Matthew 5:27–32

Jesus challenges religious thinking that focuses only on external behavior while ignoring the heart. In His teachings on adultery and divorce, He reveals that God cares more about who we are than what we appear to be doing right. Rather than debating minimum standards like the religious leaders of His time, Jesus addresses the heart issues behind our actions. He teaches that lust is adultery of the heart and that marriage is a covenant witnessed by God, not merely a contract between two parties. The righteousness Jesus demands exceeds external rule-following and requires genuine heart transformation through the Gospel.