Matthew 5:21-26 First reconciliation, then sacrifice

“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent."

This is the crux of Christ's authority concerning the Law of Moses. He knows that the Jews are zealous for the law, so Jesus opens his mouth to say, "You have heard..." In other words, your narrow understanding of the written law I am extending to mean the intention of your heart. In Jesus' realm, the intention of the heart for better or for worse is greater than the works of your hands. So those who come to Jesus with a pure heart and pure intentions will be rewarded greater than those whose intentions are less pure and works are greater. In the same way, the one who sins will be no more accountable than the one who intended such a thing, but didn't do it. This is the crux of the New Covenant - It is a law written not on tablets of stone, but on the flesh of our hearts.

Daily Prayer: Father, because of the way things are, create in us a clean heart with clean intentions so that on Judgement Day, we will be found blameless. In Jesus name I pray Amen.