Matthew 5:27

KJV

¶ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

KJV (with Strong's)

Ye have heard {G191} that {G3754} it was said {G4483} by them of old time {G744}, Thou shalt {G3431} not {G3756} commit adultery {G3431}:

Complete Jewish Bible

"You have heard that our fathers were told, `Do not commit adultery.'m

Berean Standard Bible

You have heard that it was said, ‘Do not commit adultery.’

American Standard Version

Ye have heard that it was said, Thou shalt not commit adultery:

Commentary

### SUMMARY
In Jesus initiates His profound reinterpretation of the Seventh Commandment, shifting the focus from mere external conformity to the deeper intentions of the human heart. This verse serves as the foundational premise for His radical teaching on adultery, demonstrating His divine authority to unveil the true spiritual depth of God's Law, challenging the prevailing legalistic interpretations of His day and calling His followers to a higher standard of inner righteousness.

### CONTEXT
* **Literary Context:** [Matthew 5:27](/matthew/5-27 "Matthew 5:27 - Jesus on Adultery") is part of a series of six "antitheses" (or contrasting statements) found in [Matthew 5:21-48](/matthew/5-21-48 "Matthew 5:21-48 - The Six Antitheses"). In each antithesis, Jesus quotes a traditional understanding of an Old Testament commandment ("You have heard that it was said...") and then provides His authoritative, deeper interpretation ("But I say to you..."). This particular statement directly follows Jesus' teaching on anger and murder ([Matthew 5:21-26](/matthew/5-21-26 "Matthew 5:21-26 - Jesus on Anger and Murder")), establishing a pattern where internal attitudes are shown to be just as culpable as external actions. It specifically sets the stage for His radical expansion of the Seventh Commandment in [Matthew 5:28](/matthew/5-28 "Matthew 5:28 - Jesus on Lust"), where He addresses the sin of lust in the heart, demonstrating that the spirit of the Law extends far beyond its literal application.
* **Historical & Cultural Context:** For the Jewish audience of Jesus' day, the command "Thou shalt not commit adultery" was a cornerstone of the Mosaic Law, explicitly stated in the Decalogue ([Exodus 20:14](/exodus/20-14 "Exodus 20:14 - The Seventh Commandment"); [Deuteronomy 5:18](/deuteronomy/5-18 "Deuteronomy 5:18 - The Seventh Commandment")). The prevailing rabbinic interpretations, particularly among the Pharisees and scribes, tended to focus on the outward, observable act of adultery, defining it primarily as illicit sexual intercourse between a married person and someone other than their spouse. While the Law itself had broader implications, the popular understanding often reduced it to a behavioral prohibition, allowing for a form of righteousness based on external compliance rather than internal purity. Jesus' teaching directly confronts this narrow, legalistic perspective, aiming to restore the Law's original, comprehensive intent.
* **Key Themes:** This verse introduces and reinforces several critical themes within the Sermon on the Mount and throughout Jesus' ministry. Firstly, it underscores the **Authority of Jesus** as the divine interpreter and fulfiller of the Law, demonstrating that His teaching carries a weight even greater than the traditional interpretations of "them of old time." Secondly, it highlights the theme of **Inner Righteousness**, emphasizing that true obedience to God extends beyond outward actions to the purity of one's thoughts, desires, and intentions, a standard introduced earlier in [Matthew 5:20](/matthew/5-20 "Matthew 5:20 - Righteousness of the Kingdom"). Thirdly, by reaffirming and deepening the prohibition against adultery, Jesus underscores the **Holiness and Sanctity of Marriage** as a sacred covenant designed by God, protecting its integrity from both physical and internal threats. Finally, it powerfully conveys **God's Concern for the Heart**, revealing that God's moral standards are not superficial but penetrate to the deepest parts of human existence, demanding a transformation of the inner person.

### EXPOSITION AND ANALYSIS

#### Key Word Analysis
* **Heard (Greek, _akoúō_):** This verb signifies not merely the physical act of hearing, but often implies understanding, receiving, or being taught. In this context, "Ye have heard" indicates a widely known and commonly accepted teaching, likely referring to the oral traditions and rabbinic interpretations that had developed around the written Law over centuries, as well as the direct knowledge of the commandment itself. Jesus acknowledges their familiarity with the traditional understanding before presenting His deeper insight.
* **Old time (Greek, _archaîos_):** This adjective refers to that which is "original" or "primeval," indicating a long-standing tradition or ancient origin. "Them of old time" points to the revered figures and teachings of the past, underscoring the perceived authority of these established interpretations. Jesus is not dismissing the antiquity of the Law itself, but challenging the adequacy of the historical interpretations that had become entrenched, implying that they had not fully grasped the Law's profound spiritual demands.
* **Commit adultery (Greek, _moicheúō_):** This verb specifically means "to commit adultery," referring to illicit sexual intercourse, particularly within the context of marriage. It is a direct translation of the Hebrew term found in the Decalogue. In its traditional understanding, it denotes a physical act of infidelity that violates the marriage covenant. Jesus uses this familiar and explicit prohibition as a springboard to demonstrate that the sin of adultery originates not just in the physical act, but in the heart's illicit desires, thus expanding the scope of the commandment.

