ARE YOU A MURDERER PART ONE
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Matt
5:21-26
“When a rattlesnake is cornered, sometimes it becomes so angry that it bites itself. When a man harbors hatred or bitterness in his heart he is poisoning himself just like the rattlesnake that bites itself." See! If anger does not exist in the heart, it does not exist at all. I say this to reference what Jesus is saying here! In the internal new birth found in Christ alone.
The righteousness that
exceeds the external self-righteous of the Scribes and Pharisee’s comes through
the transforming work of God.
From the beginning of this sermon Jesus has made it abundantly clear that His message addresses the heart (the internal) over the traditions and workings of men (the eternal). Jesus focuses on and exposes the heart of men by addressing what is in their minds and heart. See! God is very concerned about the inside; and when the outside matches with the inside, God is pleased. As we read in Jeremiah 17:10 "I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds." Jesus said, “And all the churches will know that I am he who searches mind and heart, and I will give to each of you according to your works.” Rev 2:23. Paul warned the church who sees the heart. “For I am not aware of anything against myself, but I am not thereby acquitted. It is the Lord who judges me. Therefore do not pronounce judgment before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.” 1 Cor 4:4-5
Understand! What Jesus addresses here is something that is very real to all of us and we are not to excuse one of God’s perfections over another. Or use the grace card to disregard God’s holy Law. This is why what Jesus said previously is vital to understanding the remainder of His sermon. Jesus didn’t come to supersede or discontinue what the Old Testament precepts taught to God’s people. Jesus came to establish continuity as He fulfilled them, because we couldn’t.
Here Jesus addresses the sixth commandment of God’s holy Law! Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ (v21) “You have heard it said” is in reference to the traditional teaching form in the Old Testament. This would perk the ears of His listeners as Jesus continues to expound on that sixth commandment. He says,” But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.” (v22) It sounds like Jesus is changing the Law which would indicate that He is removing the Ten Commandments.
Is that true?
We need to understand that Jesus is NOT modifying or altering the Biblical truth of the Law of Moses or the Psalms and the Prophets. What this does is…..It exposes men’s hearts that God’s righteousness surpasses that of the Scribes and Pharisees. Jesus knows who His listeners were; meaning Jesus uses this sermon to expose the faulty legalistic system of religious elites.
What faulty system? The faulty system that says, “I can maintain hatred toward my wife, bitterness towards my children and jealousy towards my neighbor all the while technically never killing them or harming them and taking from them. And I can still display self-justification and good appearances while doing those things. Because I’m not murdering or coveting according to God’s Law.”
See! What Jesus is doing is that He is teaching the Law in the fullest and truest sense, by putting this Law under the microscope of God’s holy standard. Think about it for a moment!
What was man’s first crime
after they were kicked out
of God’s holy and perfect
Garden?
Murder! The first homicide was recorded in Holy Scriptures. “Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.” Gen 4:8. Cain knew this wasn’t right, but his venomous anger revealed what was in his heart. Cain knew he was violating God’s divine Law way before Moses took it to the people in Exodus. “Then the LORD said to Cain, "Where is Abel your brother?" He said, "I do not know; am I my brother's keeper?" And the LORD said, "What have you done? The voice of your brother's blood is crying to me from the ground. And now you are cursed from the ground, which has opened its mouth to receive your brother's blood from your hand. When you work the ground, it shall no longer yield to you its strength. You shall be a fugitive and a wanderer on the earth." Genesis 4:9-12
Murder was serious business. “Whoever sheds the blood of man, by man shall his blood be shed, for God made man in his own image.” Genesis 9:6.
Think about what God says here in light of the millions of babies aborted every year. Think about what God says here in light of the mass shootings and senseless killings around the globe for the sake of power, pride, leisure and demonic activity. Image-bearers of God slaughtered by the millions each year on the grounds of, “It’s my body and I can do what I want” Image-bearers of God killed in convenience/ department stores, police officers being killed for pulling over someone for speeder, innocent life according to the Law killed for no reason in domestic abuse. Image-bearers of God taking of one’s life because they have no reason to live anymore. These are all image-bearers of God and it breaks the heart of God. And murder is not only an offence against man, but also an injury to God.
Why would I say that?
Moses wrote it down for all generations to follow and observe.
“You shall not
murder.” Exo 20:13
Our fallen nature shares the presence that Satan personifies. For out of the heart come
evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness,
slander.” Matt 15:19
Because Satan personifies murder it’s in everything he does. You are of your father the
devil, and your will is to do your father's desires. He was a murderer from the
beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him.
When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the
father of lies.” John 8:44
And Jesus puts this perfect Law under the proper microscope to reveal the truest meaning of this Law. (v21-v22)
What is murder?
Is murder nothing more than
the act?
If so, Jesus has a new definition of murder; because the culture would define murder as an act only! Because we watch the news and see what’s going on around the world and say “I never killed anyone”
But is that true?
Is that true according to
what Jesus is says here?
