It's Not Enough
In Matthew five, Jesus says, "You have heard that it was said, `Do not commit adultery.' But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.”
You think Jesus told the Pharisees that so they would try and have a better thought life? You misunderstood! Jesus told them that so they’d realize that religion couldn’t do it. So, they’d see that no matter how good they were it just wasn’t good enough.
He wanted them to stay away from sin, no doubt—that was what that whole gouging out your eyes out thing in verse 29 was about—in other words, you know what tempts you, so stay away from that—but it was also an indictment against religion. Religion can’t save you. Rules don’t endear you to God. Only Christ does those things. You can’t do enough. The Pharisees couldn’t see that, and neither can many Christians today.
We say, “I’ve never committed adultery.”
Jesus says, “Well, uh, when you lust, you commit adultery.”
We say, “What? Well, I’ve never murdered anyone.”
Jesus says, “Hatred and murder... Same thing.”
We say, “Oh, man. I can’t do this!”
“Exactly,” Jesus says. “Exactly!”
Oh, man, do we miss it!
Jesus said, I have given you a song that can’t help but put a spring in your step, and yet you refuse to dance. I’ll let you in on a radical truth. You are free. If you’re His. You’re forgiven. Really. Being good isn’t good enough. Only Jesus is. So dance.
Chad
10:21:04 PM 
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