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Epiphany Season · Year A

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time

February 15, 2026

The Sermon on the Mount, Carl Bloch
The Sermon on the Mount, Carl Bloch, 1877Museum of National History, Frederiksborg
Bloch sets the crowd on a rocky hillside and puts Christ slightly above them, with listeners of every age pressed in close rather than ranked.You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times … But I say to you … when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled.Carl BlochA Danish painter (1834-1890) whose cycle of the life of Christ for Frederiksborg Castle became, through reproduction, among the most widely seen religious images of the modern era.Museum of National History, FrederiksborgDenmark's national history museum in Frederiksborg Castle at Hillerød, founded by the brewer J. C. Jacobsen after the castle burned.Museum of National History, Frederiksborg
Roman Lectionary
GospelMatt. 5:17-37Mt 5:17-37 orMatt. 5:20-22a, 27-28, 33-34a, 37Mt 5:20-22a, 27-28, 33-34a, 37
Second Reading1 Cor. 2:6-101 Cor 2:6-10
First ReadingSir. 15:15-20Sir 15:15-20
Responsorial PsalmPs. 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34 (1b)Ps 119:1-2, 4-5, 17-18, 33-34 (1b)

Overview & Insights

"Let your word be 'Yes, Yes' or 'No, No'; anything more than this comes from the evil one." (Matthew 5:37)

Jesus declares that he has come to fulfil the Law and the Prophets, not abolish them, then raises the bar on four of its commands. He pushes past the external act, murder, adultery, divorce, a broken oath, to the inward disposition behind it: anger, lust, and a word so trustworthy it needs no vow to back it up.

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Take it further: Matthew 5:17-37 or Matthew 5:20-22a, 27-28, 33-34a, 37

Commentary

Commentary on Matthew 5:21-37Commentary on Mt 5:21-37 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary commentary reading the four antitheses as one paradigm of upholding trust and compassion in community.

Matthew 5:21-37 CommentaryMt 5:21-37 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed preaching commentary on Jesus radicalizing the law by pushing past the act to its root.

Matthew 5 CommentaryMt 5 Commentary Enduring Word · David Guzik

David Guzik's verse by verse reading of the Sermon on the Mount, including the antitheses on anger, lust and oaths.

Matthew 5:17-20 CommentaryMt 5:17-20 Commentary Precept Austin

Deep verse by verse study notes on Jesus' claim to fulfil rather than abolish the law, the hinge for the antitheses that follow.

Matthew 5:21 CommentariesMt 5:21 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentary on the first antithesis, murder and the anger behind it.

Matthew 5 - Barnes' NotesMt 5 - Barnes' Notes StudyLight

Barnes' Notes verse by verse on the six antitheses and Jesus' claim on the law and the prophets.

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Cycle A Loyola Press · Sunday Connection

Loyola Press background and reflection questions on this first part of Jesus' teaching on the Law.

Background & Word Study

Matthew 5:21 InterlinearMt 5:21 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek word by word with parsing for the murder, anger and judgment clauses of the first antithesis.

Background of MatthewBackground of Mt Enter the Bible

Luther Seminary background on the Sermon on the Mount as the most commonly read teaching block in Matthew.

Matthew 1-13 OverviewMt 1-13 Overview BibleProject

Animated literary overview of Matthew's opening chapters, tracing Jesus as the teacher who fulfils the law.

The Church Fathers

Matthew 5 - Catena Bible & CommentariesMt 5 - Catena Bible & Commentaries Catena

Patristic comment on Jesus' claim to fulfil the law and on each of the antitheses.

Study Hub

Matthew 5:21-37Mt 5:21-37 Textweek

A gathered set of links and preaching angles on this week's Gospel text.

Podcast

SB524 - Sixth Sunday after Epiphany Working Preacher · Sermon Brainwave

A roundtable of preachers talking through what it means to keep the law from the inside out.

Art & Music

Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany, Year A Vanderbilt

Curated artwork keyed to this week's readings, useful for a bulletin or sermon slide.

Prep at sermons.com

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  • Full sermons on Matthew 5:17-37 or Matthew 5:20-22a, 27-28, 33-34a, 37
  • Illustrations cleared for use in worship
  • Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
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