Jesus Redefines Murder – Part 2

(Matthew 5: 22-26)

Let’s begin by reminding ourselves what it said in verse 22.

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister without cause will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

(Matthew 5: 22)

In the last episode we talked about how Jesus redefined the breaking of the commandment, “Thou shalt not commit murder”, from the narrow concept of only concerning those who commit the physical act that leads to the death of another person. But widened it to include our internal emotional state particularly in relation to anger. We then went on to look at the first of three types of anger that Jesus talks about, being angry “without cause” and I called that   unreasonable anger,.

In this verse Jesus says anyone “who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca’”, has a problem.  The Greek word that’s translated Raca means empty headed we would probably say numbskull or idiot today, and Jesus here suggest that we are in danger of judgment if we say things like that. As a matter of fact, this word “Raca” is almost untranslatable because it also describes the tone of voice more than anything else and the tone is one of showing contempt towards the other person.

Again, this is second indication of this internal attitude it when it spills out with a show of contempt. If we get to a point where we despise someone with arrogant contempt Jesus says that’s equivalent to murder. If it is a hate filled outburst or an expression of contempt, it falls foul of the law. The little phrase “raca” captures this contemptuous attitude.

When I personally have seen this attitude in real life it can be an emotion so strong it has almost knocked me over. I have on several occasions had somebody that was so angry they said to me things like I wish that person was dead, with such contempt in their voice that it feels like they really mean it.  Jesus has said this type of behaviour is synonymous with murder because what you’re wishing is that the person would experience harm or even death.

So, number 1 was unreasonable anger where you have no cause to be angry, number 2 is this a depth of contempt where you really wish that person ill. With both these types of anger Jesus says you are guilty of spiritual murder.

There’s a third type of anger, look at verse 22 but whoever says ‘you fool’ you should be in danger of Hellfire. 

That’s seems a bit harsh, does that mean you never call anybody a fool. Let me see if I can help here. The word fool means to be dull stupid or foolish it can describe a person’s mental ability, or it can also be an attack on someone’s moral integrity. But it appears this world cover both a moral fool and someone who lives and immoral life and says that there is no God because of this. In this sense to call someone a fool is about criticizing another’s mental ability but in doing so calling into question their moral character. It’s legitimate to call someone’s actions foolish if what they are making foolish moral choices and that it was foolish to do those things. We would all qualify, maybe even benefit from having our foolish decisions pointed out to us sometimes. But Jesus is speaking about putting somebody down or calling him or her stupid with a condescending attitude or suggesting someone mental ability is a reflection on their moral state before God.

Jesus is talking about questioning somebody character just because they have a lower level of intellect. Now here’s the real tough part look at verse, “if you do that you’re in danger of Hellfire”,  First, I need to point out, this isn’t normal word for hell. This is the Greek word Gehenna. Gehenna was a valley just right outside the city of Jerusalem. Jerusalem was a city built on a hill and there was a valley of Gehenna just outside the city walls. 

In the Old Testament some despicable things happen there including the sacrifice of children and eventually it came to be used as the city trash dump. There was a perpetual fire that burned there and they would simply dump the trash over the city wall and it would burn in this place and it was called Gehenna. Jesus uses that as an illustration of hell, but look at the verse carefully, does the verse say if you called somebody a fool, you’re going to go to hell. No what does it say you’re going to be like that you’re in danger of going to hell. I think Jesus is speaking in hyperbole, I think he is talking about somebody who a long lasting settled hatred and contempt toward the person he or she is talking about. 

The point of all this is simply to widen the definition of what is covered under the commandment, not to commit murder and these various types of anger whether expressed or unexpressed. whether it’s unreasonable anger, contempt, or verbal abuse they are all going to be judged by God.  Jesus says the commandment is not only wanting to deal with an overt act of murder it’s about the internal attitude of anger that can when given free rein gives birth to those type of violent actions.

(Example, night club people throwing punches at each other) 

So, it not just the actions or the random consequence of an action carried out in a moment of anger that Jesus is condemning here. The point is real adherence to this law meant being in a place where you never wish to commit murder or even harm another person in the first place. All of us have a reservoir of wrath inside of them, have you ever wished your boss was dead , or the person who took your parking place. Has the thought ever occurred to you I wish someone was dead. Well, there is a conclusion to all this and I’d like to offer some help in that direction. Jesus started out talking about the commandment he spent most of the time so far clarifying that commandment, but he eventually comes to a conclusion.

