You Have Heard

ENGAGE

(Capture attention and establish relevance)

Opening Illustration / Image / Question: Imagine standing in court accused of murder. The judge reads the charge, the courtroom goes silent, and you think, “That’s impossible. I’ve never killed anyone.”

But then the judge says, “We’re not only examining your actions—we’re examining your heart.”

Suddenly the standard changes. It’s not just about what you did… it’s about what you felt, what you thought, and what lived inside you.

Why This Matters Now: Most people measure their goodness by comparison. We think, “I’ve never murdered anyone, never cheated on my spouse, never committed some terrible crime.” By those standards, we feel pretty safe.

But what if God’s standard goes deeper than our actions? What if He is looking at something we often ignore—the condition of our hearts?

Bottom Line Introduced: Jesus didn’t come to lower the standard—He came to expose the heart.

TENSION

(Name the problem the text addresses)

The Struggle: Most of us believe that if we avoid the “big sins,” we’re doing okay spiritually. As long as we stay on the right side of the line, we feel justified.

But there’s a problem: the human heart is very good at hiding sin behind outward obedience.

Why This Is a Real Issue Today: We live in a world where image matters more than integrity. Social media lets us curate our lives. People see what we want them to see.

But beneath the surface there can still be anger, lust, dishonesty, bitterness, and hatred. The outside can look religious while the inside is far from God.

What’s at Stake: If righteousness is only about outward behavior, then religion becomes a performance. We learn to manage appearances instead of confronting the real problem.

But if Jesus is right—if God is judging the heart—then the issue isn’t just what we’ve done… it’s who we are.

Transition to the Text: In Matthew 5, Jesus begins repeating a phrase over and over: “You have heard that it was said… but I say to you.”

And with each statement, He takes a command people thought they understood—and reveals that God was aiming much deeper than they ever imagined.

TRUTH

(Resolve the tension through the biblical text)

Anger

Matthew 5:21–26 ESV

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

Exegesis: This quote comes from Exodus 20:13 in the 10 commandments. What is added is the “liable to judgment” part. It was taught to the people of Israel over many years that murder will bring judgment, but what Jesus says is that anger brings judgment. You who insults your brother will face judgment. It requires us to check our hearts. This is how serious Jesus takes anger: Your worship is not wanted. If you have acted out of anger and have wronged your brother, your worship is not wanted. Whatever you have to offer, leave it and go reconcile. Some will say “What about Matthew 18? They should come to me if I have done them wrong!” That’s true! But it doesn’t negate what Jesus says here. Maybe the person I have done wrong has come to me and I have refused to listen. Now I bear the burden to go to them. If I have willingly and knowingly sinned against my brother, Jesus says go reconcile. Don’t come to the temple until you’ve reconciled.

Application: For us today what does that mean? Have you sinned against someone and have refused to repent? Then what you have done this morning was in vain. It was worthless. It was pointless. Before you stepped foot inside of these doors you should have went to the person you have done wrong and begged for forgiveness. Infact, I give you the chance right now. If you have wronged someone, go into the foyer and reconcile. The elders are here if you need their wisdom.

Lust

Matthew 5:27–30 ESV

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.

Exegesis: Jesus once again goes for the heart by quoting from the 10 commandments again. The people had a tendency to get as close to the line as possible without crossing it. I can look at a woman as long as I don’t cross that line. I can imagine how she looks, just don’t do anything physically. Lust is how adultery begins. How serious is this?

From Barna:

Since Barna’s 2015 study The Porn Phenomenon, the number of U.S. adults consuming pornography has continued to rise, with a 6-percentage point increase (from 55% in 2015 to 61% presently)

There is also a notable uptick in the number of women accessing pornographic content (39% then vs. 44% now)

Despite its widespread nature, the vast majority of porn users (84%) say no one is helping them avoid pornography, and half say no one knows about their habit.

Just over half of practicing Christians report consuming porn with some level of frequency, including 22 percent who view it weekly (15%) or daily (7%).

We’re not even getting into what consuming such media does to our brains and our bodies, yet it is such a danger to us.

Application: So how do we deal with lust? Jesus tells us aggressively. Gouge out your eye. Cut off your hand. Is Jesus saying to literally do this? No. But He is telling us it is better to be horribly inconvenienced for the rest of our lives than to spend an eternity in hell. Remember Mike Pence? Don’t care about your politics, but the man has my respect on one aspect. He will never meet with another woman by himself without his wife there. People made fun of him for it, saying its unnecessary, extra, or “fundamentalist.” I abide by the same rule. It’s not because I think I am going to commit adultery, but it protects reputations and appearances. I won’t meet unless Karleigh is present, or another person is present, or my phone is going to be recording the whole interaction.

Deal aggressively with sin. Deal aggressively with temptation. Deal aggressively with your heart.

Divorce

Matthew 5:31–32 ESV

31 “It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.

Exegesis: Jesus quotes from Deuteronomy 24 where Moses gives the provision of divorce, but Jesus says this is not how things should be. He goes so far to say that your actions do affect other people. Men were able to divorce their wives for anything as simple as burning dinner, but Jesus says sexual immorality/fornication is the only grounds. The word translated, porneia, is a word that means the explicit sexual acts between two people outside of marriage. What does this passage refer to? In their society, women did not have the same rights and luxuries as men, so it would require them to remarry, such is the case as the woman at the well.

