But I Say Unto You, Part Two | Edward Jackson Jr | Sermon Notes — Hello Pastor

Sermon Notes

But I Say Unto You, Part Two

Edward Jackson Jr

Friendship Baptist Church • May 24, 2026 • 102 min

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Take this message with you through a journey of Scripture, reflection, and prayer.

Summary

In this sermon, Pastor Edward Jackson Jr. addresses Jesus' teaching on adultery and heart purity from the Sermon on the Mount. He warns against self-righteousness that focuses solely on outward actions, revealing that sin truly begins in the heart when lustful and covetous thoughts are entertained. Believers are urged to take radical steps to eliminate sources of temptation and fully surrender their struggles to God's transforming grace.

Themes

Heart TransformationPurity and TemptationSelf-Righteousness vs. GraceRadical ObedienceDeliverance and Repentance

Pastor's Points

1.

1. The danger of making something right wrong

2.

2. Recognize the true sin

3.

3. Kill it at the source

Key Points

1.
There is a vital distinction between "you have heard" and "it is written," reminding believers to study Scripture for themselves rather than relying strictly on tradition or human commentary.
2.
It is dangerous to reduce God's moral standard to mere outward compliance, as doing so fosters self-righteousness and leads people to look down on others.
3.
Through the parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, Jesus exposes that abstaining from outward sins gives no grounds for pride, because all people stand equal in need of God's grace.
4.
Sin begins in the heart long before it manifests as a physical act, meaning that entertaining lustful thoughts or covetous desires carries real spiritual gravity.
5.
Outward sinful actions are symptoms of a deeper problem birthed in the human heart when sinful thoughts are allowed to linger.
6.
Human willpower alone is insufficient against tailored spiritual temptation, making complete surrender to Jesus necessary for freedom.
7.
Believers must take radical action to "kill it at the source" by eliminating triggers, environments, relationships, or media that draw them into sin.
8.
God offers hope and deliverance through Jesus Christ, who looks beyond our faults and provides eternal grace for complete heart transformation.

Sermon Moments

“You have heard is different from it is written. Anytime Jesus says it is written, He is quoting what thus says the Lord.”

“How dare dirt call another dirt dirty? At the end of the day, ain't nobody better than nobody in the Kingdom.”

“The true sin is not the act, because the act is a symptom of the sin. The true sin is what you allow to be birthed in your heart.”

“It ain't the first look, it's the second look... if you stare too long, while you might not do it, in your mind and in your heart you done thought about it.”

“Wherever you are most vulnerable, wherever you are most susceptible to fall into temptation, Jesus said, cut it off.”

“Willpower ain't nothing against the right temptation. You got to surrender everything to Jesus.”

“He looked beyond all of my faults and saw my needs.”

This Week

Fact-check teachings against Scripture by studying the Bible directly rather than relying solely on human tradition or secondhand hearing.

Identify and repent of self-righteous attitudes or moments where you have looked down on others for their outward sins.

Examine your heart daily and ask God to reveal hidden lust, covetousness, or unhealthy desires before they manifest in actions.

Perform a media and digital audit to eliminate triggers—such as unfollowing certain social media accounts or removing apps that lead to temptation.

Establish boundaries around TV shows, books, and entertainment that feed inappropriate desires or compromise your purity.

Surrender recurring temptations and secret struggles to God through honest prayer instead of relying on human willpower alone.

Walk daily in the Holy Spirit, allowing God's grace to transform your inner thoughts and keep you close to Him.

Remember This

True righteousness requires guardrails for the heart, cutting off triggers that lead to temptation while receiving God's grace for internal purity.

A Challenge for You

Surrender whatever your "it" is to God today—whether a relationship, habit, media trigger, or secret sin—and allow Him to cut off what is killing you so you can walk in true spiritual freedom.

These are personal sermon notes shared to help you remember the message — not a replacement for Scripture, your church, or your pastors.