Christians read the Sermon on the Mount wrong. They commit interpretive error in one of two ways. The first, and most nonsensical, error is to say that Jesus, in delivering this sermon, did away with the Law and replaced it with an easier, less burdensome, less strict set of commands. This view might be expressed like: “Ancient Israel was required to keep an endless list of largely meaningless, needless, busywork laws as punishment, but all we have to do now is simply love each other,” or some variation of that. Anyone can clearly see that this interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount is false since Jesus speaks not only of avoiding murder, but of avoiding even anger (a.k.a. murder in your heart). Which is more strict, more difficult? Each will answer for themselves. Speaking personally, I have never struggled with the sin of murder, while anger is another matter (not that I am an angry person generally, but I have been guilty in this regard).
The other error is to say that Jesus gave commands stricter, and more demanding than the Law. This understanding, that the ancient Law is merely concerned with outward performances, is also a misunderstanding. The truth is that the Law of God has always been concerned both with conditions of the heart (or the inner person), as well as outward, observable actions. There are whole books to be written here, but I will briefly expound on Jesus’ teaching about adultery in the Sermon.
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.” – Matthew 5:27-28
Some might say, “See, Jesus is elevating us to a different, higher law. The Law of Moses was concerned with physical adultery, but Jesus now tells us to avoid even desiring a woman.” The simple rebuttal to this naïve assertion is that Jesus’ comments about lusting after a woman do not constitute a change (neither in substance nor interpretation) to the 7th commandment (no adultery). Rather, his comments are a reiteration of the 10th commandment (no coveting)!
In the Law there is no punishment for coveting your neighbor’s wife (committing adultery with your heart). Afterall, how would anyone even know? Meanwhile, actual adultery (committed with your body), was punishable up to death (the penalty being carried out by stoning).
“And the man that committeth adultery with another man’s wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour’s wife, the adulterer and the adulteress shall surely be put to death.” – Leviticus 20:10
This brings me to the point I want to make in this post. Jesus, lamenting the wickedness, pride, and hard-heartedness of his people proclaimed:
“O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee!” – Matthew 23:37
I have observed animosity towards polygamy from certain segments of Mormonism as well as broader Christianity; however, I am also observing an alarming increase (especially among Mormon circles) of those eager to hurl accusations of adultery at those, both past and present (from Abraham forward), who have polygamous families. It is becoming particularly popular to accuse the early Mormon apostles (after Joseph Smith’s death), particularly Brigham Young (but also other LDS presidents/prophets), of both committing and preaching gross wickedness, abomination, whoredom, and adultery in consequence of their stance on plural marriage.
These accusations are of course false (speaking of accusations against plural marriage generally and not against any individual crimes), and those who make false accusations (i.e. bear false witness) bring condemnation upon themselves (see Deuteronomy and Proverbs). What is worse, they also accuse other faithful Mormons of making accusations of adultery against Joseph Smith if they don’t align with their anti-polygamy ideology. Their assertion is that anyone who believes Joseph had more than one wife, is accusing Joseph of adultery, etc. They are falsely accusing believers of bearing false witness (they are bearing false witness of false witness – if you can wrap your mind around that). Of course this is a ridiculous accusation. Those who faithfully believe that Joseph taught and/or practiced plural marriage do not accuse him of adultery – they simply believe that he had multiple marriages. It is the anti-polygamy crowd that has changed the scriptural definition of adultery, slapped that label onto polygamy, then made accusations of accusations with their new and false definitions .
Regardless, these are serious pronouncements to make. According to God’s Law, those guilty of such false allegations (adultery, whoredom, etc.) earn themselves potential capital punishments – because the law for false witnesses is to receive the punishment that their witness would have brought upon the accused. Therefore, those who make such accusations desire to kill the prophets. By their accusations they desire to stone them (this is according to the Law). They have in fact stoned them – in their hearts. Therefore, I say to them:
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor (for whosoever bears false witness shall receive the punishment affixed): But I say unto you, That whosoever falsely accuses the prophets, has stoned the prophets already in their heart. (a synthesis of Matthew 5:27-28 and Matthew 23:37)
Speaking of Polygamy... 
I wanted to share with you some thoughts from my perspective as a Roman Catholic. I recognize that our faith traditions have differing views on marriage, especially when it comes to polygamy. My aim isn’t to judge but to offer a sense of why, in the Catholic faith, marriage is seen as a sacred and exclusive union between one man and one woman, and how this is rooted in our understanding of God’s will as revealed through Christ.
