Lectio Matthew 5:20–26 Meditatio “You have heard …” This is the first of six brief passages in which Jesus “brings to fulfillment” the commandments given to Israel on Mount Sinai. He brings religion to the level of the Beatitudes, which he proclaims earlier in the same Sermon on the Mount. Jesus digs down to the roots of evil actions—in this case, to hostile thoughts and uncontrolled emotions. Such thoughts and emotions can be dangerous to others as well as to ourselves,