Word Pictures in the New Testament - David Cox

Word Pictures in the NT [Matthew: Chapter 5].
fixing an exact compensation for an injury" (McNeile). A money
payment is allowed in the Mishna. The law of retaliation exists
in Arabia today.
5:39 {Resist not him that is evil} (\me antist•nai t•i pon•r•i\).
Here again it is the infinitive (second aorist active) in
indirect command. But is it "the evil man" or the "evil deed"?
The dative case is the same form for masculine and neuter.
Weymouth puts it "not to resist a (the) wicked man," Moffatt "not
to resist an injury," Goodspeed "not to resist injury." The
examples will go with either view. Jesus protested when smitten
on the cheek (Joh 18:22). And Jesus denounced the Pharisees
(Mt 23) and fought the devil always. The language of Jesus is
bold and picturesque and is not to be pressed too literally.
Paradoxes startle and make us think. We are expected to fill in
the other side of the picture. One thing certainly is meant by
Jesus and that is that personal revenge is taken out of our
hands, and that applies to "lynch-law." Aggressive or offensive
war by nations is also condemned, but not necessarily defensive
war or defence against robbery and murder. Professional pacifism
may be mere cowardice.
5:40 {Thy coat ... thy cloke also} (\ton chit•na sou kai to
himation\). The "coat" is really a sort of shirt or undergarment
and would be demanded at law. A robber would seize first the
outer garment or cloke (one coat). If one loses the undergarment
at law, the outer one goes also (the more valuable one).
5:41 {Shall compel thee} (\aggareusei\). The Vulgate has
_angariaverit_. The word is of Persian origin and means public
couriers or mounted messengers (\aggaroi\) who were stationed by
the King of Persia at fixed localities, with horses ready for
use, to send royal messages from one to another. So if a man is
passing such a post-station, an official may rush out and compel
him to go back to another station to do an errand for the king.
This was called impressment into service. This very thing was
done to Simon of Cyrene who was thus compelled to carry the cross
of Christ (Mt 27:32, \•ggareusan\).
5:42 {Turn not thou away} (\m• apostraph•is\). Second aorist
passive subjunctive in prohibition. "This is one of the clearest
instances of the necessity of accepting the spirit and not the
letter of the Lord's commands (see vv.32,34,38). Not only does
indiscriminate almsgiving do little but injury to society, but
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