23. Further Teachings
17“Think not that I have come to abolish the law and the prophets;a I have not come to destroy but to fulfill.”20“I tell you, unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees,b you shall never enter the kingdom of heaven.”
21“You have heard it said: 'You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to judgment.' 22But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be in danger of judgment.”
27“You have heard it said, 'You shall not commit adultery.' 28But I say to you that everyone who looks upon a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.”
1“Take heed that you do not give your alms before men to be seen by them. 3When you give alms, let not your left hand know what your right hand is doing. 6When you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father. 7And in praying use not vain repetitions. 8Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 16And when you fast, be not of a sad countenance that your fasting may be seen by men. 19Lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth, 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, 21for where your treasure is there will your heart be also.”
(Mt. 5:17, 20–22, 27–28; 6:1, 3, 6–8, 16, 19–21) (continued)
a “the law and the prophets;”—In the Hebrew Scriptures the law consists of the books of Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. The prophets comprise the books of Joshua, Judges, Samuel (1 and 2), Kings (1 and 2), Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and the twelve minor prophets (Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi).
b “the scribes and Pharisees,”—The scribes were a class of men devoted to the study and exposition of the law, serving originally as copyists, editors, and interpreters of Scripture. The Pharisees were a religious party. (See Ch. 13, fn. b.)
Mt. 5:17 have not come to destroy but to fulfill.” (KJV) / have come not to abolish them but to fulfill them. (RSV)
Mt. 5:20 I / For I (RSV)
Mt. 5:21 heard it said: 'You / heard that it was said to the men of old, 'You (RSV)
Mt. 5:22 be in danger of judgment. (KJV) / be liable to judgment; (RSV)
Mt. 5:27 heard it said / heard that it was said (RSV)
Mt. 6:1 (KJV) • that you do not give your / that ye do not give your (KJV)
Mt. 6:3 When / But when (RSV) • alms, let not your (KJV) / alms, do not let your (RSV)
Mt. 6:6 When / But when (RSV) • Father. / Father who is in secret; (RSV)
Mt. 6:7 praying use not vain repetitions. (KJV) / praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; (RSV)
Mt. 6:8 Your / Do not be like them for your (RSV)
Mt. 6:16 fast, be not of a sad countenance that (KJV) / fast, do not look dismal like the hypocrites, for they disfigure their faces that (RSV) • that your fasting / that their fasting (RSV)
Mt. 6:19 Lay not up (KJV) / Do not lay up (RSV) • earth, but / earth, where moth and rust consume, and where thieves break in and steal, but (RSV)
Mt. 6:20 heaven, for / heaven, where neither moth nor rust consumes and where thieves do not break in and steal. For (RSV) (140:6/1576–7)
