Matthew 5:21, 22 - What Does Murder, Hatred And Anger Have In Common?
Mat.5:21, 22: What Does Murder, Hatred And Anger Have In Common?
Matthew 5:21, 22 (NIV) "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. Again, anyone who says to his
brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says,
'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
DEVOTIONAL PEARL
"You have heard that it was said"'Do not murder'" Matt. 5:21-26.
This is the first of six illustrations Jesus used to explain
surpassing righteousness. All had heard the Old Testament Law that
legislated against murder. The act of killing was wrong.
But Jesus went on to explain that God is not just concerned with
murder. He noted the anger that flared up and led to murder! The truly
righteous person is not one who just refrains from murder. He or she is
one who does not respond to others with anger.
In this and in the following illustrations Jesus emphasized
God's concern with the heart. Keeping the law about not murdering
makes no one righteous. The truly righteous man is the one who does
not become angry!
Actually, this kind of perfect righteousness is beyond us all.
That's why we must become citizens of Jesus' kingdom. Only Christ's
work in our hearts can transform us into the persons God calls us to
be. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
THE FOLLOWING ARE FOR THOSE WHO DESIRE DEEPER STUDY:
CONTENT; What's in the verse; Translations; Paraphrase; Word
Study:
Matthew 5:21, 22 (KJV) Ye have heard that it was said by them
of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be
in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is
angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the
judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger
of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in
danger of hell fire.
Matthew 5:21, 22 (NIV) "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. Again, anyone who says to his
brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says,
'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
Matthew 5:21, 22 (NLT) "You have heard that the law of Moses
says, 'Do not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to
judgment.' But I say, if you are angry with someone, you are subject to
judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought
before the high council. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of
the fires of hell.
Matthew 5:21, 22 (AMP) You have heard that it was said to the
men of old, You shall not kill, and whoever kills shall be liable to
and unable to escape the punishment imposed by the court. [Ex 20:13;
Deut 5:17; 16:18.] But I say to you that everyone who continues to
be angry with his brother or harbors malice (enmity of heart)
against him shall be liable to and unable to escape the punishment
imposed by the court; and whoever speaks contemptuously and insultingly
to his brother shall be liable to and unable to escape the
punishment imposed by the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, You cursed fool!
[You empty-headed idiot!] shall be liable to and unable to escape the
hell (Gehenna) of fire.
YE HAVE HEARD / IT WAS SAID
Ye have heard. Jesus now proceeds to give specific examples of
His interpretation of the law. As its Author, He is its only true
exponent. Sweeping away the rubbish of rabbinical casuistry, Jesus
restored truth to its original beauty and luster. The expression "ye have
heard" implies that the majority of the audience upon this occasion had
not read the law for themselves. This was only to be expected, for
most of them were ordinary peasants and fishermen. When conversing
with the learned priests and elders, Jesus later inquired, "Did ye
never read in the scriptures?" (ch. 21:42). [SDA Commentary]
It was said. The contrast that Jesus sets up is not between the
OT and his teaching (he has just established the validity of the OT
Law). Rather, it is between externalistic interpretation of the
rabbinic tradition on the one hand, and Jesus' correct interpretation of
the Law on the other. [NIV SB]
BUT I SAY UNTO YOU
But I say unto you. The rabbis cited tradition as their
authority for the interpretation of the law; Christ spoke on His own
authority, and this fact distinguished His teaching from that of the
rabbis, as the people were quick to observe (see Matt. 7:29; see on Luke
4:22). The expression "but I say unto you" appears six times in (see
vs. 22, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44) Matt. 5. Christ showed that His
requirements went far beyond the mere form of the law and that they included
the spirit that would impart life and meaning to what was otherwise
only form. He set forth six specific examples by way of making clear
the distinction between outward acts and the motives that prompt
those acts. This contrast, which runs like a thread of gold through
the Sermon on the Mount, makes the address the supreme statement of
the Christian philosophy of life, the greatest exposition of ethics
of all time. Christ pointed out how far reaching the requirements
of the law really are and emphasized that mere outward conformity
to law avails nothing. [SDA Commentary]
Jesus fulfilled all God had done for, given to, and promised
Israel. His teachings did not replace the Old Testament. They
represented the completion of and accomplishment of the Old Testament. He
lived out what He taught and thus was the only person to be what the
Old Testament taught all people should be. Jesus' teachings
completed the Old Testament at the level of motivation and intentions.
