Tougher Standards (Matt 5:21-22)

Scholars report that there are 613 laws in the Old Testament (I haven't counted them!).  Just knowing what these laws entailed was burdensome enough.  But not breaking them (like not working on the Sabbath) often took considerable advanced planning (like preparing meals for the Sabbath the day before).  You could spend every day just focused on not breaking the Law.

Well, if that isn't bad enough, Jesus comes along and teaches that in his community, it isn't enough to just follow the law.  He pushes his followers much further:

• Don't just avoid murdering someone, but don't even be angry at them.  
• Don't just avoid forbidden language in your insults, but don't insult each other at all.

In Jesus' community, he doesn't want us to just keep the law, he wants us to go all the way and keep its intention too.  We can only do this by letting the Holy Spirit have control of our lives.

Matthew 5:21-22   21 "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'  22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca, 'is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.