NOTES for Mat 5:17-30

Jesus teaches, "as one having authority," clearly moving sin from the realm of actions into the realm of thoughts. For us this is a hard saying: we can still somehow control our actions, but thoughts... It is like "not thinking about the white monkey" (remember the old fairy tale about how, in a certain situation, you could receive the fulfillment of all your wishes if only, at the most important moment, you did not think about the white monkey?)

But we can avoid thinking about the white monkey, if only we think about Someone else! We can avoid sinning in our thoughts if we think about Someone Sinless, Who is righteous and true.

And when do we think about someone constantly? When we love him. That is the whole secret.