Jesus taught on a mountain. He taught about who are blessed and He taught the promises of the kingdom of heaven for those who are blessed: comfort, receiving mercy, and seeing God. Christians are salt and light that give glory to God. Jesus fulfilled the Law and Prophets, and His people need a greater righteousness than the Scribes and Pharisees. If we are angry with a brother we are liable to God’s judgment. A look of lust is adultery in the heart. It’s better to lose part of your body than for the whole of you to go to hell. Divorce that is not based on the ground of sexual immorality makes the spouse commit adultery. Let your “yes” be “yes” and your “no” be “no”. If someone slaps your on your right cheek give your left cheek also. Love your enemies, pray for those who persecute you, and you must be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect.
Jesus teaches with authority, and if there was any question if we are sinners before He taught, it was obvious that we are after. If the standard to enter the kingdom of heaven is a righteousness that surpasses the Scribes and Pharisees and being perfect as our heavenly Father is perfect, we would have no hope. We can’t because of our indwelling sin. But we do have hope because we can have the perfection of the Father and the perfectly acceptable righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ by faith in His death and resurrection as a perfect substitute for His people. Praise God that Jesus, who knew no sin, became sin, so that through faith alone in Him we might have His righteousness perfect righteousness that far surpasses the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, and who is indeed perfect as our Heavenly Father is perfect. Bow in awe and wonder of the beauty of this good news.