From Matthew 5:27-30 / The Problem with Sin – The lead in to the six statements of vss. 21-48 – each one headed by “you have heard it said” or its equivalent – is Jesus’ words in vs. 20 that our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and the Pharisees. It is then end capped by vs. 48 – that the bottom line is that to be accepted by God based upon our own righteousness – it would take being as perfect as God Himself. All along Jesus is showing the impossibility of the necessary standard. And thus He also exposes the hypocrisy of any who imagine themselves righteous enough to be approved by God, in and of themselves. While in the first example, Jesus’ shows that the root of murder – hatred – is the real issue, not mere behavioral and mechanical obedience, this second case moves it even further. As J.C. Ryle notes: [Jesus] “shows us that the law, as expounded by Him, was a far more spiritual and heart-searching rule than most of the Jews supposed.” And let me borrow from Ryle here a set of important and useful takeaways from all of it.

1st., this entire section “teaches us the exceeding holiness of God.”

2nd., “It teaches us the exceeding ignorance of man in spiritual things.”

3rd., “It teaches us our exceeding need of the Lord Jesus Christ’s atoning blood to save us.”

4th., “this passage teaches us the exceeding importance of avoiding all occasions of sin.”

I cannot agree more. Over the years I’ve heard many proclaim that the way to live is to follow the Sermon on The Mount – but I’ve been left wondering if they have ever really understood it. If they did, they would realize how it is Christ expounds a standard of righteousness and holiness so beyond our grasp, that nothing short of the supernatural work of the triune God in sending Jesus Christ as our sin-bearer, to be received by faith, and the imputation of HIS righteousness to us can suffice to reconcile us to God. As Proverbs 27:22 reminds us, you can crush a fool in a mortar with a pestle, but his folly can’t be separated out. Our sin is so systemic and endemic, so native to us, only the miraculous saving work of Jesus can make the fundamental change in our nature necessary. Sin is so all pervasive and inbred. But praise God, “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.” What a wonderful Savior!