I say unto you

At the end of chapter 7 Matthew writes of the Lord, ‘The people were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes’. In today’s passage six times the Lord says, ‘But I say unto you’, the Lord drawing a sharp contrast between what had formerly been said respecting the Mosaic law and His own teaching concerning it. Here we are listening to the voice of the Lawgiver Himself. The Lord asserted that the law was inviolable, the least of its commandments was important, and that its righteousness exceeded the standards espoused by the scribes and Pharisees, vv. 18-20. The righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees was based upon an external adherence to the law, but the teaching of the Lord was concerned not just with the ‘letter’ of the law and external conduct, but the ‘spirit’ of the law embracing the desires and motives of the heart.

In verses 21 to 26 the teaching concerns brotherly relationships, a warning against holding wrong attitudes towards brethren, and the importance of being at peace and at one with our brethren. In verses 27 to 30 the subject is purity of mind and the importance of excluding everything that acts detrimental to the wellbeing of the soul. In verses 31 to 32 the focus is upon faithfulness in marriage, maintaining the sanctity of the marriage bond. In verses 33 to 37 the theme is the taking of oaths, while the scribes warned against swearing falsely the Lord said, ‘Swear not at all’, the principle being that our words should be so dependable as to make such affirmations unnecessary. Verses 38 to 42 concern a readiness to give way when unfair demands are made upon us, a spirit of generosity and forbearance. Finally, in verses 43 to 47 love for all is commanded, even to enemies.

Here is the righteousness that exceeded the standards of the scribes and Pharisees, a righteousness reflecting the very character of the Father Himself, v. 48. Today, a believer is not under law but under grace, but Paul does speak of the ‘righteousness of the law’, that which the law required, being ‘fulfilled’ in those who walk ‘not after the flesh but after the Spirit’, Rom. 8. 4. Is our conduct reflecting the Father’s character?