27 Feb 26 | Beyond External Obedience
Jesus does not lower the Law, He drives it into the heart, revealing that true righteousness begins beneath the surface.
The Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26
Jesus said to his disciples:
"I tell you,
unless your righteousness surpasses that
of the scribes and Pharisees,
you will not enter into the Kingdom of heaven.
"You have heard that it was said to your ancestors,
You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.
But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother
will be liable to judgment,
and whoever says to his brother, Raqa,
will be answerable to the Sanhedrin,
and whoever says, 'You fool,' will be liable to fiery Gehenna.
Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar,
and there recall that your brother
has anything against you,
leave your gift there at the altar,
go first and be reconciled with your brother,
and then come and offer your gift.
Settle with your opponent quickly while on the way to court.
Otherwise your opponent will hand you over to the judge,
and the judge will hand you over to the guard,
and you will be thrown into prison.
Amen, I say to you,
you will not be released until you have paid the last penny."
Today’s Focus
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus deepens the commandment against murder by tracing violence back to its interior root: sustained anger and contempt. True righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees not by stricter external compliance, but by transformed interiority. Words of insult and resentment are not harmless; they reveal a heart misaligned with covenant love. Jesus prioritizes reconciliation even over ritual worship, showing that communion with God cannot be separated from restored relationships with others. The Law fulfilled is the Law written on the heart.
In the Margins
This Gospel follows Jesus declaring that He has not come to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. The statement that righteousness must “surpass that of the scribes and Pharisees” sets the stage for the six so-called “antitheses” (“You have heard… but I say to you…”).
Jesus does not reject the commandment against murder (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17). Instead, He intensifies it. Second Temple Jewish interpretation already recognized gradations of culpability, but Jesus pushes deeper. Murder is not merely the physical act; it begins in disordered anger. He is taking the external act and calling out an internal source. When He speaks of anger, the Greek term (orgizomenos) suggests sustained, nurtured resentment rather than momentary irritation. Jesus is tracing a progression of anger here, where anger turns to contempt (raqa), and then to moral denunciation. “Raqa” is an Aramaic insult implying emptiness or worthlessness. “Fool” (moros) in Jewish tradition could imply moral corruption (cf. Psalm 14:1). Thus, Jesus exposes how interior hostility dehumanizes others before physical violence ever occurs.
When Jesus calls out those that will be liable to “Fiery Gehenna,” He refers to the Valley of Hinnom (Ge Hinnom). In the Old Testament it is associated with idolatry and child sacrifice (Jeremiah 7:31; 2 Kings 23:10). By the Second Temple period, it had become an image of final judgment. Jesus is intentionally using sobering language, this would have been a hard sermon for many to hear.
The command to leave one’s gift at the altar is radical as well. In Temple worship sacrifice represented covenant participation and divine communion. This was central to Jewish life, yet Jesus prioritizes reconciliation over ritual. The prophetic connection here is that God rejects worship divorced from justice and reconciliation. The phrase “if your brother has anything against you” is significant. The burden of initiative lies on the worshiper. Even if one believes oneself innocent, reconciliation is the priority. One’s interior righteousness is relational.
This righteousness “beyond” the Pharisees is not greater legal precision but transformed interiority. In first-century Judaism, scribes were experts in Torah interpretation, and Pharisees were known for rigorous observance. Their righteousness was meticulous and visible. For Jesus to say it must be surpassed would have been shocking. He is not condemning Torah fidelity; He is redefining its depth. Jesus fulfills Jeremiah 31:33, the Law written on the heart. He embodies Deuteronomy 30:6, circumcision of the heart. He anticipates Ezekiel 36:26, a new heart and spirit. The issue is not quantity of obedience but quality of interior transformation.
Jesus’ escalation is deliberate. What seems socially minor (insult) is spiritually significant because it reflects contempt for one made in God’s image. This is a moral compass we can use and follow each day we go out into the world. There are many things that will pull and look to be justified. We need to look at what those are doing to our hearts. This can help when we find ourselves partaking in relativism, where we look to justify things as “not that bad.” Even things “not that bad” have a way of slowly desensitizing us to other actions. There is a distinct line between loving everyone and accepting actions that are in contradiction to our covenantal love with God.
Reflection Question
Is there resentment or contempt I have justified as “not that bad” that is quietly shaping my heart?
A Small Invitation
If this reflection helped you, consider sharing it with someone who may be carrying more than they were meant to.