Introduction and Overview

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Jason: Thank you for listening, and welcome to the podcast. I am your host, Jason McConnell. In this Kingdom Living episode, we're gonna explore Matthew five, verses 21 through 48, where Jesus takes six familiar commands from the Old Testament and refrains them, not to dismiss them, but to drive them deeper. He moves from external actions to internal attitudes.

This is more than just avoiding murder or adultery. It's about confronting anger, lust, deceit, and even how we treat our enemies. Jesus wants to transform the roots, not just from the branches, and this is where the Sermon on the Mount stops being theoretical and starts cutting into our everyday struggles.

The this anger, lust, divorce, revenge, integrity, and, and again, even loving our enemies. Jesus doesn't want better behavior. He wants our hearts. Let's take a look at what real kingdom righteousness looks like. Not just behavior modified, but hearts renewed.

Understanding Anger and Reconciliation

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Jason: As we forge ahead on Jesus's sermon on the mound, we're gonna see his message bring clarity to the meaning of the law.

And as I've mentioned before, Jesus isn't here to abolish the Old Testament. He, he's certainly not here to oppose the laws of Moses. What Jesus is trying to tell us is to move beyond superficial interpretations of Moses. Now, the religious leaders of the time made a couple of errors according to David Guzzi.

First, they restricted God's commands, and second, they extended God's commands beyond his intention. Now, let's begin with something. I'm sure many of us wrestle with this idea of anger in Matthew five verses 21 and 22. Jesus says, you have heard it was said to the people long ago, you shall not murder and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. This is where Jesus begins this pattern of you have heard, but I tell you, but understand people of that time didn't really study the laws of Moses themselves. All, all they knew was what the scribes and the Pharisees taught them, which is why Jesus didn't say you have read or something else understand.

This statement was, was kind of bold. He was basically telling everyone that what these religious leaders and scholars have been teaching you is incomplete. And that was bold. The part about you shall not murder was certainly true, but Jesus is making it clear that anyone with murderous intent in their heart is in danger of judgment.

Jesus draws a direct line from murder to unresolved anger and not because they have the same consequences in in society, in this, in this world, but because they come from the same root in the heart, contempt, pride, and bitterness. He continues in Matthew five, verses 23 and 24. Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember, and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar first.

Go be reconciled to them and then come and offer your gift. Jesus is pretty clear here. God cares more about reconciliation than religious rituals. Worship loses its meaning when our hearts are full of hatred or or unresolved conflict in our world Today, anger shows up everywhere. Passive aggressive comments at home, long held grudges with coworkers, explosive reactions behind the keyboard on social media, bitterness, we rehearse over and over in silence.

And while anger itself isn't always sinful, it becomes dangerous. When we let it fester, when it defines us or or when it harms others. And that's why James also teaches us in James one verses 19 and 20, everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires.

And there's plenty of scripture out there that outlines this hard attitude. Romans 1218, if it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. And Ephesians 4 26 and 27 in your anger, do not sin. Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry. And do not give the devil a foothold.

Anger doesn't carry out God's justice. It fractures relationships and dilutes our witness. So what do we do? Matthew 5 25 and 26 teaches us, settle matters quickly with your adversary who. Is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge and the judge may hand you over to the officer and you may be thrown into prison.

Truly, I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. Now, understand Jesus is using this verse to speak to us in sort of a figurative speech way. Initiate reconciliation and do it quickly. That's the hard part, right? Especially when we feel like the other person was more at fault.

It's all your fault, right? But Jesus doesn't say, wait until they apologize. He says, go and be reconciled. Take care of your debt, whether it be financial or emotional, or whatever. Do it before there are consequences. This might mean a phone call, a coffee conversation, paying for an expensive mistake or even a quiet moment of prayer, asking God to soften your own heart before you speak.

It won't always lead to the perfect resolution or maybe no resolution at all. But in the kingdom, what matters most is a heart posture towards peace, humility, and love. So ask yourself this today. Who am I holding anger toward? Who do I need to forgive? Is there someone I need to approach? Not to win an argument, but to restore a relationship.

Don't let unresolved anger corrode your soul. In Jesus's kingdom, reconciliation is a form of worship. Okay, so that's anger and and whatnot. One down, that wasn't so bad, right? But before you get too comfortable, let's talk about something that's everywhere.

Confronting Lust and Pursuing Purity

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Jason: This idea of lust. You've heard the old adage sex cells.

