Perhaps you’ve heard that quote from someone before. Maybe followed directly after by some vague hippy notion to “love each other” and “speak your truth.” However, you’ll notice that there is never any scripture used to support their claims. Or, if it is, it is taken in small verses horrifically out of context.

Contrary to modern-day belief, Jesus Himself already told us exactly what He wants His followers to think, speak, and act like. It’s not in some vague notion of love or some happy feeling in your chest, but it’s written down by his closest followers in the Gospels. Specifically, the book of Matthew contains Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount, Jesus specifically clears up many misconceptions that His followers had of His own teaching and the teachings of the Jewish law found in the Torah. Let’s examine some of these claims, in their entirety, and discover what the really real Jesus had to say.

1. Anger and Reconciliation

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.” — Matthew 5:21–26 

While this passage is focused on the thoughts of anger in our hearts, a following passage dives deeper into that that I will cover then. What I want to focus on in this section is Jesus’s remedy for our conflicts with others. Jesus commands us to go and reconcile with anybody we’ve offended, before we go and worship God. He wants us to have pure hearts and minds before the Lord, but if we knowingly have this animosity or tensions with someone and we can go and fix it, then the thing that will please God the most isn’t a sacrifice or a good work in His name, but to reconcile with our friend before God.

This passage condemns hateful thoughts, and it’s important to confess those before God, but it also instructs us as Christians to make a culture of reconciliation. We should not be afraid to go and make things right with those around us, because that’s what Jesus would have us to do.

but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. — Romans 5:8 

If God can give Himself up for a humanity that hated Him and wanted nothing to do with Him, then surely we can humble ourselves to seek forgiveness against those we’ve wronged. That’s powerful, and it’s not something you see often in the world today.

2. Lust and Radical Change

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body be thrown into hell. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. For it is better that you lose one of your members than that your whole body go into hell.” — Matthew 5:27–30

Now we come to the issue of thoughts. The old interpretation of the law Jesus is quoting basically summarizes to “I didn’t have sex, I must be pure.” This is especially problematic when it causes us to compare and look down upon others who may struggle in this area. Jesus is saying very clearly, no, you are not better than they are. If your mind is dominated by lustful thoughts and intentions constantly, even if you’re not acting on them, then your mind definitely can’t be dominated by the pure thoughts of God.

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth — Colossians 3:2

Next is the second section, in which Jesus calls for radical change. Jesus knows that humans are sinful, and we’re going to sin, because it’s in our nature. We are very suggestible, which is why constantly hanging out with people who engage in sinful behavior will make you more likely to sin. Jesus doesn’t want this, which is why He says to “tear it out” referring to your eye and “cut it off” referring to your hand.

Now, obviously Jesus used exaggerated language, but it’s to make a very important point. Sometimes sin is so ingrained in us that without radical change we may never give it up. Sin can be addicting, and for many people, simply being in a certain space can make someone more likely to sin. Jesus, when talking about lust here, knows that we should flee from it, which is what He instructs, telling us to cut off all ties to our previous lustful desires.

3. Divorce and Oneness

“It was also said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of sexual immorality, makes her commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.” — Matthew 5:31–32

Jesus’s teaching here is simple: He despises divorce. Marriage was designed by God as far back as the Garden of Eden. Divorce is a perversion of that union and should be avoided as much as possible. Even though Jesus clearly makes an exception here for sexual immorality, He speaks strongly against the practice even elsewhere in the book of Matthew.

What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate. — Matthew 19:6

Basically, except for extreme circumstances where separation is acceptable, God desires for no one to seek divorce.

4. Oaths and Honesty

“Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform to the Lord what you have sworn.’ But I say to you, Do not take an oath at all, either by heaven, for it is the throne of God, or by the earth, for it is his footstool, or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. And do not take an oath by your head, for you cannot make one hair white or black. Let what you say be simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything more than this comes from evil.” — Matthew 5:33–37

This section naturally flows from the commandment in the law not to bear false witness. If you have to swear by something, whether by God or yourself or your mother, then it’s an implicit admission that your “yes” might not actually be “yes” (aka lying). Jesus calls his disciples to have such strong character that they needn’t swear by anything to have their word accepted as true. 

But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation. — James 5:12

However, this also means that we Christians should be extremely careful what we say yes and no to. As our character is tantamount to our witness, we must ensure we are a good testimony of Jesus Christ, and maintaining a good character is what he commands of us.

5. Retaliation and Radical Grace

“You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also. And if anyone would sue you and take your tunic, let him have your cloak as well. And if anyone forces you to go one mile, go with him two miles. Give to the one who begs from you, and do not refuse the one who would borrow from you.” — Matthew 5:28–42

This might be the most controversial of Jesus’s statements in this section, and also the most misunderstood. “Turn the other cheek” is so often used in our culture, but I find many people use it for the wrong reasons. They use it to say, “just don’t worry about it” or “be the bigger man,” but Jesus’s teaching here goes deeper than that. We are to be constantly gracious to even those who offend us, hurt us, or anger us. If someone threatens us, Jesus asks us to do everything they say and more. This is radical and something that I definitely don’t follow fully. We are proud creatures, and when someone insults that pride, we almost never naturally want to help them. However, Jesus commands otherwise, because to do so is a small reflection of the grace God gives to us.

For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. — John 1:16

God constantly forgives us for our sins, even though we mess up all the time. If God applied the same logic that we use, then after the third or fourth sin He would give up on us all. Thankfully, He sent Jesus to die for us, demonstrating His love for us. That’s why Jesus calls us to follow this hard command of love for others. It’s a reflection of His love for us.

6. Love Your Enemies

“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven. For he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect. — Matthew 5:43–48

Jesus ends this section with another similar command, this one to love your enemies. He does this by addressing a point His audience might have made, that they love those who they are close to, their family, or those that are easy to love. Jesus’s response here is brilliant. “For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have?” It is very easy to love those who love us. The difficult task is to love the hard to love. That’s what God did for us throughout history. He loved us, even when we hated him. Therefore, Jesus gives us the commandment to love, even when it’s hard.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” — Matthew 22:37–40

Our world today has a messed up view of love. In fact, I saw an interview once where someone described love as “giving someone a big part of your ice cream cone when you really like the ice cream flavor.” If your definition of love is anywhere close to as shallow as this, it’s not love at all. Love isn’t just being passively accepting. That’s super easy, and it’s why the world promotes it today. True love requires sacrifice. Think of the best marriages in the world. They’re built on sacrifice. Christ calls us to love our enemies as it is a reflection of His ultimate act of love in dying on the cross.

Finale

If there was one thing you should take away in order to know more about what Jesus actually taught, it would be to read the Bible. Spend time in the Word, let God speak to you. Read Matthew 5–7, which is all of the Sermon on the Mount. It’s the most famous sermon of all time for a reason. It has truth that will speak to you, even 2000 years after it was written.

However, more important than what Jesus said, is what Jesus did. Jesus was born to be a sacrifice for us. We couldn’t be perfect, we never could live up to God’s standard. But God humbled Himself to take on human form, and performed the greatest act of love in sacrificing Himself for our sins. That’s love right there. That’s the kind of love that makes you want to know more, the kind of love that demands change.

How do you change, and how do you know how God wants you to change?

You read your Bible.