“…but I say to you…”

​“You have heard that it was said to those of old…but I say to you…”  

Jesus says this six times in Matthew 5 as He references specific commandments from the Ten Commandments. He isn’t contradicting these commandments, but speaking to those seeking to establish their righteousness by the commandments. 

Jesus spoke to people who had only heard of these commandments from the religious professionals—those who monopolized on their teaching of the scriptures instead of translating the scriptures so the common, but illiterate people, could understand the scriptures for themselves. He’s helping people see that these commandments go deeper than they may have heard.

By using the law they depended on to earn their righteousness before God, Jesus is helping His listeners understand that they are sinners in need of a Savior. Not just any savior—a Savior wanting to forgive their sins AND give them His righteousness. 

This is what Jesus calls us to as well—that in believing Him and receiving Him and His righteousness, we can become sons and daughters of God, adopted with full rights and privileges forevermore!