#### Verse Breakdown
* **"Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time":** This opening clause establishes the common ground of understanding. Jesus acknowledges the familiar teaching that His audience has received, likely through both the written Mosaic Law and the oral traditions that had interpreted it. The phrase "by them of old time" points to the long-standing, revered interpretations passed down through generations, setting up a contrast with Jesus' own authoritative teaching that follows. It implies a widely accepted, perhaps even complacent, understanding of the commandment.
* **"Thou shalt not commit adultery":** This is a direct quotation of the Seventh Commandment from the Decalogue ([Exodus 20:14](/exodus/20-14 "Exodus 20:14 - The Seventh Commandment"); [Deuteronomy 5:18](/deuteronomy/5-18 "Deuteronomy 5:18 - The Seventh Commandment")). In its original context, it is a clear and unequivocal prohibition against the physical act of infidelity within the marriage covenant. By quoting it, Jesus affirms the validity and importance of the commandment itself, not to abolish it, but to fulfill it by revealing its deeper, spiritual intent, which He immediately proceeds to do in the subsequent verses.

#### Literary Devices
In [Matthew 5:27](/matthew/5-27 "Matthew 5:27 - Jesus on Adultery"), Jesus employs the literary device of **Antithesis**, which is prominent throughout [Matthew 5:21-48](/matthew/5-21-48 "Matthew 5:21-48 - The Six Antitheses"). He sets up a direct contrast between the traditional understanding ("Ye have heard that it was said...") and His own authoritative reinterpretation ("But I say to you..."). This rhetorical structure highlights His unique authority and the radical nature of His teaching. While not explicitly stated in [Matthew 5:27](/matthew/5-27 "Matthew 5:27 - Jesus on Adultery") alone, the verse also implicitly introduces the theme of **Fulfillment**, as Jesus is not abrogating the Law but revealing its ultimate spiritual demands, thereby fulfilling its true intent. The very act of quoting the established commandment before offering a deeper meaning demonstrates His intention to complete and perfect, rather than destroy, the Law. Furthermore, the passage foreshadows the use of **Hyperbole** in the subsequent verse ([Matthew 5:28](/matthew/5-28 "Matthew 5:28 - Jesus on Lust")), where the severity of the internal sin is equated with the external act, emphasizing the extreme nature of the righteousness required for the Kingdom of Heaven.

### THEOLOGICAL AND THEMATIC CONNECTIONS
Matthew 5:27 serves as a crucial theological pivot, demonstrating Jesus' unparalleled authority to interpret and expand the Law of God. It reveals that God's concern for righteousness is not superficial, limited to outward actions, but penetrates to the very core of human motivation and desire. By challenging the prevailing legalistic interpretations, Jesus elevates the standard of righteousness, showing that true obedience is a matter of the heart, aligning one's inner disposition with God's perfect will. This teaching underscores the inherent holiness of God and His demand for a people whose lives, both public and private, reflect His character. It also highlights the reality of human sinfulness, as even the "righteous" by external standards are revealed to be deeply flawed when measured against the divine standard of inner purity.

* [Exodus 20:14](/exodus/20-14 "The Seventh Commandment")
* [Deuteronomy 5:18](/deuteronomy/5-18 "The Seventh Commandment")
* [James 1:14-15](/james/1-14-15 "The Progression of Sin")

### REFLECTION AND APPLICATION
Matthew 5:27, particularly when read in conjunction with the verses that follow, presents a profound challenge to our understanding of sin, righteousness, and discipleship. It calls us to move beyond a superficial, outward-focused morality to a radical examination of our inner lives. For believers today, this means recognizing that sin is not merely a matter of forbidden actions, but originates in the desires and intentions of the heart. This verse compels us to cultivate a deep and abiding purity of thought, understanding that lust, covetousness, and other sinful desires, though unseen by others, are fully seen by God and are destructive to our spiritual well-being. It reminds us that true integrity is a seamless garment, where our private thoughts align with our public conduct, and that the pursuit of holiness is an ongoing, internal battle fought with the help of the Holy Spirit. This passage encourages us to guard our hearts diligently, recognizing that they are the wellspring of life, and to continually seek God's transforming grace to purify our innermost being.

