The Meaning of Matthew 5:27 Explained

Matthew 5:27

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

YLT: 'Ye heard that it was said to the ancients: Thou shalt not commit adultery;

Darby: Ye have heard that it has been said, Thou shalt not commit adultery.

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

KJV Reverse Interlinear

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

What does Matthew 5:27 Mean?

Context Summary

Matthew 5:27-37 - Pure Eyes And Clean Speech
The legislation of the old time insisted that no member of the commonwealth should commit adultery, and enforced terrible penalties. See Deuteronomy 22:22-24. But the Divine Man, who reads the human heart with perfect accuracy, goes behind the deed to its premonitory stages, legislates about the look that may inflame passion, and condemns the soul that does not instantly turn the eye from that which allures it, to the All-Holy, asking to be cleansed not with tears only but with blood. The first act in the religious life is to detect right and wrong in the thought or intention. If the tempter is arrested there, He is powerless to hurt. Kill the snake in the egg!
The prohibition against swearing does not deal with taking an oath in the law court. During His trial by the high priest, our Lord did not resent being put on His oath. On rare and solemn occasions we may have to bare our heads before God and ask Him to corroborate our word. But how different is this from the frequent and flippant use of expletives and extravagances of speech. [source]

Chapter Summary: Matthew 5

1  Jesus' sermon on the mount:
3  The Beattitudes;
13  the salt of the earth;
14  the light of the world
17  He came to fulfill the law
21  What it is to kill;
27  to commit adultery;
33  to swear
38  He exhorts to forgive wrong,
43  to love our enemies;
48  and to labor after perfection

Greek Commentary for Matthew 5:27

Thou shalt not commit adultery [ου μοιχευσεις]
These quotations (Matthew 5:21, Matthew 5:27, Matthew 5:33) from the Decalogue (Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5) are from the Septuagint and use ου — ou and the future indicative (volitive future, common Greek idiom). In Matthew 5:43 the positive form, volitive future, occurs In Matthew 5:41 the third person (δοτω — dotō) singular second aorist active imperative is used. In Matthew 5:38 no verb occurs. [source]

Reverse Greek Commentary Search for Matthew 5:27

Matthew 5:27 Thou shalt not commit adultery [ου μοιχευσεις]
These quotations (Matthew 5:21, Matthew 5:27, Matthew 5:33) from the Decalogue (Exodus 20 and Deuteronomy 5) are from the Septuagint and use ου — ou and the future indicative (volitive future, common Greek idiom). In Matthew 5:43 the positive form, volitive future, occurs In Matthew 5:41 the third person (δοτω — dotō) singular second aorist active imperative is used. In Matthew 5:38 no verb occurs. [source]
James 2:11 He that said [ο ειπων]
The unity of the law lies in the Lawgiver who spoke both prohibitions The order here is that of B in Exod 20 (Luke 18:20; Romans 13:9), but not in Matthew 5:21, Matthew 5:27 (with ει δε ου μοιχευεισ πονευεις δε — ou and future indicative). [source]
James 5:11 Ye have heard [ηκουσατε]
First aorist (constative) active indicative of ακουω — akouō As in Matthew 5:21, Matthew 5:27, Matthew 5:33, Matthew 5:38, Matthew 5:43. Ropes suggests in the synagogues.Of Job (Ιωβ — Iōb). Job did complain, but he refused to renounce God (Job 1:21; Job 2:10; Job 13:15; Job 16:19; Job 19:25.). He had become a stock illustration of loyal endurance.Ye have seen Second aorist (constative) active indicative of οραω — horaō In Job‘s case.The end of the Lord (το τελος κυριου — to telos kuriou). The conclusion wrought by the Lord in Job‘s case (Job 42:12).Full of pity Late and rare compound “Very kind.”Merciful (οικτειρω — oiktirmōn). Late and rare adjective (from oikteirō to pity), in N.T. only here and Luke 6:36. [source]

What do the individual words in Matthew 5:27 mean?

You have heard that it was said Not shall you commit adultery
Ἠκούσατε ὅτι ἐρρέθη Οὐ μοιχεύσεις

Ἠκούσατε  You  have  heard 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Active, 2nd Person Plural
Root: ἀκουστός 
Sense: to be endowed with the faculty of hearing, not deaf.
ὅτι  that 
Parse: Conjunction
Root: ὅτι  
Sense: that, because, since.
ἐρρέθη  it  was  said 
Parse: Verb, Aorist Indicative Passive, 3rd Person Singular
Root: λέγω  
Sense: to utter, speak, say.
μοιχεύσεις  shall  you  commit  adultery 
Parse: Verb, Future Indicative Active, 2nd Person Singular
Root: μοιχεύω  
Sense: to commit adultery.