Rev. Fr. Paul AFOLABI

One of the quiet assumptions of modern society is that goodness is measured by restraint. As long as one does not kill, steal, or end up in police custody, one is considered a decent person. By this logic, morality is reduced to staying out of trouble. Yet the Gospel of this Sunday unsettles that comfort and exposes its limits. Jesus addresses people who are already religious, already law-abiding, already confident in their moral standing. To them He says, repeatedly and provocatively: “You have heard it said… but I say to you.” With these words, Jesus does not discard the Law; He deepens it. He insists that obedience, though necessary, is not sufficient. God is not interested only in what we do or avoid doing. God is deeply concerned with what is happening inside us.

Jesus begins with murder. Society condemns murder unequivocally, and rightly so. But Jesus goes further: “Anyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.” In other words, violence does not begin with a weapon; it begins with unresolved anger. Long before blood is shed, something else has already died – empathy, patience, and respect for human dignity.

This teaching is uncomfortable because it removes the illusion of innocence. Many people have never killed, yet they harbour deep resentment. Many homes are free of physical violence but filled with emotional hostility. Many communities appear peaceful but simmer with bitterness, insults, and unspoken hatred. Jesus’ message is clear: a heart trained in anger cannot build a just society.

He moves next to adultery. Again, the commandment seems straightforward: do not commit adultery. But Jesus shifts the focus inward: “Anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery in his heart.” Here, He is not criminalizing thoughts; He is revealing their power. Actions do not emerge suddenly, they are rehearsed internally long before they are acted out publicly. This strikes at the heart of contemporary culture, where desire is constantly stimulated and rarely disciplined. We are told that what happens in the mind does not matter, that private fantasies are harmless. Jesus disagrees. He teaches that what we repeatedly entertain within ourselves eventually shapes who we become. A society that trivializes lust should not be surprised when commitment weakens and trust collapses.

Finally, Jesus speaks about truthfulness. “Let your ‘Yes’ mean Yes and your ‘No’ mean No.” This may sound simple, but it is radical in a world accustomed to exaggeration, manipulation, and half-truths. When words lose their weight, relationships suffer. When promises mean nothing, trust erodes.

Jesus calls for integrity that does not need excessive oaths or dramatic assurances. He envisions a community where honesty is normal, not exceptional. What unites these teachings is a single insight: God’s concern goes beyond behaviour to character. The Law sets boundaries for action; Jesus seeks transformation of the heart. It is possible to obey rules and still be far from the values those rules were meant to protect. It is possible to be legally upright and morally hollow.

This Gospel challenges us to rethink how we evaluate ourselves and our society. A nation can have laws and still lack justice. Institutions can function while hearts remain corrupt. Families can stay together while love slowly disappears. Jesus’ message exposes the roots of these contradictions. Problems that appear external often have internal origins. The practical implications are unavoidable. If anger is addressed early, violence decreases. If desire is disciplined, fidelity becomes possible. If truth is honoured, trust can be rebuilt. Jesus is not offering abstract spirituality; He is proposing a realistic path to personal and social healing.

Several striking lessons emerge from this Gospel. First, a clean record is not the same as a clean heart. Second, what we tolerate within ourselves eventually controls us. Third, integrity is revealed not in dramatic moments but in daily consistency. And finally, true righteousness is not about looking good but about becoming good.

Jesus raises the moral bar not to burden humanity but to free it. He understands that lasting change cannot be legislated from outside alone; it must be cultivated from within. The Gospel, therefore, is not merely a religious text; it is a mirror held up to the human condition.

In a world eager to lower standards for convenience, Jesus insists on depth. He reminds us that the most decisive choices are not made in courtrooms or public squares, but in the quiet spaces of the heart. And it is there, long before actions are taken, that the future is already being shaped.