 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

(Matthew 5: 23-24)

Jesus concludes with two suggestions. First be reconciled with someone rather than be angry with them. he way Jesus communicates this is this s by bringing a gift to the altar and bring those feelings also and over those as a sacrifice also meaning you ask for forgiveness and leave them there.

Secondly if you’ve expressed your anger and the other person knows about how you feel, then that stands against you. Therefore, he says if you bring your gift to the altar and you remember that your brother or sister has something against you leave and go be reconciled to that person first. In other words, being reconciled with your brother takes precedent over giving a gift at God's altar. So being reconciled is more than an external act of religious repentance. God wants you to stop, even in the middle of a worship service and go be reconciled with you brother. 

“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

(Matthew 5: 25-26)

We’ve shifted gears here we’re now talking about an adversary and in verse 26 this adversary is somebody you owe money to, so there’s a shift of emphasis and apparently this second illustration has to do with being a debtor. The description it says while you’re with him on the way apparently this is a reference to the fact that there was something like a debtor’s court and you owed this person you hadn’t paid them, and you were both going to this court at the same time in a small town you would end up walking together. That’s the backdrop of this, and It gives us an intimate little picture of early church culture and history. But the point is, to try and agree with your adversary quickly before things escalate, even right up to the last moment, even just before you even get to the courtroom.

The first suggestion w toas be reconciled and the second point is, do it quickly don’t linger get it done and get it done quickly. I can’t think of a more pertinent practical suggestion to give you concerning the subject of anger, is to not let the sun go down on your wrath, deal with it quickly nip it in the bud. When it’s a small plant don’t let it grow into a huge tree. Kill it when it’s a small, as someone once says if a cub comes into you home don’t let it grow into a lion. Why because if you don’t deal with it quickly, things will get worse.

This is the point of the second illustration in verse 25. if you don’t deal with it while you’re on your way quickly then your adversary will deliver you to the judge and the judge will hand you over to the jailer to be thrown into prison. And at that time, it meant you were stuck in prison until the last penny was paid. Don’t let the sun go down on you anger. I know people who have not only let the sun go down on their anger and resentment, but they have let that calendar page turn month by month, year by year. I’ve talked to people who’ve let decade go down on their anger. One of the most entrenched cases of anger I ever dealt with ever was a lady in her late 80’s who was still angry over something that happened in the church when she was 50 years old. I beg you for your sake, to settle it, anger is an acid that eats the container that holds it, if you don’t pour this acid out quick it’ll eat your heart and soul.

In summary, Jesus has talked about the commandment thou shalt not commit murder. But Jesus interprets it much more widely than just the physical act of bringing an end to someone’s life. The point I think Jesus is making is that since God will judge the state of our hearts and its consequences you ought to be reconciled with anybody you’ve been angry with and do it as quickly as possible. Because there could be more serious consequences if you don’t. People have is a tendency to try and justify their anger. I don’t think I ever met anybody who said I’m angry without a cause everybody I ever talked to thinks they have a good reason to be angry, and that’s the problem. But Jesus says even righteous anger shouldn’t be left to fester because then it can turn into something toxic. The correct response to injustice, or prejudice should be death with by bring God love and justice against those things that make you angry.

Paula and I have a rule in our marriage we try not to go to sleep angry. We’re still following that rule as best we can, after 30+ years.  I can’t think of better way to destroy a marriage than to go to sleep angry. Anger will destroy a marriage, destroy a friendship, and can split a church.

One day many years ago when one of my children was only 6 years old (which child will remain nameless) but they were having a really bad day. They woke up grumpy, they complained about the clothes they wanted them to wear because we were going out for the day. They griped about the breakfast, and he refused to eat, they annoyed their sibling to the point frustration. They were nothing but trouble that whole morning and it was spoiling our day out. At one point we stopped for lunch and Paula asked what is wrong with you today you’ve been nothing but anger and heartache all day. For a moment there was silence then there were tears that filled his eyes and they said I’m sorry and told us she was angry with a friend who she though had frozen her out. We then told her something really sad that had happened to her friend and why she was just probably unhappy and angry about that at the moment and was lashing out at those around her. Why don’t you ring her when you get back and ask her to come round and play tomorrow. You wouldn’t believe it in 2 minutes the world was right the anger was gone the friendship was reconciled and everyone was happy, and everything seemed as it should have been.