Well, there's a reason for that. It appeals directly to one of the most raw sins, and Jesus takes this subject head on in Matthew five verses 27 and 28. You have heard it said you shall not commit adultery, but I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

Let me put this one into modern terms. I mean, you've heard people say, it doesn't hurt to look right. I can window shop wrong. This is one of those teachings that's gonna stop us cold. Jesus isn't condemning external sin. He's going after the inner inner intent that that quiet decision of the heart. I should also point out that this isn't an excuse to go ahead and commit adultery externally.

It's not okay to think, well, I've already committed it in my heart, so I might as well go all the way. It's not okay. In a culture where lust is often minimized, joked about, even celebrated, Jesus calls for something radically different. Purity of heart. Now he's, he's not saying that temptation is sin.

There's a difference between being tempted and choosing to indulge. Lust happens when we choose to feed that thought, entertain that image, or treat someone as an object rather than a soul made in the image of God. Jesus continues in verses 29 and 30. If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away, it is better that you lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.

And if your right, uh, hand causes you to stumble, 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 go into hell. I mean, wow, that, that escalated quickly. Understand something here. He's not commanding physical harm. He's not suggesting you and I go mutilate our bodies.

And the truth is, mutilation won't actually fix sinful desires. This is hyperbolic language to, to drive home a point. Take sin seriously. Don't flirt with it. Don't manage it. Get ruthless with whatever draws you into darkness. Apostle Paul echoes his seriousness in First Thessalonians four verses three through five.

It is God's will that you should be sanctified, that you should avoid sexual immorality, that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans who do not know God. We live in a digital age, saturated with lust, ads, apps, entertainment, even the way people present themselves online.

Purity is not about shame. It's about radical commitment to holiness that flows from love, not legalism. So if we struggle with lust, what can we do practically? The first thing you have to do is guard your digital intake. I mean, this means evaluating the movies you stream, the accounts you follow, the time you spend mindlessly scrolling, doom scrolling, as they call it.

Ask, is this helping me walk in purity or feeding my flesh? Second, pursue some accountability. Don't battle it alone. Find a trusted friend or mentor who can ask the hard questions, pray with you, and walk alongside you. We're not meant to fight battles secretly in the dark. Uh, we need the light. And then ask yourself this.

Where am I letting compromise creep in? What needs to change in my rhythms, relationships, or habits? Do I want holiness more than temporary satisfaction? Look, guys, Jesus isn't calling us to be perfect overnight. It's a progress through grace. Empowered by the spirit, motivated by love in his kingdom.

Purity isn't a box to check, it's a reflection of a heart that's captivated by something so much better.

The Sacredness of Marriage and Divorce

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Jason: So now we're gonna move on to divorce. In the sermon of the mountain, when we do this, we get into a bit of a sensitive area. And, and just for context, this refers back to Deuteronomy 24 verse one. If a man marries a woman who becomes displeasing to him because he finds something indecent about her and he writes her a certificate of divorce, gives it to her and sends her from his house.

Now another translations awarding here seems, uh, to. To indicate something unclean in her un cleanliness in her rather than displeasing as a grounds for divorce. However, some rabbis define un cleanliness as basically anything the wife does that might displease the husband. Basically, this eventually allowed men to divorce their women for just about any reason.

To be fair, we're actually, there were actually two schools of thoughts on what was permissible grounds for divorce. The school of uh, Shammai restricted some indecencies of Deuteronomy 24 1 to refer only to sexual misdemeanor that could be authenticated by a witness. Okay, fair enough. The School of Hillel basically took any cause for complaint to be a valid reason for divorce, and if I got those school names wrong, I.

Forgive me. Uh, my, my Hebrew is terrible. Anyways, Jesus was basically taking Deuteronomy 24 1 and expanding on what un cleanliness actually means. So let's read Matthew 5 31 and 32. It has been said. Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce. But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery.

And anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery. So Jesus was clarifying that un cleanliness refers to sexual immorality, which is still a bit of a broad term to describe sexual sin. But it kind of boils down to having a sexual relationship with anyone who is not your spouse. I mean, that simplifies it.

Right? This makes sense because the word used for un cleanliness in Deuteronomy 24, 1 is Augh, which actually translates to nakedness, nudity, and shame. Of course the Greek word used here is pornea, which has multiple meaning meanings like adultery, fornication, homosexuality, intercourse with close relatives, and even intercourse with a divorced man or woman.

