Matthew 5:17-20 sets up an important point about the nature of sin. To do so, Jesus first declares that heaven’s standard of righteousness is beyond human ability. His purpose is not to discard the law of Moses, but to accomplish the purpose for which the law was given. A cornerstone of Jesus’ teaching is that man cannot earn salvation, since we cannot hope to be good enough. This passage sets the stage for this idea, through exaggeration. In order to earn the kingdom of heaven, a person must be even more righteousness than the scribes and Pharisees—that culture’s ultimate standard for ”good behavior.” In later passages, Christ will expand on how sin involves not only what we do, physically, but our thoughts and motivations.
This coming Sunday we will look at this passage from the Sermon on the Mount. Take some time as you find the time to dig into these verses this week as you seek to grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ (2 Peter 3:18).