A tough gospel today wherein Christ attacks sanctimony, equates murder with anger, and says a man's word should be as good as his oath. It is the gospel that poor Jimmy Carter quoted that allowed him to be belittled (lusting after women in his heart.)
Christ is presenting a revolutionary thought here, that of the desire being equivalent to the act. Remember, Jewish teaching did not hold desire as sin because it could not be measured.
His basic point is that responsibility goes beyond the letter of the law to a man's essence, his soul.
A Poison Tree
by William Blake
I was angry with my friend;
I told my wrath, my wrath did end.
I was angry with my foe:
I told it not, my wrath did grow.
And I waterd it in fears,
Night & morning with my tears:
And I sunned it with smiles,
And with soft deceitful wiles.
And it grew both day and night.
Till it bore an apple bright.
And my foe beheld it shine,
And he knew that it was mine.
And into my garden stole,
When the night had veild the pole;
In the morning glad I see;
My foe outstretched beneath the tree.
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