Now, Jesus is not trying to heap shame on those who have suffered broken relationships. He's confronting, confronting a system where people were using legal technicalities to abandon their commitments without considering the emotional and spiritual cause. God's heart for marriage has always been about covenant faithfulness, a sacred promise, not just a legal contract.

Now, I understand we have different perspectives on divorce in more modern times, and it's considered more acceptable culturally. And again, this is not to shame anyone who have had failed marriages, but I think it's important to remember that divorce is ugly and a lot of people get hurt during a divorce.

We hear his heart echoed in Malachi two, verse 16. The man who hates and divorces his wife, says the Lord, the God of Israel does violence to the one he should protect, says the Lord Almighty. So be on your guard and do not be unfaithful. That's some strong language. Does violence. Divorce isn't just a personal matter, it deeply wounds lives.

Yeah, we must be clear. God does not hate people who have been through a divorce. He hates the damage it causes, especially when it seems to stem from selfishness, unfaithfulness, or even abuse. If you've experienced pain, the pain of a divorce, understand that there is grace, there is healing, there is restoration in Christ.

Your story doesn't end with brokenness. Jesus offers forgiveness, renewal. A hope for the road ahead. Now, for those of you who are married, this is teaching us that we, we are called to faithful love, not, not out of fear, but out of reverence for the God who keeps his promises. For those who are single, it's a reminder that relationships are sacred and God calls us to treat love, intimacy and the covenant with care and honor in the kingdom of God.

Faithfulness isn't measured by staying together out of duty. It's about. Loving sacrificially, protecting the vulnerable, vulnerable, and reflecting God's own unwavering love. So again, I have questions for you to ask yourself, am I honoring relationships the way God does? What do I need to heal or repent?

And how often or how can I reflect God's faithfulness in my own commitments? Now, wherever you are in your journey, know this. Jesus sees Jesus knows Jesus restores.

Living Truthfully and Honestly

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Jason: All right, let's talk about truth, and let's be honest here. Truth has become a currency that feels increasingly rare. In a world of curated social media profiles spins, half truths, broken promises, truthfulness often feels like a performance rather than a principle, but Jesus calls us to something better.

Again, something simpler, actually, something deeply transformative. In Matthew 5 33 through 37, he says, again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made. But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all either by heaven for its.

It is God's throne or by earth for it is God's footstool or by Jerusalem. For it is the city of the Great King, and do not swear by your head for you cannot make even one hair, white or black. All you need to say simply is yes or no. Anything beyond this comes from the evil one. It's interesting, right?

Jesus isn't condemning legal contracts or formal vows like, well, like wedding vows or courtroom oath. What he's doing here is calling out a culture of loopholes and layered promises where people swore by lesser things to give the illusion of truth without actual accountability. It was like saying, I swear on my life, but not really meaning it.

It made truth feel optional and flexible, but in the kingdom of God, truth is non-negotiable. Jesus teaches us that your character should be so trustworthy that your simple yes or no is enough. Why? Because when we live in the light, we have nothing to prove and nothing to manipulate. Our words reflect who we are, not who we want people to think we are.

Paul echoes this in Colossians three verses nine and 10. Do not lie to each other since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge, in the image of its creator. Truthfulness is part of our new identity in Christ. It's not about sounding religious or morally impressive.

It's about being genuine, being consistent and and being whole, in our words, in our commitments, and yes, even our digital lives. So here's the challenge for you. Are you the same person in private as you are in public? Does your yes really mean yes when no one's watching? Are you honest in your conversations, captions, emails, and interactions?

Here's a quick practical tip for you too. If you struggle with overstating, exaggerating, or bending the truth to please people, I want you to pause. Invite the Holy Spirit into that moment. Ask for the courage to speak plainly and live honestly, Jesus is forming a people who don't need to swear oath to prove they are trustworthy because.

Because they already are in the kingdom. Truth isn't just spoken. It's, it's a livelihood. It's lived. Let your yes be yes. Let your no be no. Let your life reflect the one who is himself the truth. Okay, here comes the real fun.

Radical Grace: Retaliation and Justice

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Jason: Let's shift our focus to retaliation and justice. Maybe you've heard things like make them pay, get even, don't let them walk all over you.

And these are the phrases that the world celebrates when we've been wronged, right? Yeah. It feels good to be angry and to get justice and to get back at him, but Jesus doesn't echo that sentiment. He completely redefines justice, not as revenge, but as grace. Let's read Matthew five verses 38 through 42.

