Chapter 5 exposes the root of The Law. During a time when the Judaic model, lead by the Pharisaic arrogance, led people down a road full of self-righteous rule keeping, Jesus turns that inside-out. He exposes deep flaws in the outward, external, performance driven model, and make it's clear to his listeners that true righteousness comes from the inside. True righteousness is inward purity, not ceremonial purity. And true righteousness is not something any human can achieve, which is why we need a perfect savior, a savior who will fulfill God's impossible requirements. Only by His perfect righteousness, given freely as a gift, will we be able to journey down the Spirit road Jesus describes in this chapter.
This Spirit road begins with The Beatitudes. Literally, the attitude of a believer. It's not a list of traits for the spiritually elite, but a call to each and every person with faith in Christ. We are all to be poor in spirit, mourning over sin, thirsty for righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and persecuted for righteousness' sake. These are not optional. These are foundational. And they protect us against the inner Pharisee in all of us that seeks to walk our own road toward righteousness, full of pride, self-sufficiency, and independence.
The Spirit Road continues with the most profound description of Jesus' disciples contained in the entire book of Matthew: Salt and Light. Not "to be" Salt or to "become" light - He says "you are" these things. This is a declaration of our true identity in Christ, not an end goal. So we must live like it, allowing Christ's flavor profile and illuminating work come through us. And when we recognize areas where our actions don't match the characteristics of Salt or Light, we are to crucify this behavior, trampling on it and casting it far from us.
Anticipating hostility toward this teaching, Jesus reminds his listeners this isn't a new road, this is the truest form of the road they've been looking for in their horrific attempt to apply the Law. Jesus isn't abolishing anything but fulfilling everything.
The Chapter ends by Jesus walking down the most fundamental areas of the Torah, to bring true light on their purpose. Murder is more than separating physical life from death. It's includes tearing apart Spiritual life, relational life, and our emotional life. And all of this separation causes great disruption in our ability to present ourselves before God. It causes great disruption in our ability to offer ourselves as living sacrifices for His purposes.
Jesus continues this dissection of the core tenants of the law by teaching his disciples how adultery is attached to our eyesight, how the fracturing of a marriage covenant is determined by God, and how we are to show love to everyone, even our enemies. He reminds us that we're children of God and so we are to follow the example of our Heavenly Father.
Matthew 5 is an encouraging introduction into the upside-down kingdom. A plea for anyone who receives salvation to live a life marked by humility, mercy, unity, and inward purity. Because the fate of the world's eternal destiny depends on it.