Page:PracticalCommentaryOnHolyScripture.djvu/521

 For if  you  love  them  that  love  you,  what  reward  shall  you  have? Do not  even  the  publicans  this? And if  you  salute  your  brethren only, what  do  you  more? Do not  also  the  heathens  this? Be you, therefore,  perfect,  as  also  your  heavenly  Father  is  perfect.

Jesus is  the  Divine  Lawgiver.  By  the  foregoing  words  our  Lord stood forward  as  the  Lawgiver  of  the  New  Testament,  speaking  with divine authority. He put  Himself  above  Moses  and  the  prophets,  who spoke in  the  name  of  God,  saying:  “Thus  saith  the  Lord;”  for  He spoke  and  commanded  in  His  own  name:  “I  say  unto  you!”

The moral  law  of  Jesus  Christ  is  a perfect  law,  because  it  forbids evil thoughts  and  words  as  well  as  evil  deeds. It requires  not  only an outward  observance  of  commandments,  but  also  an  inward  amendment, sanctification,  and  elevation  of  the  soul.

The Fifth  Commandment.  Our  Lord  explicitly  teaches  that  the fifth Commandment  forbids  not  merely  the  actual  deed  of  murder,  but every angry  thought  and  injurious  word.

Taking an  oath  is  not,  according  to  our  Lord’s  teaching,  sinful in itself,  for  it  is  a religious  and  a sacred  act;  but  its  abuse  is  sinful, %nd therefore  no  one  ought  to  take  an  oath  without  necessity. Our Lord Himself  took  an  oath  before  the  court  of  the  High  Priest,  when He asserted  that  He  was  the  Son  of  God  (chapter  LXIX).

The command  to  love  our  neighbour  is  applied  by  Jesus  to  all  men, even to  our  personal  enemies. Our Lord  also  requires  that  our  love should be  of  a practical  kind.

Christian perfection. Finally,  our  Lord  requires  us  to  strive  ceaselessly after  perfection, placing  the  perfection  of  God  before  us  as our  model.

The Goodness  of  God.  Our  Lord  draws  special  attention  to  this by reminding  us  that  God  does  good,  and  sends  rain  and  sunshine  on those  who  offend  Him  as  well  as  on  those  who  love  Him. He supplies sinners with  food  and  drink,  and  tries  to  draw  their  hearts  to  Him  by gratitude  for  His  benefits.

Do you  ever  use  bad  or  injurious  words? You have  heard  how  severely  our  Lord  condemns  such  words; therefore do  all  you  can  to  cure  yourself  of  this  hateful  habit. If ever  any  bad  word  escapes  your  lips,  say  an  ‘Our  Father'  as a penance.