I had one of those moments this morning.

I’m sure you’ve had one of these as well. You are reading a text that you’ve read many times before and suddenly something new jumps off the page.

I did that while reading the Sermon on the Mount. I’m in the midst of a 10-day reading on the Sermon on the Mount in The Message version of the Bible.

For background, I’ve read the entire Bible, cover-to-cover, about 20 times in my life in a variety of versions. My first read-through was the NIV, then the KJV. I’ve read it several times through in the NKJV and HCSB each. I’ve also gone once through in each the NASB and ESV.

As I read Matthew 5 in The Message this morning, a verse smacked me right between the eyes.

I blinked.

I read it again.

Then one more time, just to be sure I was reading it right.

I mean, I’ve been told to avoid versions like The Message because they are said to stray from the more word-for-word translations. Yet, in this verse, I found The Message’s translation challenging in the depths of my own soul.

So, what was it?

I know you’re tired of waiting, right?

Jesus was talking about the concept of “no-fault” divorce. Listen to His words.

“You can’t use legal cover to mask a moral failure.” -Matthew 5:32 (The Message)

Let that sink in for a moment.

Read it again.

Understand that Jesus isn’t just talking about marriage and divorce.

Legality Does Not Equal Morality

While Jesus was confronting His listeners for their over-use of the “divorce certificate” to justify ease of mobility from one sexual relationship into another, His words expand the application into all areas of moral life.

In the United States, we have taken part in a grand experiment.

Rule by Law.

We don’t have ruling kings or nobles. We don’t have tribal monarchies or violent coups.

The Law is supposed to represent the ultimate right and wrong. It is supposed to explain to us where the line exists that we would be reckless to cross.

Yet, Jesus points out that the Law was being used to justify immoral behavior.

The Law, which should have been the standard for morality, was being used in such a way to justify immorality.

Our Laws in our nation often do the same thing.

Our Laws justify theft.

Our Laws justify deception.

Our Laws justify abuse.

Our Laws justify sexual immorality.

Our Laws justify oppression.

Our Laws justify murder.

Our Laws are not a guide for morality. Especially if the goal for one’s life is pleasing God.

If Our Goal Is Morality …

… we would stop justifying our own immoral behaviors by arguing whether those behaviors are legal by man’s standards, or even justifiable with the right twist of the Law of Scripture.

God knows the dregs that hang deep within the dingiest basements of our hearts.

No motive is hidden from Him, even if we’ve hidden them from ourselves. He understands why we do everything we do. Most of us wouldn’t even claim to understand why we do half of the things we do.

We would pray the most terrifying prayer found in all of Scripture.  It was one that King David wrote, it ends as follows:

“Investigate my life, O God, find out everything about me; Cross-examine and test me, get a clear picture of what I’m about; See for yourself whether I’ve done anything wrong–then guide me on the road to eternal life.” -Psalm 139:23 (The Message)

I’ve prayed this prayer before and it was transformational, even though enduring the agony of such was one of the more emotionally painful experiences of my life.

We desperately need God to reveal to us who we are in the dredges of our souls.

Political Action

One thing that underlies the Sermon on the Mount was something it lacked.

Jesus never calls for changes to the Law or for political activism anywhere in the Sermon. If you don’t believe me, you can read it for yourself in Matthew 5-7. I hope you will.

Instead, Jesus makes a call to those who made the choice to follow Him that was unmistakable.