In the Gospels, Jesus speaks powerfully about the unity of marriage. In the Book of Matthew, He says, “Have you not read that He who made them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two but one flesh” (Matthew 19:4-6). Jesus’ words here are a direct reference to God’s design in Genesis, where the joining of Adam and Eve as one flesh symbolizes the exclusivity and depth of the marital bond. Jesus’ statement underscores that marriage was meant to unite two people uniquely and completely—not in multiple bonds, but as a single, devoted union.
For Catholics, this “one flesh” union is more than just a physical joining; it is deeply spiritual. Marriage, as we see it, is a sacrament, a means by which God’s grace flows into our lives and helps us grow closer to Him. St. Paul even goes so far as to say that “the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband” (1 Corinthians 7:14). Through marriage, each spouse is not only responsible for the well-being of the other but also participates in each other’s path to holiness. It’s as though the unique, undivided bond of marriage has the power to make both partners holy, reflecting a sacred unity that can bring both partners closer to God.
From our perspective, polygamy divides this sacred unity. It fragments what should be an exclusive devotion, potentially distracting spouses from fully sanctifying and supporting each other as “one flesh.” In Catholic belief, each marriage is meant to mirror the relationship between Christ and the Church—intimate, faithful, and exclusive. St. Paul describes this in Ephesians 5:25-32, where he writes of husbands loving their wives as Christ loves the Church. The singular fidelity of this relationship is meant to be a model for marriage, reflecting a bond that is complete in its exclusivity and mutual love.
I know there are some arguments within Mormon tradition that also express caution around polygamy. While polygamy has been part of the LDS past, it has since been discontinued in official doctrine. Many modern Mormons, I understand, support monogamous marriage and see it as more harmonious, as it fosters loyalty, companionship, and unity. Even some early Mormon leaders recognized that polygamy could lead to jealousy and division within families, possibly detracting from the peace and unity that marriage ideally brings. This reasoning resonates with Catholic concerns, as we too feel that the singular love and devotion of monogamous marriage create a foundation for greater spiritual growth and harmony.
In the Catholic view, the “one flesh” union in marriage is a profound mystery—two people becoming so unified that they can draw one another toward God in an undivided, single-hearted way. We believe that in this bond, a couple comes not only closer to each other but also closer to God Himself, who is present in their love and fidelity.
I share these thoughts with you in the hope that they might help clarify how, in my faith, marriage is seen as a unique, sacred covenant, and why polygamy might be viewed as incompatible with this vision. Please know that I share these words in friendship and with respect for your own beliefs and experiences.
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Dear Anonymous Catholic,
Thak you for your comment. I hope you appreciate the fact that I believe and endorse all the scriptures you cited. Marriage is a beautiful, holy, and mysterious sacrament. The world would be a much better place if more people would commit to it faithfully, and if men and women would fulfil their God-given roles within that relationship. So many of the world’s ills (divorce, abortion, prostitution, loneliness, abuse of all sorts, broken homes and broken people, etc.) are a result of men and women attempting to define their own rules and “live their own lives” rather than men being masculine while submitting to God’s authority, and women being feminine while submitting to their husband’s authority. This, as St. Paul says, is part of a mystery.
However, I believe the scriptures even more than the average Catholic (and certainly more than the average Mormon). For example, I believe it when God himself describes his polygamous union to both Israel and Judah (this is an oft repeated theme in the Hebrew scriptures). Altho God’s wives are largely unfaithful, this does not make the union sinful, nor forbidden in any way – God does not sin. As for the mysterious union of marriage, where two become one, I am a little surprised that a Catholic has no place in their theology for the unity of three persons 😉 HaHa.
Still, if we must confine ourselves to some sort of binary logic where:
(1 + 1) = 1 = 1’.
Then all we need to do is continue the arithmetic:
1’ + 1 = 1 + 1 = 1.
Therefore:
(1 + 1) + 1 = 1 + 1 + 1 = 1.
If it doesn’t make sense, don’t fret: it is a mystery. Only those who are initiated into mysteries can understand them.
Also, there is no need to fret about what God is doing with his marriages, nor with what any other people are doing with their lawful (per God’s Law) marriages. Only know that God loves marriage and hates divorce. Continue to foster and cultivate your own good marriage (I assume you are married), and encourage others to do likewise. You are doing a good work in the world.
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