In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is seeking to take what was law and extend or expand it a bit more. Today is a visit to how we treat and look at other people. In verses 27-37 Jesus tackles adultery, divorce, and keeping our word. And as always with Jesus, it is not about the letter of the law but about what it means to us as people.

All of these ideas or concepts are about valuing the relationship and the individual. They are about seeing each other as children of God – invaluable in His sight. It is all about treating each other that way too.

Society and our culture teach us to look at other people as ‘things’. That way it is easier to step on them as one climbs the ladder of success or to simply walk right by them on the street as one is on the way to some more important event, meeting, or ‘thing’. If one looks at people as things, it becomes easier to lust, divorce, and lie.

But Jesus sees it differently and calls us to do the same. He teaches us that when we look at another with lust in our heart, we have committed adultery. He advises us that when we sin we should gouge out the eye or cut off the hand that causes us to sin rather than to end up in hell. (I imagine that if I were struggling with lust and gouged out an eye, that I would look at others a little differently – figuratively and literally!) He advises us to work on our marriage instead of simply walking away from that ‘thing’ we married. He teaches that in our relationships, our word should be solid. Let our yes be yes and our no be no.

All of this is based on how our heavenly Father looks at us and on how we expects us to look at others. For we are not ‘things’ but unique creations of God’s mighty hand. God is “especially fond” of each and every one of us (kudos to “The Shack”). Just as we should be of others!