Again understanding that Jesus isn’t abolishing or creating a new Law, He is only revealing the Law in truest sense as He did to Cain. So my next question then would be and you need to answer this truthfully!
How many physical acts of
murder have you committed?
The obvious answer to that question is none. I hope? So my next question then would be,
“How many have you murdered
in your heart?”
I’m sure you will have a different answer than my previous question. Because Jesus says if you have been angry with a person in your heart, than you have committed murder. Whether you have acted upon on it or not. Murder according to the Scriptures begins where?
Answer: In the heart. Our guilty sentence begins in the heart,
way before it becomes an act. And it has long lasting consequences
if we do not deal with it.
Anger Has And Can Have Negative Health Consequences. “And Ahab went into his house vexed (heavy) and sullen (displeased) because of what Naboth the Jezreelite had said to him, for he had said, "I will not give you the inheritance of my fathers." And he lay down on his bed and turned away his face and would eat no food. (Ahab turns his face toward the back of the couch) But Jezebel his wife came to him and said to him, "Why is your spirit so vexed that you eat no food?" And he said to her, "Because I spoke to Naboth the Jezreelite and said to him, 'Give me your vineyard for money, or else, if it please you, I will give you another vineyard for it.' And he answered, 'I will not give you my vineyard.'" 1 Kings 21:4-6. Do you know that studies on anger suggest that 60% to 80% of illness results from hostility Emotions such as anger, envy, resentment, worry etc. can cause ulcers, colitis, high blood pressure, strokes, heart trouble, headaches, hardening of the arteries, kidney disease, arthritis and more according to medical studies. Anger solves nothing…all it does is fuel the fire in your heart and cause nothing but heartaches for those involved.
Anger Makes You Careless “One who is wise is cautious and turns away from evil, but a fool is reckless and careless.” Prov 14:16. They don’t stop to think how their angry outbursts affect those around them. They "blow up" all over everyone, leaving them upset and perhaps fearful.
Then
they go along their merry way not paying any attention to the havoc they
caused.
Anger Leads You To Make Wrong Choices. “Then Nebuchadnezzar was filled with fury, and the expression of his face was changed against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace heated seven times more than it was usually heated. And he ordered some of the mighty men of his army to bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and to cast them into the burning fiery furnace. Then these men were bound in their cloaks, their tunics, their hats, and their other garments, and they were thrown into the burning fiery furnace. Because the king's order was urgent and the furnace overheated, the flame of the fire killed those men who took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego.” Daniel 3:19-22. He lost some of his top military men because he was so angry with three Hebrew teenagers who would not bow down and worship his idol.
Murder begins long before we
act upon fulfilling our
sinful desires.
And Jesus expose our heart to that truth, by leaving not one stone uncovered. So that we don’t rationalize or excuses ourselves to why we justify our murderous hearts. What Jesus says here is very clear! He uses some strong language that reveals and exposes our hearts to biblical truth.
“Raca” found in other translations such as the Geneva Bible, KJV or as EVS translation says “insults” This word “Raca” is a word the Greeks use as a term of abuse. It’s a term of malicious abuse or slander. It has been variously rendered as “brainless idiot, worthless fellow, silly fool, empty head, blockhead; or as Archie Bunker would call his son in law “meathead” Whatever it’s been rendered to say or how you use it, “It’s still isn’t nice.” It’s a strong statement that makes the individual guilty before God, and it’s enough to go to Hell over. Jesus says “The Old Testament Law condemns murder, but I say scornful anger will get you a fiery Hell just the same.”
He is speaking about self-righteous induced an anger that is venomous and sinful, slanderous. The “Raca” that Jesus is talking about is our quick to anger when were offended or hurts; but we are slow to become angry over sin and injustice. “Raca” denotes another person to the level of nothing, nobody it is utterly contemptuous word and we are never to speak in this way because it’s murderous.
As David spoke of such a person who uses this language. “Deliver me, O LORD, from evil men; preserve me from violent men, who plan evil things in their heart and stir up wars continually. They make their tongue sharp as a serpent's, and under their lips is the venom of asps.” Psalm 140:1-3
Jesus was all too familiar when this word was being used. “Then the soldiers of the
governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the
whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on
him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a
reed in his right hand. And kneeling
before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And
they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they
stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to
crucify him.” Matt 27:27-31
“They had murderous hearts
way before
they acted out their
murderous deeds.”
Here is the warning for you and me!
To slander a creature made in
the image of God
is to slander God, Himself.
“Fool” means dull, stupid, this is where we get the term “moron” and also refers to a “godless person” Keep the word “godless person” as we try to understand what Jesus is saying here. To call someone a “fool” is to say they are “Stupid and godless”
What does a fool look like
according to the Scriptures?
