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NASB | Ephesians 2:15 by abolishing in His flesh the enmity, which is the Law of commandments contained in ordinances, so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thus establishing peace, |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Ephesians 2:15 by abolishing in His [own crucified] flesh the hostility caused by the Law with its commandments contained in ordinances [which He satisfied]; so that in Himself He might make the two into one new man, thereby establishing peace. |
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Bible Note: I do not have Matthew in the Holman Edition. I do have Matthew by H.A. Ironside. Regarding these verses Matthew 5:17-30 Ironside says: In verses 17 to 30 we see how our Lord applied the precepts of the law, neither ignoring them nor belittling them, but showing that there is a deeper meaning in it all than is seen on the surface. It is that which, rightly applied, makes manifest man’s utter helplessness and inability to keep its holy precepts in his nature state. Let us notice with care what Jesus taught as to this (Ironside has you read verses 17-30 and then continues his commentary) “I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil.” This our Lord did in three ways: by His perfect obedience He magnified the law and made it honorable (Isa.42:21); by His death He met all its claim against the lawbreakers, and so He becomes the end of the law for righteousness to all who believe (Rom. 10:4); by His Spirit He enables believers to fulfil the righteous requirements of the law (Rom. 8:4) “One jot or one tittle.” The jot is the yodh, the smallest letter of the Hebrew alphabet. The title is a little mark indicating a slight change in the meaning of a letter. Our Lord’s words indicate the perfection of Holy Scripture. “Whosoever…shall break one of these least commandments.” That is, anyone who ignores the divine authority of God’s revealed will by loosening the moral effect of His commands, so as to make men careless of their obligations to Him, shall be esteemed as of no worth in His kingdom. “Except your righteousness shall exceed.” The scribes and Pharisees were extreme legalists and trusted in their own righteousness, but had not submitted to the righteousness of God (Rom. 10:3) The righteousness God accepts is of a higher character. This higher righteousness is suggested in the verses that follow. The law forbade murder. Jesus shows that unreasonable anger is, in itself, a violation of the spirit of the commandment. “Thou shalt not kill.” It is as a result of such a condition of mind that murder is committed. To use vile invectives against another is the manifestation of the hatred which causes men to kill, and therefore places one in danger even of hell-fire. To profess to be a worshiper of God while willfully wronging another or cherishing malice in the heart is obnoxious to God. Let him who comes to His altar with a gift first seek out the brother he has wronged and then draw near to sacrifice. Nor should one permit a spirit of antagonism toward another to continue if it is within his power to come to agreement; for sin never dies of old age, but becomes worse as time goes on. Many a one has suffered severely because of what might easily have been cleared up if he had given heed to these words. Hope this helps, Val |