In the "Sermon on the Mount" Jesus gave the foundational teachings of Christian living. These were not suggestions but new commandments. He was thorough and what He did was to point out where sin begins. Notice when He quotes something from the Old Testament and then He contrasts it by saying "BUT I SAY TO YOU". He is giving NEW instructions that don't allow us any excuses. He raised the bar, He raised the standard that we all must obey.
Mat 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.'
22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother WITHOUT A CAUSE shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. NKJV
The key to this passage is "angry with his brother..."WITHOUT A CAUSE". Jesus is saying that those who are angry at their brother without a cause is guilty of MURDER and nothing less. The intent here is not just any cause that we can justify in our own minds, but a cause that is righteous in God's eyes. That is the standard by which we ourselves are judged. God's standard.
Now reflect for a while and ask yourself if you have been angry at someone for anything whatsoever. Were you angry at someone because they disagree with something you believe? Were you ever angry at someone because of a perceived injury to someone you know? Were you ever angry at someone because you believed in a rumor or Gossip? Were you ever angry at someone because they bruised your ego or hurt your pride? Did you get angry at someone because they took your parking spot? The list can go on and on if you think hard enough. Well guess what? In God's eyes you are guilty of MURDER. This is a hard pill for some to swallow but it is God's word that speaks truth here. So how do you make amends if this is the case? It is interesting how Jesus gave us the answer in the very next verse as to what our responsibility is.
Mat 5:23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,
In other words, you know in your heart that someone has something against you because of something you did or said or if you are or have been angry without a cause in God's eyes. To take it even deeper. Suppose you did or said things about a person that in God's eyes falsely maligned a persons character and they are not aware you did it? Same principle applies in my opinion.
24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
In other words you have to first go and make every effort to reconcile with your brother or sister before you can go boldly before the altar of God and present your gift. Notice that Jesus here does not just simply say to confess your sins and all is well. He said you have to go and reconcile. That my brothers and sisters is a true heart of repentance.
I hope that we all learn from the words of our Lord in this and press forward to the depths of His wisdom and love one another JUST AS Christ loved us.
John 14:21 He who has My commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves Me. And he who loves Me will be loved by My Father, and I will love him and manifest Myself to him."NKJV
God says we are murdering if we get angry with someone? Did God say this to you personally Walter? Where in Scripture does it say that and if you had it in your post...I'm sorry I stopped reading about one third of the way through (I didn't want to "murder" you...so I stopped reading).
What school do you have to go to to learn thsi stuff? Can you do it like a corrrespondence course?
So Murder? Wow..what if I just wanted to hurt sombody...how would I go about doing that? maybe just by being miffed at them? Or is it more a question of time? If you are angry for just 5 seconds you won't kill them but will bruse the heck out of them?
Murder? Wow! For over 2000 years we Christians never knew that was what God was talking about. Wow...Murder
It says "without cause". Meaning you are allowed to be angry if you have a legitimate reason. God gets angry. But if say....someone in your employ makes a accidental mistake and you drive them into the ground in anger...that's wrong.
dear arch, youve committed murder in your heart if youre angry at your brother for no reason.. its like youve committed adultery in your heart if you just look at a woman with lust in your heart.. ya know..
Mat 5:21 "You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'YOU SHALL NOT MURDER, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.'
22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother WITHOUT A CAUSE shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire. NKJV
Do you see the principle here? Both the murderer and the one who is angry without a cause are equally guilty of the very same judgment. If you get angry at someone without a just cause you come under the same judgment as someone who committed murder. That is the principle here. Jesus is showing us that sin really begins in the heart and not just in the actions.
It's the same principle as someone else pointed out, like Mat 5:28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. NKJV
Adultery begins in the heart not just the physical act. However lustful thoughts is never grounds for divorce.
I hope that helps clear this up. Please inform me if it does not.
Another good post Walter! Isaiah 42:21,Says He, {Jesus} Will magnify the law and make it honorable,Magnify means to enlarge and bring out the fine points,Sin starts in the heart by our thoughts so to hate our brother is the same is sinning by murder.
I understand the principal and I agree. My beef is with you saying that if you have anger in your Heart for someone you have committed Murder. Jesus was not saying that. You are correct in saying that murder starts with anger just as it starts with the loading of a pistol but a loaded pistol is not murder. That is my point...you simplify to the point of losing the nuances. Your brush strokes are too broad because they are your strokes...not God's. I hope I did not murder anyone one here.
