INTRO:
Have you ever noticed that every Mission: Impossible movie begins the same way? Ethan Hunt gets a message that basically says, “Good morning, Mr. Hunt. Your mission, should you choose to accept it…” Then they hand him a task that’s completely absurd.
“Infiltrate the world’s most secure building…”
“…without being seen.”
“…steal a device that doesn’t officially exist.”
“…save the world.”
“…and trust no one.”
By the end, he’s hanging from airplanes, climbing skyscrapers, driving motorcycles off cliffs, and somehow sprinting faster than people half his age.
We watch because we know it’s called Mission: Impossible, not Mission: Fairly Challenging.
When we come to Matthew 5:17 and beyond, Jesus almost sounds like He’s giving His own impossible mission.
THE MISSION:
As we enter the text we see Jesus begin to contrast his thoughts with those of the current religious establishment on several commands concerning what righteousness really looks like as it’s lived out in the Kingdom of God.
You see this emphasis repeated within this section of the sermon with the words…”You have heard that it was said…But I say to you…” and if you place yourself in the crowd listening, you can feel the tension building in the discourse.
ANGER (v. 21-26)
Jesus elevates the command and takes it from the concept of action and says that even what we feel on the inside (anger) makes one guilty. It’s not just that murder causes judgment, but if what I feel on the inside causes me to speak ill of another, or insult another, then I’m guilty.
He then says that unresolved anger and broken relationships affect our ability to worship. Worship isn’t just an external action. it, just like anger, is something that begins on the inside and then finds external expression. So, we can magnify our Lord, while we feel malice towards another.
Our culture excuses anger.
“I just tell it like it is.”
“I’m just venting.”
“They deserved it.”
Jesus says sinful anger is serious because it reveals a heart that is far from God’s.
Kingdom citizens pursue reconciliation. They are peacemakers.
LUST (v. 27-30)
Notice first, Jesus is not condemning attraction. God created beauty. You should be attracted to your spouse.
God created sexual desire. Those are gifts within marriage. The issue is found in the phrase: “with lustful intent.” This isn’t an accidental glance. It’s a deliberate gaze.
Dr. Cook, my NT professor once said in class, how do you know it’s lust? He said, it’s not the first glance, but it is the second.
Second, Jesus is not saying that lust and physical adultery have identical earthly consequences.
So, what is lust? Let me give you 2 definitions…
- Lust isn’t simply seeing beauty; it’s seeking to possess in your heart someone God has not given you.
- 2. Lust turns people made in God’s image into objects for my pleasure.
We live in a culture that monetizes lust.
Advertisements.
Movies.
Television.
Social media.
Pornography.
Books…(ladies…it doesn’t have to have pictures to be pornography)
Everything says,
“Feed your desires.”
Jesus says,
“Fight them.”
Our culture says,
“Follow your heart.”
Jesus says,
“Guard your heart.”
DIVORCE (v. 31-32)
I know some listening have experienced the pain of divorce. Maybe from your own past sin, many because of the sin of another, and many are experiencing the redeeming grace of God in remarriage and you live in a Christ-centered home.
Jesus isn’t introducing a new debate.
He’s stepping into one already raging.
The Pharisees were arguing over Deuteronomy 24:1.
The debate centered around the phrase:
“some indecency”
One school (Shammai) interpreted it narrowly—serious sexual immorality.
Another (Hillel) interpreted it very broadly.
A man could supposedly divorce his wife for almost anything:
- burning supper
- becoming less attractive
- finding someone prettier
- embarrassing him publicly
The discussion had become:
“When is divorce permissible?”
Jesus redirects the conversation.
Instead of asking,
“How easily can I get out?”
He asks,
“Why are you looking for a way out in the first place?”
The Pharisees emphasized the certificate.
Jesus emphasizes the covenant.
The certificate became a way to justify ending marriages.
Jesus says:
You’re missing God’s design.
Marriage isn’t merely paperwork.
It’s two becoming one flesh.
Jesus gives narrow parameters for divorce. Sexual immorality. And he says it’s permissible, not a command.
APP: Fight for your marriage.
“Makes her commit adultery” several views:
- referring to a woman wrongfully divorced.
- He’s speaking in an exaggerated sense, highlighting the casual culture of divorce.
- every marriage is a covenant until death and it is adultery
- adultery is the initial act.
OATHS (v. 33-37)
By Jesus’ day, however, a complicated system had developed.
People distinguished between:
- swearing by God
- swearing by heaven
- swearing by Jerusalem
- swearing by the temple
- swearing by your own head
Some oaths were considered binding.
Others were viewed as technically non-binding.
It became a loophole.
Instead of asking,
“Am I telling the truth?”
They asked,
“How can I word this so I’m not legally obligated?”
APP: Have integrity!
RETALIATION (V. 38-42)
This comes from Exodus 21, Leviticus 24, and Deuteronomy 19.
It’s called the “law of retaliation”.
Ironically, this law was given to limit vengeance.
Before God’s law, retaliation often escalated:
You broke my tooth…
I’ll kill your family.
God said:
Punishment must fit the crime.
Justice—not revenge.
Even more importantly, these laws were given to Israel’s judges, not as a license for personal vendettas. The Pharisees had taken a principle meant for the courtroom and applied it to everyday personal relationships.
Jesus says:
“You’re using the justice system to justify your revenge.”
This isn’t to say that justice shouldn’t be sought, or that you should never call the police. Or, you should never oppose evil.
APP: Surrender your personal rights rather than demand repayment. Don’t retaliate to defend your pride.
LOVE YOUR ENEMIES (v. 43-48)
We love others the way God loves us.
Not just those who like us or those who look like us…
RIGHTEOUSNESS IS RECEIVED NOT ACHIEVED
The Pharisees thought righteousness meant, “Don’t murder.”
Jesus says, “Don’t even harbor hatred.”
They said, “Don’t commit adultery.”
Jesus says, “Don’t even lust.”
They said, “Love your neighbor.”
Jesus says, “Love your enemies.”
By the time we reach the end of the chapter, Jesus says, “Be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.”
If you’re listening honestly, your reaction ought to be, “That’s impossible!”
And that’s exactly where Jesus wants us. He isn’t lowering the bar so we can feel successful. He’s raising it so high that we finally realize righteousness isn’t something we achieve—it’s something we need. Jesus isn’t simply giving us harder rules; He’s exposing our hearts and showing us our need for a Savior.
“The Pharisees thought they had passed the test because they hadn’t pulled the trigger. Jesus says, ‘We’re not just talking about what your hands have done. We’re talking about what your heart has wanted.’ Suddenly, this doesn’t feel like Mission: Impossible starring Tom Cruise—it feels like Mission: Impossible starring me.”
ROMANS 3:21