Have you ever followed the letter of the law, but missed the spirit of the law? The phrase “letter of the law” means a literal interpretation of what is written, whereas “spirit of the law” is the purpose or intent behind the enacted rule.

Kids are notorious at this! I remember as a child I would annoy my brother, so he’d complain to Mum. She’d call out “Don’t touch your brother again!” So for the rest of the day I’d walk around with my hand 1cm from his face. I wasn’t touching him, so I was following the letter of the law, but certainly missed the heart of what was intended!

Here are a few photos of similar situations:

Jesus begins this part of the Sermon on the Mount by saying, “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:20). So, to enter the kingdom, our righteousness must surpass the Pharisees. Wow! Big ask! In Jewish circles the Pharisees in Jesus’ day were considered the cream of the crop. Dedicated, devoted, meticulous. They flawlessly kept 613 laws and rules distilled from the Torah (the first five books of our Old Testament). We — as disciples of Jesus — must surpass the Pharisees, go further, and be more extreme!

Yet the Pharisees were often so concerned with the “letter of the law” they missed the heart or “spirit of the law.” They were only interested in a legalistic and literal interpretation. They were pedantic about washing their hands and cups, yet Jesus said they were dirty on the inside, hurting others (Matthew 23:25–26). They were careful to make the “right” sacrifices at the temple, going through the “right” steps with proper reverence, yet they would spread rumours and gossip, and refuse to help the needy. In their effort to fulfil God’s will and be “right” with God (“righteous”), they miss the whole point of God’s law and word! I think we all at times can be like these Pharisees in Jesus’ day. Do you ever take pride in keeping the letter of the law, but miss God’s heart?

To address this issue, Jesus preaches this part of his sermon using a repeating pattern. He repeats this pattern six times (our reading only includes the first four, but the last two follow directly after). “You have heard it said to the people of the former age… But I say to you now…”

The first part begins, “You have heard it said to the people of the former age…” Jesus is talking about the former way, the old framework, the old kingdom. This way is about following the rules and commands to their letter. But second part continues, “But I say to you now…” Jesus is talking about the new kingdom, with new ways that surpass the former. The old ways are still valid. Earlier in his sermon Jesus has said, “Not even the smallest stroke of a pen will disappear from the Law until everything is completed.” (Matthew 5:18). The new kingdom is the old kingdom plus more, the new is exceedingly greater than the old.

Jesus describes this new kind of righteousness required to enter into his new kingdom using six examples.

1. Murder. Jesus begins with the fifth commandment. “You shall not murder.” This is a pretty easy rule to follow, right!? I’d hazard a guess that no one here has murdered? Tick for us! We’ve fulfilled this command! Except this is missing the heart of the command. Jesus enlarges the command so that we can hear the heart of the matter. He says that everyone who is (a) angry, or (b) insults (says “raca” or “you idiot”), or (c) says, “You fool!” shall be subject to: (a) judgement, (b) the Jewish council, (c) to the fires of hell. Why does Jesus enlarge this command? When we think of God’s commands we can wrongly view God as a policeman or judge, a killjoy with a whole bunch of rules to follow. But this isn’t helpful. See, behind every command or rule is a gospel promise. What is the gospel promise here? God gives life. Remember, laws and commands are what we have to do, they are conditional (“If this … then this …”). Gospel promises are what God freely does and gives. God gives life, then gives a command to protect and guard the gift of life. The heart of the matter is not murder, for getting angry or insulting someone is on par with murder. The heart of the matter is protecting life, your own and others. So Jesus urges a new direction in his new kingdom: away from murder, anger, insults; away from vengeance, prisons, punishment; and toward reconciliation, peace, and life. This is the true righteousness that surpasses the Pharisees.
2. Adultery. Jesus continues with the sixth commandment. “You shall not commit adultery.” Again he enlarges the command, this time with shocking poetic imagery. “If you even look at someone in lust, gouge your eye out. If your hand causes you to stumble, cut it off.” But the heart of the matter is not mere adultery. It goes beyond that. The gospel promise at the heart of this matter is that God gives to humans the gift of marriage. The bond of marriage is so intimate that two persons become one flesh. Marriage, which includes sexual and physical intimacy, is exciting, fun, precious, and fragile. So God puts boundaries around it to help protect this gift. Do not commit adultery. Do not lust with your eyes or hands. Do not engage in pornography. Do not sexually abuse or harass. Do not do anything that will threaten marriage, either now and in the future. Those who have experienced adultery, or sexual harassment in any of its forms including pornography, can tell you how painful, humiliating, and destructive the experience is. The scars can often stay for life, even if there is forgiveness and reconciliation. This is why God wants to protect this gift. This is the heart of God’s command, to protect the gift of marriage.
3. Divorce. Jesus uses the same pattern with divorce. “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’” Jesus cites the written law (Deuteronomy 24:1). But this rule doesn’t capture the heart of the matter, so Jesus goes on. “But I tell you…” Jesus wants to take his listeners beyond the mere letter of the law. He says all divorce is hurtful and painful. It’s not part of God’s good plan for us. Particularly in his day, divorce could leave vulnerable women open to oppression and misfortune. (In Jesus’ day women often relied on their husband to provide for them — if their husband divorced them with a certificate, typically for no reason, the woman would be left desperate, destitute, and open to exploitation). So Jesus gets to the heart of matter, seeking to protect the vulnerable and guard marriage.
4. Vows and oaths. Again Jesus enlarges an existing law. He says don’t bother with vows and oaths. Don’t swear at all: either on heaven, earth, Jerusalem. Simply let your “Yes” be “Yes.” What promise is God giving here? God gives us the gift of words. And he says that words have power. Words can bring life and peace, or words can bring death and destruction. Unlike us, who break our promises, God never breaks a promise. When God speaks his words, he does that he says. When God says, “Your sins are forgiven,” they are forgiven. When God says, “This man and woman are husband and wife,” they are. When God says, “Peace be with you,” you have his peace.

These aren’t in our reading today, but Jesus continues with the same pattern two more times: (5) Revenge, and (6) Love for enemies.

So to enter the kingdom of heaven we are called to have a righteousness that surpasses the mere letter of the law. We need God’s heart. We are called to recognise God’s promises and gifts. And we are called to protect and fight for these.

But, too often, our hearts desire the old kingdom. We desire to find a way to fulfil the letter of the law, to tick the box, while weaselling out of fulfilling God’s heart and true desire. So God gives another gift. God gives you his son, Jesus Christ. Jesus died and rose again to transfer you into his new kingdom. Like a shining robe, Jesus gives you his righteousness to wear as your own. Jesus gives you his own heart. Disciples of Jesus are transformed into new people. People with a heart for the law. People who discern God’s promises and protect them.

May Jesus dress you in his righteousness. With a new heart, may you come to recognise God’s heart and desire that lies behind his commands and laws. May you receive and enjoy God’s good gifts which he promises you, now and forever. Amen.