The Sermon on the Mount, Part XIII of XL

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TEXT:

32. But I say to you that every one who divorces his wife, except on the ground of unchastity, makes her an adulteress; and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

COMMENTARY: Here, Jesus forced the selfcentered, egocentric men, who considered themselves, to use the old Hebrew term, the "husbandly owners" of their wives, to stop and think. For again,as above, he accused men who saw themselves as studies in sterling virtue of serious errors or "sins." He unmasked them in public, and accused the selfrighteous of being in trouble with God (Love). Jesus was daring here, several times, to contradict the ancient laws of Jehovah, and even to correct them! This was regarded as blasphemy!

He taught that men were to respect, as well as to love, women, and not abusively to take them for granted. Those who "went through" many wives he called "adulterers"-- serious sinners! He exposed these insensitive arrogant liars!

TEXT:

33. "Again you have heard that it was said to the men of old, 'You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.' 34 But I say to you, Do not swear at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black.

COMMENTARY: Here, Jesus flatly contradicts, in his final words, the "positive thinkers" who believe that the conscious mind can do anything, without limit! For, in reality, it cannot change a single hair on your head! These verses are also a powerful recommendation for sheer honesty.

For if a person is truly, consistently honest, there is simply no need for swearing! Our society and culture need to learn to live by these ideals.