Matthew 5:21-30

The Matter of the Heart

The Pharisees thought they were righteous because they never killed anyone or committed adultery. But Jesus reminds us that anger is the seed of murder, and lust is the seed of adultery. Sin begins in the thoughts we entertain and the attitudes we hold long before it shows up in our actions.

That’s why reconciliation is so important. Jesus said if we come to worship but know there’s brokenness between us and someone else, we need to seek peace first. God values a reconciled heart more than a ritual offering.

And when it comes to lust, Jesus spoke with urgency — “tear out your eye,” “cut off your hand” — not literally, but to show how serious sin really is. We can’t play with temptation. We must deal with it radically before it deals with us.

The good news is that we aren’t left alone in this struggle. Christ not only forgives our anger and lust — He transforms our hearts. Where anger once lived, He gives love. Where lust once ruled, He gives purity.

Friends, the heart of the matter is the heart itself. Let’s not be satisfied with outward appearances of righteousness. Let’s ask Jesus to cleanse us from the inside out so that our lives reflect His holiness and grace.