Sermon On The Mount XI: You Shall Not Murder

by Lawrence Kelley

We have seen that Jesus did not come to destroy the Law, but that the Pharisees were guilty of mishandling it. In vs. 21-48, Jesus gives six examples of how the Pharisees had twisted God's word. In each of these instances, Jesus corrects their misrepresentations and explains how these laws are to be understood in the kingdom of God.

Again, Jesus is not attacking Moses in these verses. He is attacking the layers of wax that had accumulated over and distorted the law. Tradition is not always bad, in fact, it is unavoidable. However, tradition alone establishes nothing. "Antiquity is often pleaded as an authority; but our King makes short work of 'them of old time.'" The particular traditions Jesus attacks were allegedly based on the word of God, but were actually attempts to get around the word of God. We see this clearly in v. 43 where the first part of the citation is scripture and the second part is attached as a rider that actually negated the scripture.

This morning we want to consider the prohibition against murder in vv. 21-26. It may be surprising that this is the first matter of conduct Jesus addresses in the sermon. After all, He isn't preaching to pagans, but to disciples - to kingdom citizens. Surely His time could be better spent addressing issues that we actually struggle with. But this kind of thinking reveals how much like the Pharisees we are in our understanding of God's word. To them, the command, Thou shalt not murder, meant no corpse no foul. But Jesus says that this is a superficial understanding of the law and that many who never literally take another's physical life will still be condemned on the last day. This is because the divine prohibition of murder includes:

Anger without a cause - Jesus is prohibiting worthless anger. Scripture does not prohibit anger in itself. Our problem is not that we get angry, but that we are angered by petty things while we remaining complacent over things that should provoke us. We see this distinction elsewhere in scripture: Mark 3:5; Eph. 4:26; Eph. 4:3. So, anger is not always wrong: "Indeed there is a place for burning with anger at sin and injustice. Our problems is that we burn with indignation and anger, not at sin and injustice, but at offense to ourselves. In none of the cases in which Jesus became angry was His personal ego wrapped up in the issue (1pet 2:23; Lk 23:34)." On the other hand, Jesus says harboring malignant hostility toward another human being is tantamount to murder in the eyes of God. 1John 3:15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer. "Have you never wished someone were dead? Have you not frequently stooped to the use of contempt, even to character assassination? All such vilifying anger lies at the root of murder, and makes a thoughtful man conscious that he "differs only in degree, but not in kind, from the actual murderer."

Expressions of contempt - Murder is committed with the mouth as well as the hands. Whoever says to his brother Raca shall be in danger of the council and whoever says to him "you fool" is in danger of hell fire. Raca & Fool are expressions of contempt. They vocalize one's desire that another person be damned and we are warned that telling someone to go to hell is a sure fire way to get there yourself. These kinds of insults reveal our desire to be rid of someone who is in our way. Which is the thing that leads to actual murder. In other words, the attitudes and words of a man can cause his case to be appealed all the way up to the highest tribunal there is - the throne of God. And what will be discussed at that tribunal? Just the big picture? Not at all -- "But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment" (Matt. 12:36).

So, what are we to do when we've verbally assaulted another (vv. 23-26). "What Jesus requires of us when we sin in this way is what the majority of men seem to dread most intensely: He demands that we face and deal with our victim." But, how do you do that? "I have wronged you, please forgive me." No excuses, no qualifiers - just confession. When should we do this? Immediately, it is an urgent matter! "If anger and insult are so serious and so dangerous, then we must avoid them like the plague and take action as speedily as possible." Over and over and over the O.T. prophets told the people that their worship was utterly useless if their personal lives were not characterized by righteousness, humility and mercy. (Amos 5:21-24; Jer 7:21-23; Psa 51:16-17). "Men love to substitute ceremony for integrity, purity, and love; but Jesus will have none of it."

(Special recognition to Paul Earnhart for numerous quotes in this lesson.)

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