The Pulpit Commentary — Matthew — Volume 1 — Section 225

on aocount of dislikes and caprices. Rabbi Akiba said, "If any man saw a woman handsomer than his own wife, he might put bis wife away; because it is said in the Law, If she find not favour in his eyes." Josephus," not being pleased with bis wife'3 manners, put her away." (4) Our Lord showed how this conduct operated against the Law. It made an adulteress of the divorced wife; for it treated her as though she had been such. It exposed her to the temptation to commit adultery. Bound by the law of her husband during bis natural life, even did she marry another she would be an adulteress (see Rom. vii. 1-3). By parity cf reasoning, whoever married her would be an adulterer. The proper husband is responsible as the cause of all these consequences (ver. 3~; see also Pa. l. 18; 1 Cor. vii. 10, 11). H. 'fHAT THE HEART MUST BE PURIFIED AT ANY COST. 1. Because the unclean heart is fit only/or perdition. (1) It can have no place in heaven. It would be there a monstrosity in the midst of symmetry. It would mar the harmony of purity. It would be out of sympathy with saints and angels. It would be an intolerable offence to the holy God. ~2) Gehenna is prepared for the devil and bis agents. A man goes to "his own place.' His hell is in his heart. (3) In Gebenna there are also torment] for the body. "Both soul and body." The body will be tormented in every part. The II eye." The "hand.'' The "whole body.'' 2. Terror is the argument for the 'lml,tish. (1) Fine sentiments have little influence with the lustful The debauchee flincrs overboard all snch when he tramples upon the sanctities of wife, family, home, and° Church. Upon the principle that the garotter will respect the cat. (2) To the adulterer, therefore, our Lord preaches damnation. The true minister will follow this example. He can only keep a clean conscience by declaring the whole counsel of God (see Jude 22, 23). 3. Resolute dealing is needful here. (1) The offending eye and hand must go. No matter how dear the" eye "-the idol. No matter how usefol the "hand "-the acquisition (cf. Gal. v. 24:; Col. iii. 5). (2) Men, under surgical advice, will part with a limb or an organ to save life. So the sinner who hazards his soul for his idol must sacrifice his idol to save bis soul. (3) To neglect the mortifying of & single member may prove the destruction of all the members. When one member sins, all the members sin with it and suffer the penalty. Better one perish in repentance than all perish in Gehenna. (4:) Those duties which are most unpleasant are often most ," profitable.'' God requires nothing from us that will not be to our adve.ntage.-J. A. M. Vere. 33-37.-Profanity. In the words before us our Lord brings out the very spirit of the third commandment. We have to distinguish- !. THE SWEARING THAT 18 NOT FORBIDDEN. This is of two kinds, viz. religious and civil-spiritual and judicial. 1. Spiritual swearing. (1) The Persons of the blessed Trinity are bound by a conditional oath to redeem and save mankind. This is the covenant of God, in which he swears by himself because he can swear by no greater (see Gen. x.xii.16; Pa. cv. 9; Luke i. 73; Heb. vi. 13, 14:). (2) We have to enter into God's covenant in order to be saved. Swearing to God is, therefore, of the very essence of religion. (3) Henco this most solemn swearing is positively enjoined: "'l'bou shalt fear the Lord thy God "-thy covenant God-" and sbalt swear by bis Name" (see Deut. vi. 13; x. 20; Jer. iv. 1, 2). This is in effect, "Thou sbalt engage thyself in bis covenant to have no God beside him." It implies tbo.t we bind ourselves to worship and serve him only. It means also that we take him for a Witness to all our actions. (4:) Christ came not to destroy this Law, but to bind it more closely up by the cords of love. Hence, referring to these gospel times, God says, 11 I have sworn by myself; the word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, every tongue shall swear" (see Isa. xlv. 23; lxv. 16). 2. Judicial swearing. (1) Swearing in this sense was prescribed in the Law. The" oath of the Lord" was imposed (see Exod. xxii. 11; Numb. v. 19). It does not appear that Hebrew witnesses were in the first instance sworn, but in matters of important testimony they might bo adjured (see Lev. v. 1). (2) This our Lord does not forbid, It is being sworn rather than swearing. Jesus submitted to adjura- tion (see eh. xxvi. 63, 64). In Christian courts of law "an oath for confirmation" remains "the end of all strife" (Heb. vi. 16). II. THE SWEARING FORBIDDEN IS THE PROFA~. 1. False swearing is emphatically ,uch. (1) It is dreadful impiety towards God. It iii taking the Name of God ill vain. 218 THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO ST. MATTHEW. [ea. v. 1--iS.