TEXT: Matthew 5:21-26

SUBJECT: Exposition of the Sermon on the Mount #5: Murder in the Heart

Tonight we take up the fifth paragraph in the Sermon on the Mount. In the four verses preceding it, the Lord introduces the subject: "I did not come to destroy the Law and Prophets, but to fulfill (them)". The "Law and Prophets" stand for the Old Testament. Nothing He says contradicts the Ancient Scripture. But neither is He merely interpreting them (as some say). What He is doing is "fulfilling" them--or filling them full.

The first Law He takes up is this one: "You have heard that it was said to those of old, `You shall not murder' and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment". The Lord's audience was quite familiar with this saying. All of them had "heard that it was said". From whom had they "heard it"? From Moses. "You shall not murder" is the Sixth Commandment in the Decalogue. "Whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment" is a summary of Numbers 35:16-21. Have these words been "destroyed"? They have not. Did Christ come to grant permission for murder or to revoke the death penalty for capital crimes? He did not. What did He come to do? He came to "fulfill the Law".

And that is precisely what He does in v.22: "But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, `Raca', shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says `You fool' shall be in danger of hell fire".

Moses proscribed the act of murder; the Lord forbids even the attitudes that lie behind it. He mentions three:

The contrast could not be sharper. Under the Law of Moses, "whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment". But under the Rule of Christ "Whoever says `You fool' will be in danger of--literally--"the fire of Gehenna". Eternal damnation.

We have much to repent of. Irritability, resentment, spite, hardness, and so many other sins. In short,

"Let all bitterness, wrath, anger,

clamor, and evil speaking be put

away from you--with all malice."

No exceptions. They must all go--if our "righteousness is to exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees".

This is all fine in principle. I've never heard of anyone lauding the virtues of bitterness. Of course not. But what we accept in theory, we often delay in practice. Deep down, we intend to make things right with others, but not yet. We feel the need for reconciliation, but not the urgency. In vv.23ff., the Lord presses the duty upon us. It's not good enough to make things right "one of these days"; we must do it "now". He gives two reasons:

The first of which is this: Bad attitudes make your worship of God unacceptable. Vv.23-24: "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 to your brother, and then come and offer your gift". What was the Jew doing when he brought his gift to the altar? One of two things: he was either asking God to forgive him of some wrong or he was thanking Him for some blessing. Can either be done with a bad attitude? Is it possible to ask God to forgive you while you're holding a grudge against someone else? Or, can you be truly thankful while the cancer of bitterness gnaws away at your soul? No. Bad attitudes will make you quit the worship of God or--even worse--make you a hypocrite. And so, you have a choice: apostasy, hypocrisy, or reconciliation. Which is the best?

"Be kind one to another,

Tenderhearted, forgiving

one another just as God,

for Christ's sake, has

forgiven you".

At this point, I ought to clarify what the Lord means by "your brother". The Pharisee is always anxious to reduce his obligation to God as much as he can. When told to "love your neighbor as yourself", the lawyer was quick to reply: "And who is my neighbor?" We can play word-games too. "Your brother" obviously means "your fellow church members". The most extreme sectarian wouldn't exclude them from "the brotherhood". But some would exclude everyone else. Is this justifiable? It is not. For "brotherhood" in the Bible is never based on "common church membership", but on "mutual union with Jesus Christ".

How about unbelievers? Are they our "brothers", too--in some sense? They are. In context, the Lord was speaking to Jews worshipping at the same Temple--some of whom were saved and others lost. Yet He makes no distinction. A bit later, He goes so far as to command "Love your enemies..." The New Testament never commands us to hate others or permits us to take vengeance. Thus: no one is excepted from this rule. If you have animosity against anyone, your worship of God is unacceptable.

Let me urge you--especially--to make things right in your home. "Likewise you husbands, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayer may not be hindered."

The second reason you ought to solve interpersonal problems as quickly as possible is this: the desperate issues at stake. Vv.25-26: "Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the 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".

This is a metaphor with which we're not too familiar. And consequently, we're likely to miss the point of it. Here's what it means, in short: A man is in debt. His creditor is hauling him off to court to have him thrown into prison till his debt is paid. Just before going in, however, he gives the poor man one last chance to pay up. Would he take it? Would any sacrifice be too great to avoid debtor's prison? Would he sell his cattle at a discount price? Would he put his house on the block? Would he borrow from everyone he knows? Of course he would! He'd make the maximum effort to avoid being locked up. Wouldn't you?

Now, if he's willing to do this much to avoid going to debtor's prison, shouldn't you be willing to do as much to avoid "the fire of hell"? You should be. Thus, do whatever it takes to make things right with others. Swallow your pride. Confess your sin. Be willing to compromise. Take the first step. Forgive the deepest wrong. Restore the broken relationship. Your eternal soul is at stake.

The Lord Jesus forbids all animosity. Where does this leave us? It leaves us broken. It leaves us dependent on Christ. It leaves us resolved to change. May God so bless it, for Christ's sake. Amen.