This is the fourth sermon in a series of messages on the Sermon on the Mount. This message is based on Matthew 5:21-27.
Written Excerpts:
Introduction:
We are involved in a series of sermons based on the Sermon on the Mount given by Jesus and recorded by Matthew in chapters 5-7.
We have named this series, “Laying a Firm Foundation” because of the words that Jesus spoke in Matt. 7, “Whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock…. But everyone who hears these sayings of Mine, and does not do them, will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand….”
We are examining the sermon given by Jesus in order to learn what kinds of attitudes, character and actions are needed in order to build our lives on a solid foundation. So far in this series I have been saying that we need to learn these things in order to be better prepared for the storms of life. However, with today’s lesson, I believe we will see that learning these lessons not only helps us prepare for the storms of life, but if we don’t learn these lessons, that may even cause severe storms to come into our lives.
Starting with today’s topic and continuing through the next several topics, Jesus seems to be confirming the truth of the previous lesson; i.e. He didn’t come to destroy the law, but to complete it or fulfill it. You will notice with the next several paragraphs, Jesus starts off each one by saying, “You have heard that it was said by them of old time” – Or, “by them of ancient times.” He is probably speaking about those Rabbis and teachers of the law that gave traditional interpretations along with their man-made additions and explanations.
It seems very unlikely that Jesus was contrasting His teaching against Moses, for that would go against what he had just said in the previous paragraph about not coming to destroy the law. More than likely these are references to the common interpretations as understood by the Rabbis and teachers of the Law. However, Jesus is expanding the meanings and showing the genuine intent and purpose of the commands. After all, being the Second Person of the Trinity, He was the One who gave the law to begin with.
Our topic today is based on verses 21-26 and concerns the matter of relationships with our fellowman.
With the help of God’s Spirit, I want to discuss three important principles that spring from this lesson in Jesus’ sermon.
I. Murder is an assault on the image of God.
We can tell by the way that this verse begins that it is based on the Sixth Commandment from the Law: “Thou Shalt Not Kill.”
Many of you were here last year when I did a series of messages on the Ten Commandments. If you recall, when we talked about the Sixth Commandment, we emphasized the point that murder is so evil because it is an attack against a creature that has been created in the image of God. Human beings are the only creatures in God’s entire universe that are defined as being created in God’s image. It is that image of God that gives human life more value over and above any other creature in the world. So, to attack and murder another human being is, in a sense, equivalent to attacking God Himself.
Now, I admit that Jesus did not mention the image of God in this passage, but I am doing so because of the obvious connection to the Ten Commandments and the reasoning God used back in the OT when He originally gave the command, “Do not kill.”
I will be enlarging on this in a moment, but it seems to me that when Jesus starts out this paragraph by making a reference to the commandment, “Do not kill,” He is re-establishing the all-important principle that we are made in the image of God and that principle has implications for behaviors other than just murder.
II. Anger (and Hatred) is the seed of murder.
A. Anger as a root of evil
After re-establishing the foundational principle of the sacredness of human life, Jesus moves on to further implications in the law.
“Whoever is angry …” – Jesus is now explaining that there is another principle that is at the root of murder and that principle is the seed of anger (or hatred).
We will discuss in a moment some of the expressions of anger that Jesus highlights, but it is important to understand that anger is the seed of hatred and murder as well as other outward expressions, and it must be addressed if one is to avoid the guilt and judgment that Jesus mentions. Anger against another human being must be understood as an attitude that is directed toward someone that is created in the image of God.
Now, I recognize that sometimes humans do things that are evil and wrong and contrary to the image of God that we all were meant to reflect in this life. And yet, this does not give any of us the right to deny another person the value attached to God’s image with which they were created.
“… without cause….” – This phrase does not appear in the oldest manuscripts. Therefore, many Bible scholars believe that it was a marginal note made by some scribe that eventually made its way into the text. Yet we do need to acknowledge that anger in itself is not always wrong. Jesus was described in various places in the Gospels as having anger and expressing anger. The Apostle Paul advised, “Be angry [but] do not sin.” So this phrase is a reminder that Jesus seems to be speaking about the kind of anger that is self-centered and retaliatory, rather than anger that is focused on the defense of God’s righteous character.
B. Expressions of anger and their consequences
1. The verbal expressions of anger
“Whoever says…” – with these words Jesus introduces two different degrees of verbal attack against another person that spring from internal anger.
