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Epiphany · Sixth Sunday after the Epiphany · Year A

Matthew 5:21-37

Anger, Adultery, and Oaths: The Deeper Righteousness

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
LSB Three-Year Lectionary
GospelMatt. 5:21-37Mt 5:21-37
Epistle1 Cor. 3:1-91 Cor 3:1-9
Old TestamentDeut. 30:15-20Dt 30:15-20
PsalterPs. 119:1-8Ps 119:1-8

Overview & Insights

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

Jesus takes four commands from the Law, on murder, adultery, divorce, and oaths, and pushes past the outward act to the inward disposition of the heart. He calls his disciples to a righteousness of reconciliation, faithfulness, and plain honesty that goes beneath the letter of the commandment.

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Take it further: Matthew 5:21-37

Commentary

Matthew 5:21-37 CommentariesMt 5:21-37 Commentaries BibleHub

Collects classic commentaries on Jesus' antitheses concerning anger, lust, and oaths.

Matthew 5 CommentaryMt 5 Commentary Enduring Word

A pastoral, plain-spoken walk through the whole Sermon on the Mount chapter.

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

The RCL preaching commentary written for this exact Year A Sunday.

Matthew 5:21-37 CommentaryMt 5:21-37 Commentary CEP

A preaching-focused reading of Jesus' six antitheses in this section.

Matthew 5:21-22 CommentaryMt 5:21-22 Commentary Precept Austin

An evangelical verse-by-verse study of the teaching on anger and murder.

Matthew 5 - Gill's ExpositionMt 5 - Gill's Exposition StudyLight

Gill's older exposition, useful for historic detail on the antitheses.

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

Barnes' concise 19th-century notes on the same chapter.

Background & Word Study

Matthew 5:21-37 InterlinearMt 5:21-37 Interlinear BibleHub

Shows the Greek text word by word for the anger, adultery, and oath sayings.

Book of Matthew Overview (Part 1)Book of Mt Overview (Part 1) BibleProject

An animated overview that frames where the Sermon on the Mount sits in Matthew.

Fathers

Matthew 5 CatenaMt 5 Catena Catena

Patristic comments on the chapter gathered verse by verse from the early church.

For the Whole Sunday

Matthew 5:21-37 Study HubMt 5:21-37 Study Hub Textweek

A broad hub of links and resources on this passage for further digging.

Sermon Brainwave: Sixth Sunday after Epiphany Working Preacher

The lectionary podcast talking through all four of this Sunday's readings together.

Podcast

#887: Sixth Sunday after Epiphany (Ord. 6A) – February 12, 2023 Working Preacher (Sermon Brainwave)

Luther Seminary’s homiletics roundtable on this Sunday’s appointed texts, including Matthew 5:21-37.

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