Matthew 5:31-48 - Marriage, Oaths, Loving Your Enemies - by Jeff Byerley
Matthew 5:31-48 Study - Marriage, Oaths, Loving Your Enemies
Outline of Passage
5:31-32 Marriage Is Sacred and Binding
5:33-37 Jesus Forbids Oaths
5:38-42 Go the Second Mile
5:43-48 Love Your Enemies
Our Reflections
1. How can we cope with our society with Jesus' high standard of marriage (v.32)?
2. Why should our yes or no be more sufficient than making oaths (v.37)?
3. Why did the law create punishments “an eye for an eye” etc (v.38-42)?
4. Where does the Bible say “Hate your enemies” (v.43)?
5. What does Jesus mean “Therefore, you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect”(v.48)?
Our Conclusions
Jesus' antitheses “You have heard that it was said … but I say to you ...”, are really an outworking of the Beatitudes. That is those who are meek, poor in spirit, hunger after righteousness, etc. They would not offend people or marriages, make rash oaths, etc. Indeed, these all reflect the two great commandments emphasized by Jesus (Matt.22:37-40).
1. How can we cope with our society with Jesus' high standard of marriage (v.32)?
Later, Jesus was again asked why then did Moses allow divorce? “He said to them “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.” (Matt.19:8). Whilst we may hold high God's standards, there must still be a way for society to manage broken marriages. In I Corinthians 7:15 Paul decrees that where an unbelieving partner to a marriage leaves, the remaining partner is not bound by the marriage. So, whilst we see God's intention to marriage and bear witness to that in our lives, we must bear with those whose marriages have failed. We must pray with them and for them to know God's love and intention for them.
2. Why should our yes or no be more sufficient than making oaths (v.37)?
As we live our lives s the children of God, with the Holy Spirit inspiring us, our transformed character should make our yes or no sufficient on its own. We have no authority to use God's name to attach to our own private affairs and declarations. To do so smacks of the misuse of God's name; something we should take pains to avoid.
3. Why did the law create punishments “an eye for an eye” etc (v.38-42)?
The original law was good in that it was guard against excessive retribution. It meant the people could live their lives knowing that an orderly system of law and order applied to their society. Fair and just precepts would apply when the law was broken. However, over time this was twisted to become a form of right to bring retribution to one's enemies. Under Roman rule it was more difficult to find justice and therefore there was a tendency to seek retribution outside the legal system. Jesus even uses examples of dealing with Roman oppression to go the second mile. Our lives should be so secure in Christ that our dignity before God is unalienable, regardless of how other may treat us. Rather we are to use these opportunities to give rather than receive; to reflect the generosity of God.
4. Where does the Bible say “Hate your enemies” (v.43)?
There is no such scripture, but Israel nevertheless claimed that there is such an underlying assertion in the law. Psalm 139:21-22 says “Do I not hate them, O Lord, who hate You?
And do I not loathe those who rise up against You? 22 I hate them with perfect hatred”
I count them my enemies.” But Jesus shows God's love extends to all as seen in the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37.)
5. What does Jesus mean “Therefore, you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect”(v.48)?
The “therefore” refers to all the antitheses declared before. Whilst we cannot reach God's perfection, as God's children we are always to seek to please him by applying his heart to our lives. Jesus' declaration is a command, a vision and a promise.