Notice that Jesus first of all addresses the principle of anger and then He mentions the verbal expressions of anger. It is important to notice that inward attitudes and motivations are just as serious as outward actions and expressions of them. (This is a primary point in all these lessons about the law.)
“Raca” – (Adam Clarke) to be empty. It signifies a vain, empty, worthless fellow, shallow brains; a term of great contempt.
(IVP Bible Background Commentary) “Raca” is Aramaic for “empty-headed one….”
“Fool” – (A. Clarke) probably from a word meaning, to rebel, a rebel against God, apostate from all good. This term implied, among the Jews, the highest enormity, and most aggravated guilt, [i.e. apostasy].
(Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown) Every age and every country has its modes of expressing such things; and no doubt our Lord seized on the current phraseology of unholy disrespect and contempt merely to … condemn the different degrees of such feeling when brought out in words, as he had immediately before condemned the feeling itself.
Dear friends, let me remind each of us on the authority of Jesus’ own words, it is a serious offense against the divine image of God to verbally attack another human being and call them derogatory names. Even when expressing anger over conduct that is evil, we must remain focused on the behavior and not attack the inherent worth of the person.
2. The consequences for anger and its expressions
As Jesus talks about anger and its consequences, He seems to indicate that there are not only varying degrees in the expression of it but in the consequences for it as well.
“…judgment; council; and hell fire…” – The literal meanings are:
Judgment – (Jamieson, Fausset, and Brown) [A word used to describe] the lowest of Jewish tribunals. (Clarke) A senate composed of 23 magistrates whose business it was to judge in cases of murder and other capital crimes.
Council – The word used is the word for Sanhedrin. (Clarke) It was composed of 72 elders and received appeals from the lower senate, as well as tried cases of the highest crimes.
Hell fire – lit. “fire of Gehenna” which was a reference to the valley of the Sons of Hinnom; a valley outside Jerusalem
Some Bible scholars think that these three terms represent three different expressions for the same punishment or judgment. Others insist that they truly represent varying degrees of punishment. Most seem to agree that these terms really refer to future and divine judgments of God for the violations of this commandment. By describing these consequences, Jesus is vividly establishing God’s attitude toward murder and its predecessors that all violate His divine image that was implanted in every human being.
III. Reconciliation and Harmony is God’s Design.
The final principle we want to point out today is this:
God’s first and primary desire regarding anger and hatred is for people to be reconciled with one another and for relationships to be healed, rather than allowing anger to fester and develop into words and actions that are seriously destructive. By these examples that Jesus describes next, we can’t help but recognize that God’s heart is set on reconciliation and healing of relationships. Jesus demonstrates this principle by using two examples or illustrations – offering of a sacrifice, and charges pending in court.
Without taking the time to describe the intimate details of these analogies, let me simply summarize the conclusion drawn by Jesus.
In both cases, it is absolutely essential to reconcile with the offended party beforehand in order to receive God’s approval and acceptance or to avoid the consequences of judgment in the court. In both of these examples Jesus was undoubtedly using real life examples to express spiritual truths.
Sacrifice – Before anyone attempts to offer up to God any type of spiritual service as a sacrifice to the Lord, he / she must first of all become reconciled with anyone that has “ought against” me.
(Notice that this is not primarily talking about those whom I may have something against, but it is talking about the ones who have something against me. This places the burden upon me to seek them to be reconciled, rather than waiting for them to come to me.)
Agree with Adversary – Make every effort to come to an acceptable agreement with the one that is bringing charges against you before you get to the point of being forced to accept the judgment of the court.
Reconciliation and healing are very high in priority with God. He is not pleased with anger and bitterness or any broken relationships that might end up in the kind of expressions we have already discussed. It is not so important for me to demand my rights and insist on having my way. It is far more important to patch up relationships and demonstrate the kind of love for each other that God has demonstrated towards us. The seed of anger can and will develop into hatred or even murder, but God’s desire is that we receive His divine love and let it produce reconciliation and healing in our broken lives and broken relationships.
Conclusion:
What is the Holy Spirit bringing to your mind right now?
Who is the individual or individuals that you are thinking of right now?
Are there roots of bitterness and anger festering within your heart and your spirit?
Are there wounds that you are nursing and grudges that you are harboring?
Is there anyone that you know has anger or a grudge toward you?
These kinds of things will lead to serious violations of God’s design for how we treat one another.
The only solution is to confess it all to God and give it to Him, and then become reconciled with those against whom we may have harbored anger and bitterness.
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