Did Jesus create a higher standard?

It is not infrequently that I have heard the idea, or find people believing that, Jesus’ sermon on the mount in fact created a higher standard than the standard that Yahweh originally imposed on the Israelites through the Mosaic covenant. I am going to argue that this thought is unbiblical and unhealthy.

For the sake of the example, lets consider Jesus’ teaching on murder:

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” — Matthew 5:21-22

It is easy to see how on plain reading, it looks like Jesus is making our life harder, i.e, to think “I’m a relatively good person, I don’t walk around wanting to kill people; but Jesus’ teaching that I have to avoid being angry with people is so much more difficult”.

To think this, is to believe that Yahweh’s desire for mankind under the Old Testament was to avoid murdering other people, and Yahweh’s desire for mankind has changed, gone to a whole new level. When I read the Old Testament I don’t get the impression that diligent obedience to regulations and changes to outward behaviour is what Yahweh desired.

“Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? And who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, Who has not lifted up his soul to falsehood And has not sworn deceitfully. He shall receive a blessing from the LORD And righteousness from the God of his salvation” — Psalm 24:3-5

Why does this matter? I am not sure that the the way we are “saved”, or to put another way, the way we enter into a relationship with Yahweh has changed. It is true that the way God has revealed himself, (i.e. in person) is far more superior, and it is true that the atoning blood of Jesus and his priestly ministry is far superior to the Levitical priesthood, however His desire for a relationship seems not to have changed, and His desire that our heart is changed on the inside has not changed.

If God’s ultimate test of character is actually the test of having a transformed heart, both under the Old Covenant, and the New. The idea of rule keeping, either the “lower standard” of the mosaic law, or a so called “higher standard” that Jesus taught becomes irrelevant. The only thing that has ever been relevant is the issue of having a clean heart.