Murder in the Heart

Christ stated in the last devotion, that He was the fulfillment of the Law. As the fulfillment of the Law, He has the authority to define the Law. Up until this dissertation, man had defined the Law as they saw fit. What may have started as a whole-hearted commitment, became a podium for the pious. The religious authority of the time had made the Law into a shield for them to hide behind; they had made it a cloak to display themselves; they made it shoes so as to trod over the poor and weak. Jesus came to define the Law as God wrote it. Jesus came to show the heart of the Law.

"You have heard it said to those of old, "You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of judgement." Matthew 5:21, NKJV

The Lord saw fit to begin this portion of Scripture with one law in particular. You shall not murder. This verse is taken from Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17. In neither of these two scriptures is the second half of Matthew 5:21 found. "Whoever murders will be in danger of judgement," was not a part of the original text. It seems that the religious elders had added to the law. It was always known that if one of the Ten Commandments was broken, judgement would be upon the perpetrator. It seems that "it thus became...a proverb among men than an inspired utterance from the mouth of God." (Spurgeon) The heart of the matter had been lost.

Jesus then went on to disclose the heart of God:

"But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without cause shall be in danger of judgement." Matthew 5:22a, NKJV

The heart of the matter is the matter of the heart. Anger to the Lord is just as severe as murder. The anger, though is "without cause". Unbridled anger comes from a deep recess in the heart. Just the simple action of anger without cause is enough to warrant judgement from the Lord, it is just like murder.

"And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council." Matthew 5:22b, NKJV

Raca was a term of reproach during the time of Christ. Raca "kills someone in reputation." (Spureon) It meant empty-headed, or stupid, or senseless. The term "council" could be in reference to the Sanhedrin, a council of 70 members. All the important causes were brought before this religious council to adjudicate.

"But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire." Matthew 5:22c, NKJV

This seems to be the harshest of all for the Lord. To call someone a fool is to be in danger of hell fire. "The fool has said in his heart there is no God." (Psalm 14:1) What is it about calling a person a fool that causes the Lord to want to judge by hell fire? I do not think the actual words are the issue, but the intention of the heart. Do you see the natural progression?

What the Law was truly saying , "[one is] also required to refrain from anger." (J. Dwight Pentecost) Anger has the ability to take deep root in the heart and come to fruition as anger.

"Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled with your brother, and then come offer your gift. Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on your way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny." Matthew 5:23-26, NKJV

The idea here is to deal with the the seeds of murder. Deal with the issue before it becomes an issue. Any type of wall between you and your brother causes there to be a wall between you and your Savior.

Jesus then takes it a step further and brings it to an earthly level. If the laymen could not understand the piety of the law, then they would understand something else, something of a social order. Jesus likens the ought with your brother to ought with your adversary. If you do not deal with your adversary, then he will deal with you. You will be turned over and imprisoned and not get out until the debt is repaid. How are you to repay it, who will pay it for you? Therefore, take care of the issue before it becomes the issue.