Gospel Notes
Here begins the section of Matthew's version of the Sermon on the Mount that contains the so-called "antitheses" of Jesus concerning the Law. Having asserted that he has come to fulfill rather than abolish the Law and the prophets, Jesus proceeds to quote the Law ("You have heard it said ...") and then to intensify it ("But I say ...") by extending its purview to cover inner motivation. The first antithesis, contained in this passage, is typical in that it moves beyond the act of murder to the feelings that lead to it.

Liturgical C…