About two months ago our small ministry team was invited into a halfway house for men who had been released from jail. Over some chips and sodas, we led (and participated in) a weekly Bible study with a number of people from the home and also the surrounding area. It has been a nice time of discussion where we have been talking through passages in the Gospels, discussing Jesus, who he was, why he came, and the application that has on all of our lives. As the weeks progressed, though, I began noticing a subtle, underlying message that seemed to be creeping into our conversations. Quietly lurking just below our conversations was a subtext of us, as the righteous church-going Christians, sharing Jesus with these unrighteous ex-cons. What seemed to me was that an unintentional air of superiority seemed to be creeping in. Never once was this an overt message spoken by anyone; however, the way various ideas (from many of us involved) were expressed, at times, seemed to imply this message.

It was in that light of this growing trend that I centered one of our recent Bible studies around Matthew 5:21-48. In it Jesus expanded upon the true nature of the commandments. Murder is not just the physical actions, but also what happens deep within a person’s heart, such has holding onto bitter anger with a neighbor. Adultery is not just about the physical actions, but also about the lust within one’s heart. Jesus warns against retaliation and for us to actually give more to those who ask or to those who offend us. He tells us that we must not only love our friends, but also truly love our enemies. And then we encounter the clinching verse to seal it for us: “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (verse 48).

These are the verses I wanted all of us to read during this Bible study. I wanted to help the residents of the house along with the ministry team participating in the Bible study to see that we all start from the same level and to help reduce the chances of pride entering in (or feelings of ever being past a point of redemption).

Years ago I read these Matthew 5 verses and became quite despondent. I came to the realization that no matter how good I was and how righteous I might appear to be, down deep, I would never be good enough to measure up to the expectations laid out here. I would never be able to make God happy with me simply through my own efforts and work. My thoughts and feelings reflected the simple fact that my heart/soul was simply too sick to do completely right. If it was impossible for me to do this on my own, what then? What could I do?

As I was praying about this and meditating on these verses I recalled Jesus’ interaction with the rich young man in Matthew 19 (verses 16 to 30). Here, the young man that approaches Jesus has seemingly done it all. This guy thinks he has lived the perfect life and made it. And yet, his love of his money held him back from being able to truly follow Jesus. Having seen this, based on their response, it seems that the disciples felt much the same way I did when reading Matthew 5. They were “greatly astonished,” wondering “who then can be saved?” (verse 25).

Jesus’ response to their question is as simple as it is profound. In response to their concerns and question, Jesus told his disciples “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (verse 26). Since our hearts are too sick to make ourselves right with God, we need intervention. Jesus’ saving work as our Christ and his sacrifice on the cross made it possible for us to approach God in a right relationship.

For me, having a healthier understanding of this fact continues to keep me humble, knowing that every one of us, from the life-long church-going Christian to the ex-con who just gave his life to Jesus is on equal ground. We have all fallen short and we have all been saved by his redemptive work. My hope is that the participants in that Bible study heard that they are not beyond redemption and to put their hope in the Christ. My hope is that all of us who call ourselves Christians continue to remember that it is all because of Jesus and his work that makes God pleased with us and not based on our own righteous merits.