In the last two parts, we talked about how Jesus’s emphasis on the sermon on the mount and his ministry was to show that we cannot keep the law, and was trying to get us to the end of ourselves. But as always, there will always be people who say that Christians are meant to keep the law. I want to point out the hypocrisy in saying that.

Jesus Raised the Bar!

Jesus begins with something the people already knew from the Ten Commandments:

“You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.” (v. 21)

That’s straight from Exodus 20:13. Murder was punishable under the Law of Moses, with legal consequences—literal judgment by courts and governing bodies.

But then Jesus says:

“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment…” (v. 22)

Wait. Angry? No violence? Just anger?

Now it’s not just about what you do, but what you feel. And not just murder—it’s about your emotions, your words, your insults, your inner posture.

Jesus raises the bar from behavior to motive, from action to attitude.

That’s still law—but it’s law at the level of the heart.

“…whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” (v. 22)

Let that sink in. Jesus is saying that the same judgment that applied to murder now applies to the intent behind murder—anger, contempt, even a careless insult. He wasn’t replacing the Law—He was showing how it truly applies when seen from God’s perfect standard.

How Christians Water This Down

Now, here’s where many well-meaning Christians and preachers try to soften the blow.

They’ll say things like:

• “Well, Jesus was just showing us how important love is.”
• “This is about having good relationships.”
• “It’s a guideline for healthy community.”

And yes—it touches on those things. But that’s not what Jesus actually says.

He says:

• If you’re angry, you’re in danger of judgment.
• If you insult someone, you’re facing the council (spiritual court).
• If you say “You fool!”, you’re in danger of hellfire.

This isn’t a TED talk on emotional intelligence. This is divine judgment language. It’s courtroom language. It’s Law—but now amplified.

When we water this down into “just try to be a nicer person,” we remove the weight of what Jesus is doing. He’s not giving us a helpful tip—He’s showing us the true depth of our sin.

Why It’s Impossible to Keep

Let’s be honest. Who hasn’t:

• Felt angry at someone?
• Spoken rudely in frustration?
• Held bitterness in their heart?
• Avoided reconciliation and still showed up to worship?

Jesus says, “If you come to worship and remember someone has something against you, drop everything and go fix it” (v. 23-24). That’s not optional. That’s a demand. And who of us does this every time?

Then He says, in legal terms:

“Come to terms quickly with your accuser… or you’ll be thrown in prison until you’ve paid the last penny.” (v. 25–26)

This is courtroom imagery—but it’s also a spiritual reality. He’s showing what happens when we try to stand before God under the Law. If we fail even internally, we’re still guilty. And we can’t pay it all back—we don’t have enough pennies.

The Point: Not Self-Improvement, But Self-Despair

Jesus isn’t just giving a higher version of the Law for us to work harder at keeping.
He’s not saying, “Be extra careful with your anger and make sure to apologize.”

He’s saying:

“Even your heart is under judgment. The Law doesn’t stop at your hands—it reaches into your soul. You think you’re okay because you haven’t murdered anyone? Guess what—your anger is enough to condemn you.”

So what’s the takeaway?

It’s this: You cannot do it.

You cannot clean your heart, purge your anger, reconcile every broken relationship, and stand before God blameless—not by trying harder.

This is why Jesus said:

“With man it is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Mark 10:27)

And that’s where grace comes in.

When the Law crushes us and we finally stop trying to earn our way, then we’re ready for the righteousness that comes by faith (Romans 3:22).

Final Thought

So next time you read the Sermon on the Mount, don’t water it down. Don’t turn it into a self-help manual.

Let it do what Jesus intended—to show you the perfection of God’s holiness… and the impossibility of your own righteousness.

Because when you stop trying to keep it and finally fall at Jesus’s feet in surrender, that’s when the Spirit begins to write the Law on your heart (Hebrews 8:10), and you live not by striving, but by grace.