When it comes to Jesus and the kingdom, nothing compares to the way Jesus taught about the kingdom. Jesus taught about the kingdom of God in a way that captivates us to want to be better humans, and that’s the point. Jesus taught in a way that makes us feel different than the way we would normally want to act. This is what we’re going to explore in this series. How to act to bring God’s kingdom here on earth. 

In the sermon on the mount, Jesus gives us ways to be different from the world. His whole point is that we must act in a way that surpasses the righteousness of the Pharisees (Matthew 5:20). The Pharisees were stuck up, political leaders who did not reflect the way we are supposed to act. So everything Jesus says following that statement helps us to act rightly. However, the commands become increasingly challenging. 

The first one we are going to look at is in Matthew 5:21. Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’”. Jesus tells them a command they were all familiar with. A command not to murder each other because judgment will come upon them. This is a command right from Exodus 20 from the ten commandments. Next, Jesus tells them something else. “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment”. Now Jesus turns up the volume on murder and points it back to a deeper emotion, anger. Instead of restricting our actions to full fledged murder, Jesus says we should not even be angry with each other because our anger will lead to actions and words we regret. Jesus goes on to say that even calling people names is the same as murder. 

This startling contrast seems a little unreasonable at first. Murder is the ultimate evil where we are taking someone else’s life. But Jesus wants us to see that things are ok up until murder. Anger is where it all begins and even name calling is reflecting negatively on our image. The image that God made us and that other human in. 

Jesus then goes on to talk about being reconciled to those we disagree with and settling things with those against us. This all can be wrapped up in one statement. Jesus wants us to look at our relationships and have good relationships with each other. Then we can have a good relationship with God. If we are angry and against other people, it affects our relationship with God. Being reconciled to each other appeases that anger that burns within and makes peace, which is what we are called to do. 

We are meant to see that there are laws and then there is intent behind the laws. We are meant to live by what the law is representing rather than the words of the law. In Christ, we live by the Spirit, which guides us to live in truth and harmony with one another.