Jesus did not come to abolish the Law but to preserve its spirit. He clarifies this at the start of today’s Gospel: “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.” His words, especially the Beatitudes, challenge expectations, religious certainties, and the idea that fidelity to God means success, power, and prosperity.
For centuries, Israel was promised blessings: victory, abundance, honor. Many awaited a Messiah to elevate them. Then Jesus came and said: Blessed are the poor, meek, and persecuted. It felt like everything was upside down. Was he overturning the Torah?
No. Jesus insists: not even the smallest letter will pass away. But he also says something decisive: “Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, ….” Here is the turning point. Observance is not enough. The Law is the beginning, not the destination.
The Torah was only a pointer, and Jesus brought us to the target. He leads the commandments to their deepest meaning, where life begins. “You shall not kill,” says the Law, but Jesus goes further to include anger that humiliates, words that wound, and contempt that erases the other are also forms of killing without blood. Gossip kills reputations. Indifference kills hope. Refusal to forgive kills relationships. Jesus calls us to disarm the heart before it becomes violent.
He then discusses reconciliation. The challenge lies not only in avoiding resentment towards our brothers and sisters but also in taking responsibility to prevent them from holding something against us. This requires effort. Genuine closeness to God cannot exist if we maintain distance from a brother or sister. God does not accept sacrifices with lifted hands but with a closed heart.
Jesus discusses adultery not just as a physical act but as a betrayal originating in the heart. He exposes how we often misuse others as objects of desire, but encourages us to pursue a path that safeguards love from turning selfish and harmful. When he mentions cutting off the hand or tearing out the eye, he is not advocating violence but emphasising courage—the bravery needed to abandon what gradually dehumanises us before it causes destruction.
When discussing divorce, Jesus reminds us of God’s original dream—a love that is faithful, complete, and everlasting. His words are clear but never harsh. The Christian community is called to uphold truth without using it as a weapon. Those healing from broken relationships require kindness, compassion, and respect. Jesus never wounds the wounded; instead, he offers healing and comfort.
In a world filled with suspicion and manipulation, people swear to be trusted. Jesus envisions a different world: a community built on honesty where oaths are redundant. A straightforward ‘yes’ means yes, and a ‘no’ means no. In the Kingdom, integrity speaks for itself.
Jesus does not ask us to do the impossible. He asks us to be fully human. Let us ask for the grace to move from minimum observance to mature love, from external correctness to an undivided heart. This is the righteousness that surpasses. This is the path into the Kingdom of Heaven.
Father Josekutty Matthew CMF