You have heard it said. Eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth. But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles.

Give to the one who asks you and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you. Now, there's some interesting context here. First, when Jesus speaks of slapping. This was culturally understood as an insult, not necessarily a physical slap. So if someone takes a crowbar to the right side of your face, that doesn't mean you turn and let them do the same thing on the left.

Jesus is really telling us not to trade insults for insult, but to show grace and forgiveness. Second, under the laws of Moses, the outer code could not be taken from someone in a lawsuit, and under Roman occupation, under military law, any Roman soldier could command a Jew. To carry his soldier's pack for one mile, but no further than one mile.

The Jews deeply resented this rule, but what Jesus was really saying here is that we should go beyond what is demanded by law. In other words, voluntarily give them the outer coat and voluntarily carry the pack when additional mile. Why would he do this? Because doing it means letting go of the hostility and resentment towards the oppressors.

That second mile is not an obligation, but an opportunity to demonstrate the heart of God. Doing this showed that the Romans, that followers of Christ were different set apart from the world. Now, before we jump to any conclusions, let me clarify one thing here. Jesus isn't calling us to become doormats or enabled, you know, injustice.

What he's doing is striking at the root of a heart that demands retaliation. He's flipping the script. Again, in a culture built around equal retaliation, he introduces the shocking idea of radical grace. By offering more than what is forced, we're able to show love and grace towards those who seek to oppress us.

The eye for an eye law was originally intended to prevent excessive punishment. It was about limiting vengeance, not demanding it, but Jesus' day. It'd become justification for personal revenge. Jesus is telling us that's not how it's gonna work in my kingdom. Instead of hitting back, turn the other cheek, instead of fighting for your rights, give more than what is asked.

Instead of doing only what's required, go the extra mile because grace changes everything. Paul puts it this way in Romans 12, verse 17 through 21. Do not repay one evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.

Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath for it is written. It is mine to avenge. I will repay, says the Lord. Contrary. If your enemy is hungry, feed them. If he is thirsty, give them something to drink. In doing this, you will heap burning coals on his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

This is what Jesus means by kingdom justice. Doesn't mean we ignore wrongs, not at all. It means trusting God to deal with them and choosing to respond with humility instead of wrath. And let's be honest here, this isn't easy. Our instincts scream for payback, but here's the truth. Retaliation traps us, but Grace sets us free.

Maybe someone's insulted you online. Maybe a coworker took credit for your idea. Maybe a family member hurts you deeply. Sure you could fight fire with fire, or you could overcome evil with good. That doesn't mean there's no place for justice systems or accountability. Jesus isn't undermining wise boundaries.

In personal relationships, he's calling us to something greater than fairness, forgiveness, mercy, generosity, and grace. So where do you need to give up your rights to get even? Where do you need to stop keeping score and start living surrendered? Jesus shows us the way. He didn't just teach this. He lived it.

He lived it on the cross. He didn't retaliate. He forgive. Father, forgive them for they know not what they do. And now by his spirit, he empowers us to do the same. Kingdom living means choosing grace over grudges. It means letting God handle justice and letting love lead the way.

Loving Your Enemies

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Jason: And this leads us into our next topic, the idea of loving our enemies.

This one tends to stop people a little bit in their tracks, but let's read through Matthew four verses 43 through 48. You have heard that it was said, love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your father in heaven.

He causes his son to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Or not even the tax collectors doing that. And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even the pagans do that.

Be perfect. Therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Guys, this is radical love, not just for friends, family, or people who agree with us, but love for people who hurt us, who ignore us, who betray us, who stand against us. Jesus says this kind of love is the signature of the kingdom. It's what sets God's children apart.

It reflects the very heart of the Father, and if we're honest, doesn't. It doesn't really come naturally. The world tells us, cut them off, cancel them, get even. But the kingdom says, love them. Pray for them. Bless them. Jesus doubles down on this in Luke 6 27 and 28. But to you who are listening, I say, love your enemies.

Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you. Then it goes on in verse 35 and 36. But love your enemies. Do good to them and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great and you'll be children of the most high because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked.

Be merciful just as your father is merciful. This is more than behavior modification. I mean, this is heart transformation. It's not just about being nice or being civil. It's about mirroring God's mercy. Why does this matter? Because this is exactly what God has done for all of us. Romans tells us that while we were still sinners, the enemy of God, in other words, Christ died for us.