Jesus called people to join God's kingdom and be like God. We trust in
Jesus' likeness to God as our Savior even while we work toward godly
character in Christ. [Disciple SB]
KILL VS MURDER
Several Hebrew and Greek verbs mean "kill." The ones used here
and in Ex 20:13 specifically mean "murder." [NIV SB]
ANGRY WITH HIS BROTHER
Angry with his brother. Murder is an end result of anger. But a
man may hide his anger from his fellow men, even from those who are
the objects of his anger. The best that the courts can do is to
punish acts that result from anger; God alone is able to go to the root
of the matter, and to condemn and punish a man for anger itself.
[SDA Commentary]
Anger destroys human relationships. At the very least, it
destroys compassion. At the worst, it can threaten life itself. [Disciple
SB]
WITHOUT A CAUSE
Without a cause. Textual evidence favors the omission of this
phrase. It appears to imply Christ's approval of anger toward a
"brother" who has done something to merit it, and seems contrary to
Christ's teachings with respect to loving one's enemies and doing good to
those who harbor hatred in their hearts (v. 44). On the other hand,
the Scriptures indicate that anger against sin may be justifiable
(see on Mark 3:5), when the personal element is entirely absent and
the righteous indignation is directed solely against evil itself
(see Ex. 32:19; John 2:14-17; etc.). There is a certain sense in
which God is spoken of as being angry (see Num. 25:4; Isa. 13:9;
30:27; 42:25; Dan. 9:16; etc.). It is thus clear that righteous
indignation against acts that dishonor God or bring injury to innocent
persons is not to be condemned . [SDA Commentary]
JUDGMENT
Judgment. This probably refers to the verdict of the local court
of a town or city, and implies that the anger had found expression
in threats or deeds. [SDA Commentary]
THE COUNCIL
The council. here probably the local sanhedrin, or court, rather
than the Great Sanhedrin in Jerusalem. [SDA Commentary]
RACA
Raca. Gr. rhaka, probably a transliteration of the Aramaic reqa'
(Heb, reqah), meaning "good for nothing," "stupid." It is an
expression of strong contempt. [SDA Commentary]
Raca. May be related to the Aramaic word for "empty" and mean
"Empty-head!" [NIV SB]
Raca is an Aramaic word which means "stupid," "vain," or
"empty-headed." [Believer's SB]
Raca. "good-for-nothing", or "empty-head." [Ryrie SB]
THOU FOOL
Thou fool. Gr. mōros, "dull," "stupid," "foolish." It has
been suggested that mōros is related to the Heb. marah, "to be
contentious," "to be refractory," "to be rebellious." Whereas rhaka expresses
contempt for one's intelligence, or rather the lack of it, mōros, as
here used, seems also to include contempt for one's motives. In the
first case the person is called "stupid," in the second, "scoundrel,"
implying malicious intent. If Christ refused to bring a "railing
accusation" against the devil (Jude 9), we should refrain from doing so in
regard to our fellow men. We are to leave with God the work of judging
and condemning a man because of his motives. [SDA Commentary]
"Fool" may be a transliteration of the Hebrew, "rebel" (cf. Ps
78:8; Jer 5:23). This word was used by Moses of the Israelites at
Meribah, when his disobedience caused him to be prevented from entering
the Promised Land (Num 20:10). Although there is a progression in
the evil attitudes cited, Jesus intends to show that behind the
overt act of murder is the disposition of anger, hostility, or
contempt. Thus, although attitudes may not be tried in court, they are as
dangerous as the overt acts of wrong for which one is tried in court or
for which one stands in danger of hell fire, unless one experiences
God's forgiveness in Christ. [Believer's SB]
HELL
Hell fire. Literally, "the Gehenna [Gr. geenna] of fire," or
"the hell of fire." Geenna, "hell," is a transliteration of the
Hebrew ge' ben hinnom, "valley of Hinnom," or ge' ben hinnom, "valley
of the son of Hinnom" (Joshua 15:8), the valley to the south and
west of Jerusalem that meets with the Kidron Valley immediately south
of the City of David and the Pool of Siloam (see on Jer. 19:2).
Wicked King Ahaz seems to have introduced the barbaric heathen rite of
burning infant children to Molech at a high place called Tophet, in the
Valley of Hinnom (2 Chron. 28:3), during the days of Isaiah... Manasseh,
a grandson of Ahaz, restored this practice (2 Chron. 33:1, 6; cf.
Jer. 32:35). Years later good King Josiah formally desecrated the
high places in the Valley of Hinnom, where this appalling form of
worship had been conducted (2 Kings 23:10), so bringing it to a halt. In
retribution for this and other evils God forewarned His people that the
Valley of Hinnom would one day become "the valley of slaughter" for
"the carcases of this people" (Jer. 7:32, 33; Jer. 19:6; cf. Isa.
