I love the depth and practicality of Jesus’ message here. Many of his critics thought he was abolishing the law. In his teaching, Jesus was verifying that the law is both temporary and eternal. The law itself creates a moral dilemma that can only be solved by taking a step backward. This is exactly where the heart of Jesus’ message lands. In verses 21-48 he rattles off a series of law-breaking actions but traces those actions back to a specific, deep-rooted issue.
As I said, many of Jesus’ critics thought he was lowering the standard. He was actually raising the bar. What is the real cause of someone who commits adultery? The act of adultery is the result of a long equation filled with lust and selfishness. Jesus was tracing all these issues back to the heart condition. At the time, it was probably incredibly overwhelming to believe, which is why Jesus was hated by the Pharisees and eventually put to death.
The Pharisees could not wrap their minds around this counter-cultural teaching. Jesus proved that the law was not able to heal the root issues of sin. Of course, most of the Pharisees were never going to admit this.
How are we able to overcome sin? It’s not by our own strength. It’s through the power of the Spirit which quenches hate and lust. His love empowers us to unbelievable levels of commitment. He allows us to speak the truth and forgive our enemies. These are principles the world will not uphold or even understand. It only comes through a revelation by the Spirit of God.
Do you pray regularly for the Holy Spirit to fill you? Do you plead with him for conviction? If you are facing an uphill battle with a sin struggle, you will never be able to fix it alone. Get into accountability, get into the Word and pray that the Spirit of God fills you like never before. When we are filled with the Spirit, there is no room for sin’s tempting snare.