Application: Why does this matter? It goes back to creation. Matthew 19 goes into greater detail about this. Genesis 2:24

Genesis 2:24 ESV

24 Therefore a man shall leave his father and his mother and hold fast to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.

When we do get to Matthew 19, we will go into greater detail concerning marriage and divorce and the meaning of the greek word porneia that is translated sexual immorality/fornication.

Oaths

Matthew 5:33–37 ESV

33 “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ 34 But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 36 And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. 37 Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.

Exegesis: Jesus quotes from Leviticus 19:12. There was a habit of making different swears and oaths and using “levels” as loopholes to avoid completing a vow. An oath on your foot would be less binding than the hair on your head. An oath on the hair of your head would be less binding than the altar. It was a way to show your level of commitment to complete your promise. As kids we would say things like “pinky promise,” “cross my heart, hope to die,” or “I swear on my momma or my daddy.” What does the Lord want? Yesses or nos.

Application: We shouldn’t be seen as wishy washy people that can’t keep our word. If we say we are going to do something, then do it. If we say we are going to commit, then commit. James deals with it in James 5:12

James 5:12 ESV

12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

Solomon deals with it in Ecclesiastes 5:4-6

Ecclesiastes 5:4–6 ESV

4 When you vow a vow to God, do not delay paying it, for he has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you vow. 5 It is better that you should not vow than that you should vow and not pay. 6 Let not your mouth lead you into sin, and do not say before the messenger that it was a mistake. Why should God be angry at your voice and destroy the work of your hands?

It is better to say no or not make a vow than to make one and back out.

Retaliation

Matthew 5:38–42 ESV

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 39 But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. 41 And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. 42 Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.

(Optional)

Exegesis: Jesus quotes from several places, Exodus 21:24, Leviticus 24:20, Deuteronomy 19:21. What many, even today, have taken this to mean is whatever you do to me, I will do to you. If you do me wrong, I will get even. We have a habit of getting even. We want retribution, we want equality, we want similar pain. We want others to know how much we hurt, and sometimes we want to hurt others greater than they hurt us. But this is a misunderstanding. The phrase is given as the consequence of the Law, not our permission to get even.

The truth is, Jesus says if someone insults you, sins against you, don’t retaliate. This isn’t talking about ignoring sin, or rolling over and taking abuse, it’s about not getting even. That’s not our place. To be slapped on the right cheek was a sign of dishonor. To give your cloak if sued. A cloak was so precious that it was illegal to take a poor man’s cloak.

Application: Now the last phrase that Jesus gives is one of the most familiar passages in all of scripture. Romans citizens could force the Jews to carry their stuff one mile and it would be a habit of the Jews just counting down every step till they can drop all of the Roman’s belongings. Jesus says go a second mile. Don’t fight back. Don’t rebel. Don’t retaliate.

Love Your Enemies

Matthew 5:43–48 ESV

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? 48 You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

(Optional)

Exegesis: What Jesus quotes is an actual misinterpretation of the text. Multiple times it says in the Law to love your neighbor, but never does it say to hate your enemy. This “reinterpretation” would have come about from years of oppression and mistreatment. Assyria, Babylon, Persia, Greeks, Romans, any of these domineering powerhouses would have been seen as “the enemy.” And what do we do to the enemy? Fight against them, mistreat them, let them know they are the scum of the earth.

Application: What does Jesus say to do? Love them. Pray for them. Do good to them. Jesus makes two points here. 1. God makes the sun rise and the rains come on the just and the unjust. The Lord does good even to those who are antagonistic to Him. 2. We should do good even to those who are evil towards us. To do otherwise and we act like the rest of the world. Makes us no different than them. So Jesus ends with this statement that says, be like your Father. We struggle with this phrase “be perfect” because we sin. We can’t be perfect. Does that mean we lower that standard because it is an “impossible” standard? No. Our goal is to be like our father, that includes doing good to those who want to harm us.

CONCLUSION

Restate the Bottom Line: Jesus didn’t come to lower the standard—He came to expose the heart.

Final Illustration / Challenge: When Jesus says, “Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect,” it should stop us in our tracks.

Because if righteousness is about the heart— anger, lust, honesty, forgiveness, love for enemies— then none of us can honestly say we have met that standard.

The Sermon on the Mount doesn’t just show us how to behave. It shows us how much we need a Savior.

Jesus reveals the true standard so that we stop trusting our own goodness and start trusting His grace.

Call to Action: So the question tonight is not just: “Have you avoided the big sins?”

The question is: What does your heart look like before God?

If you see anger that hasn’t been reconciled, lust that hasn’t been confronted, dishonesty that hasn’t been corrected, hatred that hasn’t been surrendered—today is the day to repent.

And if you realize that you cannot meet God’s standard on your own, that is exactly why Jesus came. Through His death and resurrection He offers forgiveness, cleansing, and a new heart.

If you believe in Him, repent of your sins, and are baptized for the forgiveness of those sins, God promises to make you new.

So don’t leave tonight pretending everything is fine. Come to Christ. Be reconciled. Receive the grace that transforms the heart.