Matthew 5:13-30 - The seriousness of sin

5:13-16

While in one sense we are insignificant, we are actually very important, we are the “salt of the earth”, we both add flavour and are a preservative, we have a vital effect on the earth. However, we must retain our saltiness, we must not become immoral or corrupt, otherwise we will be treated as worthless.

We are also “the light of the world”, we think of Jesus as the light, and so He is, but he also works through His people. We might be counted as insignificant by the world, but God wants to put us on display, we are meant to be visible. God’s people are meant to be a demonstration of the life of God, and so glorify the Lord. Israel was meant to do this, but failed to do so.

5:17-20

This is such an important statement, “do not think I have come to abolish the Law or the prophets, but to fulfil them.” People are way off beam when they think that Jesus somehow does away with the moral demands of the Law. Such people are utterly clueless. Instead our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees and teachers of the Law, they focused on outward appearance, jesus is concerned with the heart.

5:21-30

Jesus now backs this up, we must not simply refrain from physically murdering someone, or actually committing adultery. There must be no anger or lust in our hearts. Jesus has come to change who we actually are. The reason for this is that thoughts harboured in our hearts can lead to evil actions,  and God is concerned with who we actually are..v29 and 30 then make it abundantly clear that we must take sin seriously and deal with it. Sin is a deadly serious business.