What Jesus Did

[Jesus continued:] " But I say, do not make any vows! ... And do not say, 'By the earth!' because the earth is [God's] footstool. And do not say, 'By Jerusalem!' for Jerusalem is the city of the great King. Do not even say, 'By my head!' for you can't turn one hair white or black. Just say a simple, 'Yes, I will,' or 'No, I won't.' Anything beyond this is from the evil one."

—Matthew 5:34-37 NLT

Key Thought​

Don't break your word! In the Kingdom family of God, the truth is...

 

[Jesus continued:] "You have also heard that our ancestors were told, 'You must not break your vows; you must carry out the vows you make to the Lord.' But I say, do not make any vows! Do not say, 'By heaven!' because heaven is God's throne."

—Matthew 5:33-34 NLT

Key Thought​

When we tell God or anyone that we will do something, he expects us to keep our word. It doesn't matter what the cultural view of truth and lying or reliability is, we are to be honest before God and with...

 

[Jesus continued:] "You have heard the law that says, 'A man can divorce his wife by merely giving her a written notice of divorce.' But I say that a man who divorces his wife, unless she has been unfaithful, causes her to commit adultery. And anyone who marries a divorced woman also commits adultery."

—Matthew 5:31-32 NLT

Key Thought​

God said it forcefully, "I hate divorce!" (Malachi 2:16) Jesus' words here are equally emphatic. Jesus' condemnation is specifically...

 

[After condemning lust, Jesus continued:] "So if your eye — even your good eye — causes you to lust, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your hand — even your stronger hand — causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell."

—Matthew 5:29-30 NLT

Key Thought​

Although treated as...

 

[Jesus continued:] "You have heard the commandment that says, 'You must not commit adultery.' But I say, anyone who even looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart."

—Matthew 5:27-28 NLT

Key Thought​

In an era where adultery is considered acceptable, or at least something to be ignored, Jesus' standard of an inner-driven righteousness that transcends the call of the law of Moses to be sexually pure seems extreme. But adultery in practice...

 

[Jesus continued:] "When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. And if that happens, you surely won't be free again until you have paid the last penny."

—Matthew 5:25-26 NLT

Key Thought​

As Jesus helps us to better understand God's intent, character, and will revealed in the law of Moses, he also shines the...

 

[Jesus continued:] "So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God."

—Matthew 5:23-24 NLT

Key Thought​

When we come before God in worship, we are forced to recognize that we stand before him as righteous and acceptable to him only because of his forgiveness, mercy, and grace...

 

[Jesus continued:] "You have heard that our ancestors were told, 'You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.' But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell."

—Matthew 5:21-22 NLT

Key Thought​

As religious people, it is so easy for us to feel pious and righteous when we hear...

 

[Jesus continued:] "But I warn you — unless your righteousness is better than the righteousness of the teachers of religious law and the Pharisees, you will never enter the Kingdom of Heaven!"

—Matthew 5:20 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus repeatedly and even deliberately enters into conflict with the Pharisees and teachers of religious law (or scribes, in some translations) in Matthew's gospel. Why? Why are Jesus' most scathing denunciations directed at those most recognized as the...

 

[Jesus continued:] "So if you ignore the least commandment and teach others to do the same, you will be called the least in the Kingdom of Heaven. But anyone who obeys God's laws and teaches them will be called great in the Kingdom of Heaven."

—Matthew 5:19 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus did not come to abolish the law of Moses. His disciples cannot set aside the law simply because they don't like it or it is inconvenient. Jesus is trying to help them to a greater righteousness and...