30:33). Accordingly, the fires of Hinnom became symbolic of the
consuming fire of the last great day of judgment and the punishment of the
wicked (cf. Isa. 66:24).... The tradition that makes the Valley of
Gehenna a place for burning rubbish, and thus a type of the fires of the
last day, appears to have originated with Rabbi Kimchi, a Jewish
scholar of the 12th and 13th centuries. Ancient Jewish literature knows
nothing of such an idea. The earlier rabbis base the idea of Gehenna as
a type of the fires of the last day on Isa. 31:9. [SDA
Commentary]
Hell. The Greek word is ge(h)enna, which derives its name from a
deep ravine south of Jerusalem, the "Valley of (the Sons of) Hinnom"
(Hebrew ge hinnom). During the reigns of the wicked Ahaz and Manasseh,
human sacrifices to the Ammonite god Molech were offered there. Josiah
desecrated the valley because of the pagan worship there (2Ki 23:10; see
Jer 7:31-32; 19:6). It became a sort of perpetually burning city
dump and later a figure for the place of final punishment. [NIV SB]
The word translated "hell" is a place in the valley of Hinnom
where human sacrifices had been offered (cf. Jer. 7:31) and where the
continuous burning of rubbish made it an apt illustration of the lake of
fire. [Ryrie SB]
CONTEXT; What's around the verse; Overview; Topic:
Overview
Jesus announced blessings for citizens of His kingdom (5:1-12).
He expects citizens of His kingdom to do good deeds (vv. 13-16),
for He requires a righteousness that surpasses that of even the
zealous Pharisees (vv. 17-20). Christ looked behind the acts the Law
regulated to call for purity of heart (vv. 21-42) and that crowning
expression of kingdom righteousness: a love like the Heavenly Father's for
one's enemies (vv. 43-48). [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
5:17-48 The Fulfilled Law: Divine Perfection
Jesus gave five examples of the fulfillment of the law. He
corrected a possible misunderstanding concerning the purpose of his coming
(5:17-20). He did not come to abolish the law (5:17). But he did come to
demand perfection (cf. 5:48). Jesus had just spoken of good works
(5:16), and he, like the prophets of old, demanded the same holy
character and acts of obedience. He brought no new way of living in God's
kingdom. He simply expanded and deepened God's long-standing desire for
his creation's obedience and holiness. He started with the
Pharisees' standard of righteousness: obedience to the law. But he applied
that law not only to the external deeds that a person might do, but
also to the attitudes and thoughts in the depths of a person's heart.
Fulfilled law is no longer the law imposed upon a person from the outside,
but that which is written on the heart and becomes an integral part
of that person (cf. 5:22, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44). If the law becomes
internalized, obedience becomes instinctive and pleasant, not something a
person is forced to do. Throughout the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus
called his hearers to move from external obedience to an obedience
motivated by the law written upon the heart (5:22, 28, 32, 34, 39, 44;
6:19-24)....
Five examples of how the Pharisees failed to fulfill the law
were given in 5:21-28: (1) murder and anger 5:21-26; (2) adultery and
lust 5:27-32; (3) vows and simplicity (5:33-37; cf. Lev. 19:12; Num.
30:2); (4) revenge and nonresistance (Matt. 5:38-42); and (5) loving
enemies (5:43-48)....
In 5:21-48 Jesus rejected the Pharisaic interpretation of the
law as superficial. He emphasized inner conformity to the spirit of
the law rather than mere outward conformity to the letter of the
law. The true requirements of the law were highlighted to convict
listeners of their need to turn to Jesus, the one true source of
righteousness. [New Bible Companion]
SECTION HEADINGS
Personal Relationships
Jesus Teaches About Anger
CROSS REFERENCES; What's in verses elsewhere.
Exodus 21:12-14 (KJV) He that smiteth a man, so that he die,
shall be surely put to death. [13] And if a man lie not in wait, but
God deliver him into his hand; then I will appoint thee a place
whither he shall flee. [14] But if a man come presumptuously upon his
neighbour, to slay him with guile; thou shalt take him from mine altar,
that he may die.
Numbers 35:30 (KJV) Whoso killeth any person, the murderer
shall be put to death by the mouth of witnesses: but one witness shall
not testify against any person to cause him to die.
Psalm 37:8 (KJV) Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not
thyself in any wise to do evil.
Matthew 5:23-24 (KJV) Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the
altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee;
[24] Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be
reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift.
Matthew 5:44 (KJV) But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless
them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them
which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Matthew 10:28 (KJV) And fear not them which kill the body, but
are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to
destroy both soul and body in hell.