He didn't wait for us to get it right. He pursued us with love. That's the model. That's the standard. So what does this look like practically? Start with prayer. Yep. Prayer. Not their downfall, but for the good. Don't pray for them to fall. Pray for them to be lifted up. Think of someone who has hurt you, rejected you, or spoken against you.

Someone who if, if you're honest, you'd rather avoid or see disappear. Start praying for them. Ask God to bless them. It's not going to be easy. I've done this. It is not easy. It might not change them right away, but it will start to change you. I mean, this happened to me. There was someone in my life who really hurt me.

I would've loved more than anything to watch their downfall, but I was inspired to pray for God's blessing to cover this person. It was awkward at first. I really didn't mean it. I continued to keep this person in my prayers and our relationship began to heal. And I knew God was working the situation, but he was working me too.

How I responded started to change, and I began to see this person a little bit from Christ's perspective. So as you pray, maybe that prayer leads to a kind word, maybe it leads to forgiveness, finally. Maybe it just helps you let go of the bitterness. Whatever the result, you'll be stepping in alignment with the kingdom.

Jesus ends his teaching this, this part of the teaching with the powerful command be perfect. Therefore, as your heavenly father is perfect, he's not calling us the flawlessness, that's impossible. He's calling us to reflect the complete, compassionate love of the Father. So here's the challenge. Don't settle for human love.

That only flows towards the easy and the familiar step into kingdom Love that reaches across boundaries, overcomes hatred, and shows the world what God is like. That is what is meant by being a citizen of his kingdom. That is what's meant by following Jesus. That's what it means to love your enemy.

Embracing Kingdom Living

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Jason: After everything we've heard in these passages, everything we've read from, from rejecting anger to lust, to honoring marriage, to loving our enemies, it's easy to feel overwhelmed.

I mean, honestly, how can anyone live up to this? And that's kind of the point. Jesus isn't giving us a checklist to prove our holiness. He's revealing a new way of life, one that we can't live without him. This kingdom standard, it's beautiful. It's also impossible on our own strength. It's not just about trying harder or being nicer, it's about being transformed by his grace.

Look what Titus two 11 and 12 teaches us. For the grace of God has appeared, that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say no to ungodly and worldly passions to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age. Did you catch that? Grace teaches us not guilt, not lingualism, not shame, grace.

The same grace that saved us, also empowers us to live differently. Jesus didn't give these teachings to us so that we would double down on human effort. He gave them to drive us to him, to show us how desperately we need the Holy Spirit forming Christ-like character in us. So when we find ourselves getting angry or or battling lust or struggling to forgive, the answer isn't to try harder.

It's to surrender more. Ask the Holy Spirit to do what you can't do on your own. Change your desires. Put somebody in your path that can help you shape your reactions. Align your heart with Gods. And here's the great news. I'm gonna say great news, not just good news. When we walk in step with the spirit, we don't just manage sin, we actually begin to love righteousness.

The impossible becomes possible, not because we're strong, but because God's grace is working in us moment by moment. So today, instead of striving, invite, invite the spirit to take over. Ask Jesus to live his life through you. That's where transformation begins. That's kingdom living. It all starts with grace.

Conclusion

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Jason: Jesus didn't come just to make bad people behave better. He came to bring the dead to life. He came for your heart, not just your habits. All throughout Matthew five, he lifts the veil showing that righteousness isn't skin deep, it's soul deep. He's not impressed by performance. He's after transformation.

That's not a burden. It's an invitation. An invitation to freedom, to integrity into wholeness. So let me ask you a few things. Where is God calling you to go deeper this week? Is it how you handle anger? Is it what you let through your eyes and ears? Is it how you love those who've wronged you? Don't just modify your behavior, surrender your heart, because Jesus isn't looking for polished appearances.

He's looking for the people who are hungry to be made new from the inside out. Focus on that heart transformation because what happens in your heart will shape absolutely everything in your life. As we close, I want you to think on these words from Proverbs four verses 20, verse 23. Above all else, guard your heart for everything you do, flows from it.

Everything you do, every word, action. Every choice. It flows from the wellsprings of your heart. So let Jesus make your heart new because that's where the kingdom begins. Until next time, keep loving your neighbors. Dive into God's word daily and may the Lord bless you and keep you and fill you with his peace.

Take care. God bless it. I'll see you in the next episode.