Gospel of Matthew, Chapter 5:21-48

Kingdom of Heaven Series

Introduction

In Matthew 5:21-48, Jesus establishes himself as the ultimate lawgiver, fulfilling and transcending Moses’ Law. Recall Matthew 5:17, “Do not presume that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish, but to fulfill.” Also, read 5:21-22, “You have heard that … But I say to you.” The historical rule is based on the Law of Moses, which was established some 1500 years before the birth of Jesus. Hillel (110 BCE - 10 CE), Gamaliel (c. 20 - 50), Shammai the Elder (50 BCE - 30 CE), and other Jewish rabbis around the time of Jesus had varying teaching about the law and its application; some teachings were similar to Jesus’ teaching. Pharisees were not a monolith and often took varying views ranging from strict adherence to the law on one end and a view closely aligned with a ‘spirit of the law’ ideal. In general, Jesus’ views about the law were most similar to Hillel’s views and in many ways argued like him, see his seven middoth (character traits/attributes).¹

Jesus interpreted the spirit and ethical intent of the law in line with much of Hillel’s teaching. Shammai’s interpretation of the law was stricter and literal, as he focused on adherence to ritualistic and outward appearance. In Matthew 5:21-48, we can see that Jesus emphasizes compassion, ethical teaching, and a practical wisdom. These are hallmarks of a just community, reflective of a heavenly kingdom.

Living the Heavenly Kingdom

There are several underlying and related rules for living the heavenly kingdom. Each of these take an ancient rule and add a level of compassionate complexity. Often rules are focused on an action and the reward or punishment for a behavior. A deeper, more constructive way to form moral behavior is to regulate emotions and think through actions and understand their potential results in an empathetic and compassionate way. Modern cognitive science shows that regulating emotions and thinking about their “meaning of an emotionally evocative stimulus or situation” may help individuals manage their behaviors and emotional responses. That is, prior to acting, one needs to think about their emotions. Jesus goes a step further and asks us to think differently about the other individual involved in our dispute. Living the heavenly kingdom involves considering the other, rather than focusing solely on the self.

One of the most heinous things humans have done since Cain and Abel is killing a fellow human. All societies throughout time have rules against the taking of life. Matthew 5:21-24 reads:

21 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. 23 Therefore, if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.”

The feelings of anger and our impulse to call one another derogatory names are common human emotions that span across cultures and societies. Once we feel comfortable looking at others with anger or placing a label upon them like fool or good-for-nothing, then we open ourselves up to seeing the other as a separate or less-than-us person. It then becomes easier for us to considers ourselves as the judge of someone else and thus can decide that it is up to us to mete out judgment on another in a violent way. But if we see the other as brother or sister instead of rival, then we would desire reconciliation rather than revenge. Jesus says we cannot even approach the altar of God if we have feelings of anger or repulsion at another. If we can dispel our anger, that is regulate and control our emotions, then we are more capable of controlling our behaviors. We would not even want to consider harming someone else.

On a practical level, Jesus recommends we meet with our accuser who is taking us to court and “come to good terms.” (v. 25) Resolve your conflicts quickly, do not wait until you are in front of the judge here on earth or in the afterlife. This is related to the previous verse about settling with your brother or sister before going to the altar of God. Leave your gift and your ego behind and make reconciliation with others—be proactive and act with urgency in settling any dispute. Allowing bad feelings to fester makes the situation worse and may make the outcome worse. Imagine unresolved conflicts in a marriage or family or even a work environment. There is misunderstanding, lack of trust, and communication breakdowns. Reconciliation is not a simple task. It often takes internal fortitude, emotional regulation, and active listening. The ego can block our desire for reconciliation since we often do not want to admit any role we had in the dispute. Our pride is often a block to humility. Emotional regulation is our demeanor, like an ambassador or mediator who needs to reconcile differences in a calm manner to avoid escalation beyond a reasonable level—trying not to make a mountain out of a mole hill. In a humble and calm manner we listen to the other in a way that allows us to come to a deeper understanding of the other person’s point of view, validate their feelings, and resolve the issue to the best possible outcome. This could lead to one or both parties apologizing and taking responsibility for their role or one admitting to the other that they were wrong and asking for forgiveness and propose reconciliation.

