Matthew 5:18

“For verily I say unto you, etc.] Or “I Amen say unto you”, which is one of the names of Christ; (see <660314>Revelation 3:14) or the word “Amen” is only used by Christ as an asseveration of what he was about to say; and which, for greater confirmation, is usually doubled in the Evangelist John, “Amen, Amen”, or “verily, verily”. The word is used by the Jews f263 for an oath; they swore by it; and it is a rule with them, that whoever answers “Amen” after an oath, it is all one as if he had pronounced the oath itself. The thing so strongly affirmed in this solemn manner is, till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. The iwta “or…”

“For verily I say unto you--Here, for the first time, does that august expression occur in our Lord's recorded teaching, with which we have grown so familiar as hardly to reflect on its full import. It is the expression manifestly, of supreme legislative authority; and as the subject in connection with which it is uttered is the Moral Law, no higher claim to an authority strictly divine could be advanced. For when we observe how jealously Jehovah asserts it as His exclusive prerogative to give law to men (Lev 18:1-5; Lev 19:37; Lev 26:1-4, Lev 26:13-16, &c.), such language as this of our Lord will appear totally unsuitable, and indeed abhorrent, from any creature lips. When the Baptist's…”

“Verily - Truly, certainly. A word of strong affirmation. Till heaven and earth pass - This expression denotes that the law never would be destroyed until it should be all fulfilled. It is the same as saying everything else may change; the very earth and heaven may pass away, but the law of God shall not be destroyed until its whole design has been accomplished. One jot - The word “jot,” or yod (י y), is the name of the Hebrew letter I, the smallest letter in the Hebrew alphabet. One tittle - The word used here, in the Greek, means literally a little horn, then a point, an extremity. Several of the Hebrew letters were written with small points or apices, as in the Hebrew letter, shin (שׁ sh),…”

“Till all things shall be effected - Which it either requires or foretells. For the law has its effect, when the rewards are given, and the punishments annexed to it inflicted, as well as when its precepts are obeyed. Luk 16:17; Luk 21:33. Matthew 5:19”

“verily: Mat 5:26, Mat 6:2, Mat 6:16, Mat 8:10, Mat 10:15, Mat 10:23, Mat 10:42, Mat 11:11, Mat 13:17, Mat 16:28, Mat 17:20, Mat 18:3, Mat 18:18; Mat 19:23, Mat 19:28, Mat 21:21, Mat 21:31, Mat 23:36, Mat 24:2, Mat 24:34, Mat 24:47, Mat 25:12, Mat 25:40, Mat 25:45, Mat 26:13, Mat 26:14; Mar 3:28, Mar 6:11, Mar 8:12, Mar 9:1, Mar 9:41, Mar 10:15, Mar 10:29, Mar 11:23, Mar 12:43, Mar 13:30, Mar 14:9; Mar 14:18, Mar 14:25, Mar 14:30; Luk 4:24, Luk 11:51, Luk 12:37, Luk 13:35, Luk 18:17, Luk 18:29, Luk 21:32, Luk 23:43; Joh 1:51, Joh 3:3, Joh 3:5, Joh 3:11, Joh 5:19, Joh 5:24, Joh 5:25, Joh 6:26, Joh 6:32, Joh 6:47, Joh 6:53, Joh 8:34, Joh 8:51, Joh 8:58, Joh 10:1, Joh 10:7; Joh 12:24, Joh 13:16,…”