#### Questions for Reflection
* **In what areas of my life do I tend to focus on outward compliance rather than inner purity?**
* **How does Jesus' teaching in this verse challenge my personal definition of sin and righteousness?**
* **What practical steps can I take to cultivate greater purity of heart and thought in my daily life?**
* **How does understanding God's concern for the heart impact my prayer life and my pursuit of holiness?**

### FAQ
**Is Jesus abolishing the Old Testament Law in this verse?**

Answer: No, Jesus is explicitly not abolishing the Old Testament Law. In fact, He states earlier in the Sermon on the Mount, "[Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them](/matthew/5-17 "Matthew 5:17 - Jesus Fulfills the Law")." Instead, in [Matthew 5:27](/matthew/5-27 "Matthew 5:27 - Jesus on Adultery") and the subsequent antitheses, Jesus is fulfilling the Law by revealing its true, deeper, and spiritual intent. He moves beyond a superficial, external understanding of the commandments to expose the heart's role in sin and righteousness, thereby elevating the standard of obedience to God's perfect will. He is not removing the command against adultery but showing that its true scope includes the thoughts and desires that lead to the act.

**What does "them of old time" refer to in this context?**

Answer: The phrase "them of old time" (Greek: _archaîos_) refers to the traditional interpretations and teachings passed down through generations, likely by respected religious authorities, scribes, and rabbis, rather than the written Law of Moses itself. While the Law against adultery was given by God, the way it was commonly understood and applied by Jesus' contemporaries often focused solely on the external act, neglecting the internal motivations. Jesus is contrasting these long-standing, human interpretations with His own divine and authoritative understanding of God's original intent for the Law, which always included the heart.

### CHRIST-CENTERED FULFILLMENT
[Matthew 5:27](/matthew/5-27 "Matthew 5:27 - Jesus on Adultery") finds its ultimate fulfillment in Jesus Christ in several profound ways. First, Jesus Himself is the perfect embodiment of the Law's demands, both external and internal. He lived a life of absolute purity, never harboring a lustful thought or committing a sinful act, thus perfectly fulfilling the righteous requirements of God's holy standard. He is the only one who could truly say, "I always do what pleases [the Father](/john/8-29 "John 8:29 - Jesus Always Pleases the Father")." Second, Jesus' teaching here reveals the depth of human sinfulness, demonstrating that no one, by their own efforts, can truly meet the Law's spiritual demands, for sin originates in the heart ([Mark 7:21-23](/mark/7-21-23 "Mark 7:21-23 - What Defiles a Person")). This underscores our desperate need for a Savior. Third, through His atoning sacrifice on the cross, Jesus provides the cleansing for both our outward sins and the hidden sins of our hearts, making a way for us to be reconciled to a holy God ([Hebrews 9:14](/hebrews/9-14 "Hebrews 9:14 - Cleansing of Conscience")). He is the [Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world](/john/1-29 "John 1:29 - Jesus, the Lamb of God"). Finally, in the New Covenant established through His blood, Jesus sends the Holy Spirit to write His Law not on tablets of stone, but on the hearts of believers ([Jeremiah 31:33](/jeremiah/31-33 "Jeremiah 31:33 - The New Covenant"); [2 Corinthians 3:3](/2_corinthians/3-3 "2 Corinthians 3:3 - Letters on Hearts")), enabling us to increasingly live out the inner righteousness that [Matthew 5:27](/matthew/5-27 "Matthew 5:27 - Jesus on Adultery") demands. It is only by being conformed to the image of Christ through the Spirit ([2 Corinthians 3:18](/2_corinthians/3-18 "2 Corinthians 3:18 - Transformed by the Spirit")) that we can begin to pursue the radical purity of heart that Jesus calls us to.

Note: Commentary is generated by AI with a directive for Biblical fidelity. Always rely on the Holy Spirit for discernment. The Scripture text and cross-references are from verified, non-AI sources.

Cross-References

Deuteronomy 5:18

Neither shalt thou commit adultery.

Exodus 20:14

Thou shalt not commit adultery.

Proverbs 6:32

[But] whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he [that] doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

Deuteronomy 22:22

If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, [both] the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.

Deuteronomy 22:24

Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city, and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel, because she cried not, [being] in the city; and the man, because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put away evil from among you.

Leviticus 20:10

¶ And the man that committeth adultery with [another] man's wife, [even he] that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.

Matthew 5:21

¶ Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: