The Pharisees attempted to come up with ways to make oaths that they could break. They would not swear by the name of the Lord, because failure to keep the oath would bring judgment. They decided that they could swear by everything else and be okay if they broke the oath. Jesus desires His followers to be so trustworthy that their speech would always be honest.

The Levitical priests had a shelf-life. They passed away and had to be replaced. Some of the priests were openly sinful and every year they had to offer sacrifices for themselves. Jesus is a priest unlike the Levitical priests. He is better and brings in a new covenant to replace the old.

David was boxed in on all sides by his enemies. His prayer in this passage was for God to deliver him so that his enemies might know who God is. God does an excellent job in making Himself known, but David promised to be a part of the praise that makes God known.

This psalm looks at the injustices of political leaders. The psalmist prayers to God for the stopping of the violence of leadership. His major illustration of these leaders is that they are snakes that kill while being deaf to to pleas of the innocents.

Melchizedek is a relatively unknown individual in the Old Testament. The details about him are found in Genesis 14. The details of that story are significant in pointing out that Melchizedek was greater than Abraham and the priests of Levi, thus he is a better priest. This is why it is important that Jesus is a priest of the order of Melchizedek. He is a better priest.

Jesus clarified the seventh commandment and made clear that the battle against immorality starts in the heart. His solutions for protection seemed radical. However, He was not promoting self-mutilation, but mortification of the flesh. The main solution in the battle is not to feed the flesh. This requires the believer to either flee when temptation comes, or remove the source of temptation.

David experienced the overshadowing wings of God as he fled his deadly enemies. The obvious working of God's steadfast love caused David to exalt God, especially through the means of song. He serves as an example for believers today.

Many believers struggle with assurance of their salvation. However, salvation does not rest on us. God has made both a promise and an oath that Jesus is our high priest. We can hold in faith to God's promise and oath that Jesus allows us to enter into the presence of God. This is an anchor, sure and steadfast.

Jesus begins to clarify what righteousness greater than the Pharisees looks like. The first issue he deals with is "Thou Shalt Not Kill." The Pharisees had a narrow understanding of the command that it it forbade physical murder. Jesus gives the intent of the law. The believer is to stop murder from coming out of the heart and being found in our speech. In fact, the Lord challenges believers as peacemakers to proactively meet warring situations and try to get them to cease before more harm occurs.

This passage is one of warning. However, the difficult question is "Who is it warning?" Much discussion has been given to this passage with a variety of interpretations. In the end it seems to be warning those who have been surrounded by Christians and the church yet at some point fall away because they are not saved. It is impossible from a human standpoint to bring someone back who has left the faith. Can a person like this be saved? With men this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.