You Have Heard, but I Say to You

Murder

Vs 21-22

In this chapter Christ expounds on 3 of the 10 commanments. when we think of the 6th commandment, you shall not murder, we think it might not be so hard to obey because, naturally, we dont go out and kill people.

When it says “you shall not murder” you might reply with “ok... that was easy. whats next?” but Jesus says that even if you are angry with a brother you are liable to judgment. If you call somone “stupid” or curse somone out, you are liable to Hell fire.

Think about that for a second. can you count how many times youve harbered anger or even have thought “man that guy is dumb”?

According to Christ, and the law, you are a murderer.

Adultery

Vs 27-30

when it comes to the 7th commandment many are under the assumption that they have kept it, so long as they have not actually commited the physical act.

However, when it says “you shall not commit adultery” Christ reveals the deeper meanig of this by adressing our minds and immagination. If we so much as look at a woman with lustful intent, we have already commited adultery with her in our hearts.

Jesus says that if even our eye or hand causes us to sin, then we ought to tear it out or cut it off saying that it is better to be maimed in heaven rather than fully intact buring in hell.

now I see that we all have our eyes and hands intact so does he mean to literally cut our hands off or to pluck our eyes out? of course not. rather he is exposing the severity of our depravity. That vertually everyone would be blind and handless because of our sin.

in the american gosple a pastor recalled a message he heard from these chapters giving 10 ways to become sexualy pure. “wait a minute” he said “the whole point of the sermon on the mount is that we could NEVER become sexual pure.”

lets look at one more example.

Oathes