Matthew shared how Jesus was “baptized” and “tempted” by the “devil”, and he shared how “angels” ministered to Him afterward. Jesus heard that John the Baptist was thrown into prison, and He left His hometown to dwell in “Capernaum” where He began His ministry. Jesus began to preach saying, “Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand”, and He called Peter, Andrew, James and John to be His followers. Matthew continued to share how Jesus' fame spread throughout Galilee, and many others were gathered unto Him. Matthew continued by sharing how Jesus taught concerning the “beatitudes” of the “Kingdom of Heaven”, and He said, “You are the salt of the earth … and the light of the world.” Jesus told His disciples, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill. For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach them, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven.” Jesus then began to give examples of why it is necessary to “exceed” the righteousness of the Pharisees by saying, “You have heard that it was said by them of old time, You shall not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment”, and in chapter five and verse twenty-two of his book, Matthew shared how Jesus declared, “whosoever shall say, you fool, shall be in danger of hell fire” where we read:
But
I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a
cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to
his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever
shall say, you fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
The verse reads, “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment:” Matthew began with the word, “but” which means “moreover now” “I say” which means “Jesus utters, declares and proclaims” “unto you” or “to His disciples”, “that whosoever” which means “that any person whether male or female” “is angry” or “is provoked, wroth, enraged and exasperated” “with his brother” which means “with a fellow believer who is united to another by the bond of affection” “without a cause” or “inconsiderably, without purpose or in vain” “shall be in danger” which means “will be bound, obligated, subject and liable” “of the judgment” or “to the sentence of condemnation, damnatory judgment and punishment”. Jesus put anyone who is “angry” with their “brothers and sisters” into the same group as murderers.
The verse goes on to say, “and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council:” Matthew added the words, “and whosoever” which means “and if anyone” “shall say“ or “will utter, declare and proclaim” “to his brother” which means “to a fellow believer who is united to another by the bond of affection”, “Raca” or “empty headed man, worthless or senseless one which was a term of utter vilification”, “shall be in danger” which means “will be bound, obligated, subject and liable” “of the council” or “pertaining to magistrates, judges or ambassadors convened to deliberate or pass judgment”. Jesus said the person who calls his “brother or sister” “empty headed, worthless and senseless” will be “bound and subject to” “judgment”.
Finally the verse says, “but whosoever shall say, You fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.” Matthew finished this thought with the word, “but” or “moreover and now” “whosoever” which means “anybody” “shall say” or “will utter, declare and proclaim”, “You fool” which means “you impious and godless one”, “shall be in danger” or “will be bound, obligated, subject and liable” “of hell fire” which refers to “the place of the future punishment called "Gehenna" or "Gehenna of fire" or fiery flame”. Jesus told His disciples any person who calls someone “impious and godless” one will be “bound, obligated and subject to” the “future punishment” of “fiery hell”.
When we think through Matthew's words in this verse, we see how the “spirit of murder” is within any person who is “angry” with their fellowman and calls them “worthless and impious godless ones”. The disciples knew “murder” outwardly is sin, but Jesus declared people to be “murderers” if they were inwardly “angry” enough to kill others. This is what Jesus meant when He told the disciples their righteousness must exceed the “righteousness of the Pharisees”. God said “you shall not kill” because He knew “murder” is a matter of the heart, and only Jesus can cleanse, forgive and save a person from their inner sin of “murder”. Perhaps there are those who are reading these words who are so “angry” with others they wish them dead, or maybe they have named people “worthless” and employed other derogatory terms. If so, the conviction of the Holy Spirit of being a “murderer” should drive them to Jesus Christ who alone can save from the spirit of “anger”.
Next time Jesus declares, “whosoever is angry with his brother … is in danger of the judgment”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
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