All of us have anger in us and it is normal to feel angry at times. Jesus then focuses on two of the basic energies within us which are the sources of sin if they remain unchecked: anger and lust. The spirit of Jesus was to form the heart as well as the mind. He explains the ‘dictates of the law’ were for the head to guide the five senses. He is applying a proper spirit to what has become too legalistic. Jesus is not changing the Law and the traditions passed on through the prophets. Jesus speaks of what has been heard in the past and what has to be listened to now.

Jesus does not stop at the letter of the law but reaches into the virtue that gives meaning to the law. This passage specifically highlights the laws forbidding murder, adultery, divorce and swearing.

But there is a huge contrast between the understanding of laws as presented by the scribes and Pharisees and the deeper meaning of religious conversion as preached by Jesus. Today’s extract gives us some of the rules for the road. “Then,” concluded the chieftain, “I’ll be a good Christian because I am too old to do any of those things.” We often reduce Christianity to a long list of don’ts forgetting that the essence of Christianity is the ‘spirit’ behind them.įrancis Gonsalves in ‘Sunday Seeds for Daily Deeds’įor the third consecutive Sunday the gospel is from the Sermon on the Mount where Jesus sets out his programme for the kingdom. “And not kill warring chieftains?” queried the chieftain again. “And not rob their goats and cattle?” The missionary nodded. “You mean I must not take my friends’ wives?” clarifies the chieftain. While explaining the ABCs of Christianity to an aged tribal chieftain, a missionary was stressing the don’ts more than the do’s.

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