God Wants Your Heart
Some Thoughts From Matthew Chapter 5
Just imagine what it would be like if you could go back in time, sit at the feet of Jesus, and listen to him communicate Scripture. I can only imagine! Unfortunately, there aren’t any time machines around to take us back to hear Jesus preach. However, we can open our Bibles and study a handful of our Lord’s most moving messages.
One of the most powerful sermons Jesus ever preached is called the Sermon on the Mount. This is the longest recorded sermon Jesus ever preached. Ironically, this incredible sermon is only recorded in a few brief verses in our New Testament. The more extended account is found in Matthew 5-7. The more condensed version is located in Luke 6:20-49. Jesus proclaimed this sermon to help his listeners better understand what it means to be a citizen of his kingdom. Matthew’s account of the Sermon on the Mount finds Jesus speaking about the “kingdom” a total of eight different times (see 5:3, 10, 19, 10; 6:10, 33; 7:21). If you want to know what it looks like to let Jesus be your king, then Matthew 5-7 is the ideal text to study.
One of the greatest takeaways from this sermon on kingdom living is that God wants our heart! Jesus is looking for true righteousness that originates from within and goes beyond mere religious externals. Sadly, such righteousness was the antithesis of what Jesus actually saw among the religious folks in his day. Throughout the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus often had in mind “the scribes and Pharisees” (5:20), two groups he repeatedly referred to as “hypocrites” (see 6:2, 5, 16; cf. Matthew 23). When Jesus looked at the scribes and Pharisees, he saw a group of religious elites who believed they were the very epitome of being right with God. They knew the law, strictly obeyed all the right religious traditions, and prized themselves on being the true children of God. However, there was a critical component missing in their relationship with God—their heart! This is especially evident in Matthew chapter 5 when Jesus gave a series of “you have heard” versus “but I say to you” statements. He wasn’t attacking the Law as it was given; Jesus was highlighting the surface level application of the law that was so predominant among the Jewish people. For instance, they would never violate the Law of Moses and kill, but they would allow anger and hatred to live in their heart (5:21-28). Additionally, they would never stoop so low as to break the Law of Moses and commit adultery, but they would lust over another in their heart (5:27-30). Their righteousness was superficial; it didn’t come from the heart. That’s why Jesus said, “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).
Matthew chapter 5 is the Savior’s call for us to do more than appear right on the surface. This chapter is Jesus inviting us to give him our heart! Jesus is looking for people who “have become obedient from the heart” (Romans 6:17). Jesus is searching for people who will serve and worship him from a heart full of love. He wants us to be among those who will “love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind” (Matthew 22:37). Don’t forget that true religion originates from within, coming from a truly changed and cleansed heart (cf. Ephesians 1:18; Philippians 3:3; Hebrews 10:22).
Friend, how’s your heart? Don’t be like the heartless scribes and Pharisees. Instead, gladly give God your heart and allow Him to be your Lord. It is only when we give our heart to God that we can truly experience the kingdom of God in our life!