Jesus speaks of adultery in verses 27-30:

27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; 28 but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 Now if your right eye is causing you to sin, tear it out and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell.

Prior to any behavior or act is a series of thoughts and feelings, as well as a decision or impulse to act. Any number of verses may come to mind for those who heard this gospel. Psalm 36:4 says, “He plans wickedness on his bed; He sets himself on a path that is not good. He does not reject evil.” Proverbs 6:20-35 also warns against lust, prostitutes, adulteresses, and the neighbor’s wife. Verses 32-33 of Proverbs 6 reads:

One who commits adultery with a woman is lacking sense; He who would destroy himself commits it. 33 He will find wounds and disgrace, And his shame will not be removed.

Proverbs teaches that no only is it immoral, but is ‘lacking sense,’ since the disgrace and shame remain. It is impractical and can lead to losing everything that is important to you. Note that neither Proverbs nor Jesus suggest that what the woman wears or acts is an excuse for immoral thoughts or behaviors. The lusting after someone is where the sin lies, prior to the act itself. It is not an accidental act, but one that is premediated. Anger and lust are dangerous when we allow our minds to focus on what we desire to do to someone else. This reduces the other to an object of our emotions, rather than a fellow creature, designed by God for a purpose.

Today, in the United States, half of all marriages end in divorce. Some studies suggest that 75% of couples state that lack of commitment is the number one factor that lead them to divorce, this includes “emotional withdrawal, avoiding conversations about the future, a lack of shared goals, or difficulty resolving conflicts constructively.”² Above we see that Jesus teaches to agree with your adversary quickly—which is constructive conflict resolution, and a few verses down we see that Jesus says to love your enemies—which implies vulnerability and trust. What does Matthew write about when divorce is acceptable? Only due to sexual immorality (v. 32) is divorce permissible, and this is the ultimate breakdown of trust and creates intentional conflict. It is a good idea not to judge those we know who have divorced in the church or outside of it. It is a deeply personal and emotionally deep wound and we need to be careful about how we approach others. When I teach my first-year college students about marriage, family, and relationships we discuss emotional intelligence—that is self-awareness and empathy, developing secure relationships, regulating emotions, and active listening. Hopefully, before young people decide to ‘tie the knot,’ they will consider these types of lessons.

Related to the oaths we take in marriage are oaths we take for all kinds of other things, like loyalty pledges, business contracts, and even casual promises between friends. In verses 33-37, Jesus revolutionizes honesty as more open and emotionally engaged than oath taking. Our words should be trustworthy without oaths—which were meant to prove or guarantee truthfulness, like, I swear on my father’s grave. What does that have to do with your present conversation. You should prove that you have integrity and your character should stand on its own. In verses 38-42, Jesus discusses the ‘eye for eye and tooth for tooth’ system of retribution or retaliation. If you are in a deep and true relationship with another and see the other as a creation of God with value, than respond with generosity instead of retaliation. Turn the other cheek, give more than what is expected or demanded, and go the extra mile. The values of the kingdom of God require giving freely and lending without expectation.

I think verses 21-42 are summed up in verses 43-48.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may prove yourselves to be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Even the tax collectors, do they not do the same? 47 And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Even the Gentiles, do they not do the same? 48 Therefore you shall be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

When we love our enemies and pray for our persecutors, we adopt God’s own perspective – seeing others as beloved children worthy of grace, regardless of their actions towards us. In contrast, self-centeredness breeds division: lust objectifies, anger condemns, retaliation punishes, and unjust separation judges – making others enemies and ourselves their jurors.

Therefore, let us embrace God's radical perspective: loving enemies, praying for persecutors, and seeing all people as beloved children worthy of grace – transforming our hearts, relationships, and world.

1. For deeper reading, see Linda King (2011), “Jesus Argued Like a Jew,” The Gospel of Matthew, Volume 19, Issue 2. https://digitalcommons.pepperdine.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1116&context=leaven

2. See Petrelli Previtera, LLC, updated 1/08/2025, The 10 Common Reasons for Divorce in 2024. https://www.petrellilaw.com/the-10-common-reasons-for-divorce-in-2024/#:~:text=Alarmingly%2C%2075%25%20of%20respondents%20in,or%20difficulty%20resolving%20conflicts%20constructively.