More Than You Thought

Pastor: Jeff Love

Ever have one of those moments where you realize something could’ve been easier if you had just paid closer attention? Like figuring out after years of mowing lawns that the grass catcher actually had a handle?

Jesus had a few of those “don’t miss this” moments in the Sermon on the Mount, and Matthew 5:21–26 is one of them. In this passage, He challenges the crowd—and us—not just to avoid murder, but to check the condition of our hearts before our hands ever act.

He says it plainly:

“You have heard it said, ‘You shall not murder,’... but I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment…” (Matthew 5:21–22)

Anger, contempt, name-calling… Jesus points out that these are the seeds of brokenness in our relationships, and they grow long before any outward harm is done. Left unchecked, our simmering anger, disrespectful words, and snap judgments speak volumes—not just about others, but about our own hearts.

What’s the big deal?Jesus reminds us that unresolved conflict doesn’t just affect our horizontal relationships—it blocks our vertical relationship with God. He tells us to stop everything, leave the offering, and go make things right. Because if we’re not right with people, we can’t be fully right with God.

“Leave your gift at the altar. First be reconciled to your brother, then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:24)

This is about more than being polite.It’s about honesty, humility, and holiness. It’s about taking ownership. It’s about choosing to forgive, choosing to reconcile, choosing to release the simmering resentment before it hardens into something far worse.

Jesus finishes the teaching with a warning: unresolved conflict and unrepentant pride have a cost. “You will not get out until you have paid the last penny.” And those last pennies? They often look like broken families, distant friends, missed opportunities, and hard hearts.

This message isn’t just about doing right. It’s about being right—with God and with people.

So here’s the question:What’s in your heart today that’s spilling into your relationships? Is there someone you need to call, a grudge you need to let go of, or a conversation you’ve been avoiding?

It might just be the handle that makes everything move easier.