father is perfect in his relation to its as King.

3. Our Father is perfect in his relation to us as Saviour.

III. THE PERFECTION ENJOINED IS CHRISTIAN.

1. This is set forth in the term "your Father."

2. The standard of Christian perfection is higher.

(a) Murder in the heart and lip (Matthew 5:21-26).

(b) Adultery in the heart and eye (Matthew 5:27-32). Profanity in Pharisaic sophisms (Matthew 5:33-37).

(d) Heathenism in conventional Judaism (text).

3. Love is the badge of Christian discipleship.

HOMILIES BY R. TUCK

More for Matthew 5:43-48

Continue with other commentaries and DiscipleDeck content connected to this verse, chapter, or topic.

Other commentaries

commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Matthew 5:1-48EXPOSITIONJoseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Matthew 5:17-48Sermon on the mount: 3. Exceeding righteousness. A teacher who compels the public to look at an unfamiliar truth, the reformer who introduces a new style of goodness, will be misinterpreted just in proportion to the adv…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Matthew 5:17-48The second part of the sermon: the mount of the Beatitudes and Mount Sinai: the new Law and the old. I. CHRIST THE FULFILLER OF THE LAW. 1. He came not to destroy. They must not misunderstand the purpose of his teaching…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Matthew 5:21-48(a) Our Lord is still concerned with the relation of himself and his followers to the religion of the day, of which the Old Testament (Matthew 5:17), and more especially the Law (Matthew 5:18), was the accepted standard…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Matthew 5:38-48The two remaining examples of the current teaching of the Law are very closely connected together, and, in fact, our Lord's corrections of them are intermingled in Luke 6:27-36. Yet the subjects are really distinct. In…Joseph S. Exell and contributors commentaryMatthew Henry on Matthew 5:43-48The Jewish teachers by “neighbour” understood only those who were of their own country, nation, and religion, whom they were pleased to look upon as their friends. The Lord Jesus teaches that we must do all the real kin…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Sermon on the MountTHE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. We have here, lastly, an exposition of that great fundamental law of the second table, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, which was the fulfilling of the law. I. See here how this law was corrupted…Matthew Henry commentaryThe Pulpit Commentary on Matthew 5:43-48The perfect fulfilling of Law: Christ's sixth illustration. This last illustration makes two advances upon even those foregoing. From the negative course, of not resisting evil, Christ proceeds to teach the high and mor…Joseph S. Exell and contributors