Matthew 18:35 (KJV) So likewise shall my heavenly Father do
also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his
brother their trespasses.
Ephes. 4:26-27 (KJV) Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun
go down upon your wrath: [27] Neither give place to the devil.
Ephes. 4:31, 32 (KJV) Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger,
and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all
malice: [32] And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one
another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
Titus 3:2 (KJV) To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but
gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.
1 Peter 3:9 (KJV) Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for
railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called,
that ye should inherit a blessing.
1 John 2:9 (KJV) He that saith he is in the light, and hateth
his brother, is in darkness even until now.
1 John 3:14, 15 (KJV) We know that we have passed from death
unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his
brother abideth in death. [15] Whosoever hateth his brother is a
murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
1 John 4:20, 21 (KJV) If a man say, I love God, and hateth his
brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath
seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen? [21] And this
commandment have we from him, That he who loveth God love his brother also.
COMMENTARY / APPLICATION: Moving From The Head To The Heart
What is God teaching here? What does it teach about Jesus?
When Jesus said, "But I tell you," he was not doing away with
the law or adding his own beliefs. Rather, he was giving a fuller
understanding of why God made that law in the first place. For example, Moses
said, "You shall not murder" (Exodus 20:13), Jesus taught, "Don't even
become angry enough to murder, for then you have already committed
murder in your heart." The Pharisees read this law and, not having
murdered, felt righteous. Yet they were angry enough with Jesus that they
would soon plot his murder, though they would not do the dirty work
themselves. We miss the intent of God's Word when we read his rules for
living without trying to understand why he made them. When do you keep
God's rules but close your eyes to his intent?
Killing is a terrible sin, but anger is a great sin too because
it also violates God's command to love. Anger in this case refers
to a seething, brooding bitterness against someone. It is a
dangerous emotion that always threatens to leap out of control, leading to
violence, emotional hurt, increased mental stress, and spiritual damage.
Anger keeps us from developing a spirit pleasing to God. Have you ever
been proud that you didn't strike out and say what was really on your
mind? Self-control is good, but Christ wants us to practice
thought-control as well. Jesus said we will be held accountable even for our
attitudes. [Life Application SB]
This is the first of six illustrations Jesus used to explain
surpassing righteousness. All had heard the Old Testament Law that
legislated against murder. The act of killing was wrong.
But Jesus went on to explain that God is not just concerned with
murder. He noted the anger that flared up and led to murder! The truly
righteous person is not one who just refrains from murder. He or she is
one who does not respond to others with anger.
In this and in the following illustrations Jesus emphasized
God's concern with the heart. Keeping the law about not murdering
makes no one righteous. The truly righteous man is the one who does
not become angry!
Actually, this kind of perfect righteousness is beyond us all.
That's why we must become citizens of Jesus' kingdom. Only Christ's
work in our hearts can transform us into the persons God calls us to
be. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
Jesus at first seems such a demanding King.
In this portion of His Sermon on the Mount Jesus made it clear
that He expects citizens of His kingdom to do more than keep laws. He
expects us to be the kind of people who never even want to break them!
In a series of illustrations He explained that His citizens
aren't to get angry, much less strike out at another. We citizens
aren't to lust, much less commit adultery. We're not to want a divorce,
to plan to deceive, or even to want revenge when injured (vv.
21-42).
But then Jesus topped it off. Citizens of His kingdom are to
"love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you" (v. 44). He
explained that God is the kind of Person who "causes His sun to rise on
the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the
unrighteous" (v. 45). And we are to be "sons of your Father in heaven." It's
really simple. We can sum up everything Jesus asks in a single phrase.
"Just be like God."
This would be impossible if it weren't for one thing. Jesus
said, "Sons of your Father in heaven." You see, everyone in Jesus'
kingdom is also family.
Through faith in Christ we enter a unique "your Father"
relationship with God Himself. And God establishes a unique relationship with
us. In Peter's words, God shares with us "His own indestructible
heredity" (1 Peter 1:23, PH). Because God has poured His own life into us,
it's not unreasonable at all to expect us to display a family
resemblance.
I remember discovering as a teenager why I had the habit of
cocking my head to one side when I rode in the car. Sitting in the
backseat one day, I noticed that my dad held his head the same way, due
to an old injury. From childhood I had been imitating him, without
ever realizing it.
God isn't interested in the way we hold our heads. But He does
want us to watch Him intently, see how He relates to us and to
others, and so gradually become more and more like Him within.
As we live as faithful citizens of Jesus' present kingdom, this
is just what happens. We find to our amazement that we not only do
good, we are becoming good! Transformed from within by the power of
the King, we increasingly resemble our righteous and perfect God.
[The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
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