INSIDE OUTINSIDE OUTPart 2 – Murder & Anger Part 2 – Murder & Anger

Mathew 5:21 to 26Mathew 5:21 to 26

I – INTRODUCTION

Historical and Contextual background

More than anything else, the Jews desperately wanted a Messiah as this was prophesied. They wanted to get into the Kingdom. In Mathew 5 to 7, Jesus describes the characteristics of Kingdom citizens (verses1 to 12), the function of Kingdom citizens (13 to 16) and the basis of conduct of Kingdom citizens which is God’s laws (13 to 17)

He clarified to them that the standard of righteousness required to get into the Kingdom anchored on God’s laws but is primarily internal. (vs. 20) He gives them six illustrations to drive the point (Verse 21 to 48)

In verses 21 to 26, Jesus gives here the first illustration contrasting how they have misinterpreted God’s law and given emphasis on the letter of the law or the external rather than the spirit of the law or the internal (heart righteousness)

Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, “Thou shalt not kill” . . .

-The first murder found in the Bible is in Genesis 4: 9 to 13

- In Genesis 9:6, aside from giving them the penalty - God gives them the reason on why the shouldn’t commit murder “Whoever shed man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed, for in the image of God He made man”

- Jesus hearers were aware of the seriousness of this sin. Everybody knows how serious this sin is. But Jesus attacks their self confidence and tells them that nobody is really innocent of murder because the first step in murder is ANGER. This makes all men would be murderers. (inwardly)

- Jesus teaching on murder whether committed outwardly on inwardly affects our view of ourselves, our worship to God and our relation to others.

“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, “Thou shalt not kill and whosever shall kill shall be in danger of judgement.” But I say unto you that whosever is angry with his brother without cause shall be in danger of the judgement: 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 . . . ” (vs.21 and 22)

I – THE EFFECT ON THE VIEW OF OURSELVES

-The first effect of Jesus words is to shatter the illusion of self righteousness. Most people thought that clearly they were not guilty of murder as it is defined as the taking of one man’s life. But Jesus clarified this.

- The Jewish religious leaders has confined murder to being merely a civil issue and confined its prosecution to a human court. Nothing is said about violating God’s Holy Character when committing the crime.

- Comparing ourselves with murderers makes us seem very good. However Jesus says even if we have not physically taken another’s life but if we are angry with our brother we have already committed murder. His point here is that even the best people are in the same position as the worst sinner.

“… But I say unto you that whosoever shall be angry with his brother without cause shall be in danger of judgement . . . ” (vs 22)

A.) The evil and danger of Anger

-Not all anger is sinful as there is such a thing as righteous anger. (Mathew 21: 12 to 13, Ephesians 4:26)

- Jesus is talking here not of righteous anger but of anger against a brother because he did something to irritate or displease us. Angry – Orgizo – simmering anger that is nurtured and not allowed to die. It is the holding of a grudge in bitterness that refuses to forgive.

- Such anger is a form of murder and a person who harbors anger should be guilty before the court because the fruit of anger is murder

“ . . . And whosoever shall say to his brother “Raca” shjall be in danger of the council . . . “ (vs. 22)

B.) The evil and danger of slander

-There is no equivalent of the word “Raca” in English. However the closest equivalent is a “brainless idiot, worthless fellow, silly fool, empty head etc…”

- To slander a creature in anger made in God’s image is to slander God Himself and is equivalent to murdering a person. The contemptuous person shall be guilty before the Sanhedrin (The Jewish Supreme Court, the council of 70 elders who tried the most serious offences and pronounced the severest penalty including stoning to death)

“ . . .but whosever shall say, thou fool shall be in danger of hellfire . . .” (vs. 22)

C.) The evil and danger of a condemning character

-Fool (Moros) means stupid or dull. To call someone a fool is to call them both stupid and godless.

- The three illustration in this verse shows increasing degrees of seriousness. To be angry is the basic evil behind murder, to slander a person with a term such as Raca is even more serious because it gives expression to anger, and to condemn a person’s character by calling him a fool is more slanderous still.

- To calla person out of anger is the same as cursing him and murdering him. Such sin according to Jesus is worthy of eternal punishment in hell.

“ . . . Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the alter, and there rememberest that thy brother aught against thee, leave there they gift before the alter, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer they gift . ..” (vs 23 and 24)

II – THE EFFECT ON WORSHIP OF GOD

-Jesus teaching not only affects our view of ourselves because it shatters are self righteousness it also shows us how the sin of anger can affect our relationship with God.

- Worship is a major concerns for the Jews. They spent much time in the temple making sacrifices and prayer.

- “Therefore” refers back to Jesus point that sin just as righteousness is first internal. As long as there is internal sin, outward acts of worship are not acceptable to God. Jesus then focuses on the sin of anger. Reconciliation must precede worship.

- The scene of presenting your offering at the altar was familiar to the Jews. Jesus had in mind here the sacrifices made on the day of Atonement wherein the worship sacrifices animals for their sins. Jesus is saying here settle the breach between you and your brother before you try to settle the breach between you and God. Not to do so would be hypocrisy as it is akin to asking for forgiveness without repenting.

“What are your multiplied sacrifices to me says the Lord. I have enough of burn offerings of rams and the fat of cattle. And I take no pleasure in the blood of bulls lambs or goat . . .Wash yourselves make yourselves clean; remove the evil of your deeds from my sight. Cease to do evil, learn to do good; seek justice, reprove the ruthless; defend the orphan, plead for the widow . . . “ (Isaiah 1: 11, 16-17, 58: 5-7)

“Will you steal, murder and commit adultery, and swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal, and walk after other gods that you have no known, then come and stand before me in this house, which is called by my name and say “We are delivered” ? (Jeremiah 7:9 -10)

-The phrase “thy brother hath aught against thee” could also refer to anger or hatred on the brother’s part. Jesus is saying that even if we hold nothing against our brother be if he is angry with us or hates us we should do everything in our power to be reconciled. Although we cannot change his heart, but our desire and effort should be to reconciled to him from our side.

- Regardless of who is responsible for the break in relationship, we should determine to make reconciliation before we come before God to worship.

- When there is sin in our hearts there is no integrity and worship. True worship is enhanced by better relationship. (Psalm 66:18) (1 Samuel 15:22)

“ . . . Agree with thine adversary quickly while thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge and the judge deliver thee to the officer and thou be cast unto prison. Verily I say unto thee, thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou has paid the uttermost farthing.” (vs. 25, 26)

III – The effect on our relatinship with others

-These two verses are a commentary on the previous two. Jesus here is using the illustration of an unpaid debt. He points out the necessity of reconciliation.

- In verses 23 and 24 reconciliation is commanded to the innocent as well as the guilty. In 25 and 26 the emphasis here is on the guilty.

- Jesus is saying here that we are to make every effort without delay to make our relationship right with our brother before our relationship with God can be made right to avoid chastening.

CONCLUSION:

In the fullest sense, of course because no one ever fully has right attitudes no worship is acceptable. Therefore everything Jesus teaches in the passage as in the rest of the Sermon on the Mount shows the absolute standard of God’s righteousness and the absolutely impossible task of our meeting that standard by our own power. He shatters our self righteousness in order to drive us to his righteousness, which alone is acceptable to God.