Bible Studies in the Gospel of Matthew

XXII

Matthew 5:33-37; James 5:12; 2 Corinthians 1:17-18; Revelation 14:5: These are new examples of the tremendous difference between the old and the new covenant. The old covenant was weak, but it was strong enough to convince people that they were evil. The new covenant is so much stronger, but it also offers a correspondingly mighty and great power to keep it.

The commandment of the old covenant was that they should not swear falsely. When they swore, they had to be careful that what they swore to was absolutely true and that they kept their word. However, the law of the new covenant is that we shall not swear at all, neither by heaven (Oh my God! Jeez! and similar expressions) nor by the earth (What on earth!) nor by one’s head (I bet my life!) . . . or any other oath. The perfect laws of the new covenant are so strong that even our speech is to be “Yes, yes” or “No, no!” This means, as James says, that our “Yes” shall be “Yes,” and our “No” shall be “No.”

Any kind of addition to it in order to ensure that what we are saying is true, is from the evil one. In that case, this goes to show that we are usually liars and unreliable.

Our heavenly calling is so high and holy and honorable that we are meant to be known as those whose “Yes” is “Yes” and whose “No” is “No.” If you say “Yes,” then everyone knows that it is so. This, among other things, is the light of the world that we are called to become and be. What a glorious and honorable calling!

XXIII

Matthew 5:38-41; Exodus 21:23-24: Again, this shows the tremendous difference between the old and the new covenants. Previously they requited blow for blow, eye for eye, and tooth for tooth. Now we are not to requite with any blow at all, but—on the contrary—if we have received a blow on one cheek, we must turn the other cheek and take that blow as well. We are to do this if the other person is angry with us, thinking that we deserve such blows.

This is not to be done in a servile manner without understanding or purpose. We shall represent Christ, not drawing back from sufferings, but rather showing that it is possible to requite evil with good, that it is absolutely possible to overcome ourselves and our own evil inclinations. Thus we give a strong testimony about victory, that God is able to do great things with a person.

The person who struck me will then gain confidence in me. There is a good likelihood that I shall win him. I have heaped glowing embers on his head. He will never be able to forget it. I will have glorified God’s name. He will mention it to others as long as he lives. It can have unanticipated and great consequences.

It is a manifestation of the core of Christianity: Instead of thinking about myself, I thought of the other person’s salvation and of the honor of God’s name. I conducted myself as a true citizen of heaven who is highly exalted above the rabble of this world. I showed my abundance of goodness and glory, in that I have so much pleasure in store that it doesn’t matter if I suffer a little bit more or less in this world.

If someone wants to sue me in order to take my coat because he thinks he has a right to it, then I—who am so unspeakably rich in God—shall not be miserly concerning such an earthly trifle, but as a worthy representative of Christ, I shall also joyfully give him my cloak. We shall lay hold of the spirit in the matter. In this case it contains two things:

We must act in direct opposition to the letter of these scriptures toward such people, and yet we are still in complete harmony with the spirit in them. Then we will have honored God by proving that the gospel has also given us true wisdom.

Let us have faith in God! He is able to do great things!