And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these [are things] that I hate, saith the LORD.
Ver. 17. And let none of you imagine evil in your hearts] See Trapp on " Zec 7:10 " Take notice here, that as conversing with evil imaginations and inward lusts proves one to be carnal, Ephesians 2:3, so the law is spiritual, Romans 7:14, and takes hold of the root of bitterness, Deuteronomy 29:18, lie it never so low and close covered. There is something in it, that men are here forbidden to imagine evil (in their hearts). This particle, in their hearts, may seem superfluous; but it holds forth, that for the most secret sins that lie couched in the bottom of the heart, in the hidden man of the heart, and never show themselves to the world, men shall be accountable: see Heb 4:12 Ecc 12:14 Jeremiah 6:19 Revelation 2:23. The very want of good thoughts is a sin against that first and great commandment, Mark 12:30, and concupiscence, even before it come to consent, is a sin against the last commandment, Romans 7:7. But evil thoughts allowed and wallowed in is a fiat breach of every commandment; so vain is their plea that say, Thought is free, and do thereupon lay the reins on the neck, and run riot in vain and vile imaginations. O Jerusalem, wash thy heart from wickedness, if thou meanest to be saved, Jeremiah 4:14. How many, alas, have we that profess large hopes of heaven, whose hearts are no better than dens of darkness, dungeons of filthiness, cages of unclean birds, brothel houses, slaughter houses, pesthouses of malicious motions, devilish deceits, atheistical, proud, covetous, malicious, and fraudulent projects, which they are continually hammering, and wherewith their wretched hearts are day and night haunted and pestered! Contrariwise, a godly man is said to have right thoughts, Proverbs 12:5, holy imaginations, Proverbs 12:20, and that his desires are only good, Proverbs 11:23; or, if worse crowd in (as they will), he rids them out again, and will not let them lodge there, Jeremiah 4:14, he boils out that filthy scum, Ezekiel 24:6, and purifieth himself of all pollutions of flesh and spirit, 2 Corinthians 7:1; he both hateth them, Psalms 119:113, and forsaketh them, Isaiah 55:7 .
And love no false oath] As not only he that maketh a lie is shut out of heaven, but he that loves it (though made by another), takes it up and divulgeth it, Revelation 22:15. So not only he that taketh a false oath, but he that persuadeth another to it, or that abhorreth it not in whomsoever (for here is a meiosis, less is spoken, and more understood), is the object of God's just hatred.
For all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord] And as the next effect of hatred is revenge, he will not fail to punish such sinners against their own souls.