David uses this to identify an enemy of God. “The fool (godless) says in
his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they do
abominable deeds, there is none who does good.” Psalm 14:1
His son Solomon affirmed this truth. “The fear of the LORD is
the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.” Prov 1:7
The Psalmist reminded us of those who are fools. “It is good to give thanks
to the LORD, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your
steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of
the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre. For you, O LORD, have made me
glad by your work; at the works of your hands I sing for joy. How great are
your works, O LORD! Your thoughts are very deep! The stupid man cannot know; the
fool cannot understand this: that though the wicked sprout like grass and all
evildoers flourish, they are doomed to destruction forever; but you, O LORD,
are on high forever.” Psalm 92:1-8
He is fool, in the sense that this all began in the heart. He does not worship and honor God as he was created for. He has no right understanding in regard to the Triune transcendent God who is sovereign over everything.
Even Jesus, Himself called out the godless and fools. “And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.” Matt 7:26.
In Luke 12:16-20 Jesus told a parable. “And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.’ But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ God shall demand the fool’s soul; that when they die they shall be grasped and carried to hell.
But Jesus also uses this word in a gentle way of rebuke, with the two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus. And he said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?" And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself. So they drew near to the village to which they were going. He acted as if he were going farther, but they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, for it is toward evening and the day is now far spent." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at table with them, he took the bread and blessed and broke it and gave it to them. And their eyes were opened, and they recognized him. And he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?" Luke 24:25-32. It’s like Jesus is taking His disciples up into His lap and saying, “Don’t like the foolish ungodly person, but listen and understand these things had to happen in order to fulfill what was written about Me.”
Two very powerful words that reveal
the truth of God’s Law
We might think that these words have different levels of judgment, but that isn’t what Jesus is conveying here at all. A B Bruce summarized these two words this way! “Raca expresses contempt for a man’s head = “you stupid! Fool expresses contempt for his heart and character= you scoundrel” These two words were not terms of endearment but of malignant contempt. Jesus here condemns angry contempt and all its cousins…animosity, malice, hostility, malevolence, wrath. He is not suggesting a ladder of offences that result in progressively sterner judgments, as if “anger” gets a minor judgment, “Raca” a stiffer penalty, and “fool” Hell. He is simply multiplying examples to make His point. And the point is, all such animosity can land one in Hell.”
What Jesus is saying is that we are all guilty of murder whether we have shed someone’s blood or not. We are all guilty to receive this punishment if we live and continue down the path of the venomous and foolish path of the godless. This is what Christ came to fulfill on our behalf, because if I line up my pre-gospel heart beside the Law and it will reveal that I’m a murderer. A sinner guilty as charged and the sentence according to Scripture is deserving of death.
We have all murdered others
with
our minds and heart.
And this is where Genesis 9:6 should cause our hearts to weep
in deep sorrow for what our hearts have done over the course of our existence. “Whoever sheds the blood of
man, by man shall his blood be shed, for
God made man in his own image.” Genesis 9:6
How are we to speak of
others?
Whether saved or unsaved?
We are to edify one another. Edify “is the act of building". "to build" the promotion of spiritual growth As Paul said to the church in Ephesus “from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.” Eph 4:16. We must use it for good because it demonstrates the beauty of the gospel in one’s life. The transforming work that God did when we were murders and godless in heart. As Paul said “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.” Col 4:6 . How we live and interact with others displays the heart in the truest sense. When our outside lines up with your inside, then it’s pleasing to God. His perfect holy Law reveals that deeper than anything, because it reaches the heart at its very core.
I have to ask myself these questions in light of this truth!
Is
it being used for praising God?
Is
it being used for sharing the gospel?
Is
it being used to encourage others?
Is
it being used to communicate love?
Is
it being used for genuine prayer?
Is
it being used to display a genuine heart transformed by grace?
Because if it isn’t! Then there clear evidence that I’m still a fool. These are important questions to ask ourselves in light of what is before us. It’s one of Jesus’ most frightening proclamations. “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire” Matt 5:21–22
Why is this one of Jesus’ most
frightening proclamations?
On One Hand, we know that Jesus’ words are true because we have been wounded by the words and actions of others. We have felt the brunt of our brother’s anger and the sting of our brother’s insults. We have been betrayed. We bear the scars of broken promises, broken confidences, rejection, false accusations, and abuse.
On The Other Hand, we know that Jesus’ words are true because we have taken aim with words and actions of our own. We have unleashed our anger on our brother; we have cried “You fool!” We have betrayed. We have delivered broken promises, broken confidences, rejection, false accusations, and abuse.
Jesus addresses the heart! We must be careful in our words like “Nitwit, fool, blockhead, and idiot. We need to consider what Jesus is saying here, because it’s our own hearts that are on trial. We are to treat others with grace and treat them like swans, not geese.
A Hateful Heart is an unconverted heart and it cannot and will not produce loving words or works. A Loving Heart is a regenerated heart and it cannot and will not produce hateful words or works.
As Jesus said, “A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit.” Matt 7:18. Your heart will reveal what tree you are growing and producing. Your heart will determine, reveal what is true about your act of worship and to who, which we will look at next week by His grace, if the Lord’s wills.
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