The true meaning of murder
Have you murdered anyone lately? I hope the answer is no. Since murder isn’t as rampant as it was in 1,300 BC, it’s fair that people no longer consider the ten commandments that relevant, right? Or even more, what about the Jewish law that forbid the blending of two types of thread or picking up grain on a Sunday?
This may surprise you, but following Jesus doesn’t mean we get to throw out the Old Testament laws as we learn from Matthew 5:21-26
God’s commandments
Just before this passage, Jesus declared that he didn’t come to abolish the law that had been introduced by God (through Moses all those years ago), but that he had come to fulfill it (Matt 5:17). Jesus didn’t come to make them obsolete but he came to fulfill the messianic prophecies of Scripture. He came to Earth to be the perfect and final sacrifice for sins. He came to perfectly live out the law (something we find very hard to do).
As his followers, we too are called to practice and teach the commandments of God, even those found in Hebrew Scriptures. However and especially because we’re imperfect humans, we must live according to the law in light of what Jesus has done. So, how do we do that?
In this passage, Jesus mentions one of the ten commandments, “you shall not murder,” (Ex 20:13). Yes, killing someone would be very bad. All human life is valuable as we are made in the image of God. So, we know that murder is wrong. However, in his sermon on the mount, Jesus takes it one step further.
The heart of murder
Jesus says in verse 22,
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, “Raca,” is answerable to the Sanhedrin (Jewish tribunal). But anyone who says, “You fool!” will be in danger of the fire of hell.
He forced the teachers of the law (who prided themselves on following the ten commandments to a T), the crowds and us to re-think the act of murder. Is it just to end a life? While righteous anger can be justified, Jesus says that if we are ever angry with someone, we’re answerable to the courts or even be exposed to the “danger of the fire in hell.” Unjustified anger is prideful and destructive that leads us to act in a way that devalues the other person/people. So, it’s not just about ending life that is at the heart of murder, but Jesus is telling us that devaluing another person is much like the attitude or intentions behind murder.
Jesus goes so far to say that better reconciliation between brothers than a sacrifice made while anger is in your heart (verse 23-26). Radical, isn’t it? So if murder is not just murder, how can we avoid it?
The opposite of murder
As Jesus suggests, reconciliation is what God desires between his people. If you have anger in your heart towards someone, go and resolve your problems with them now. Clear things up so that our sacrifices can be regarded as genuine before God. And take this mindset to heart. Jesus acted, lived and taught radical lessons that forced people to look at the heart of the problem. While we may not always get it right, we are affirmed by God’s word that tells us,
I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. (Galatians 2:20)
Heavenly Father,
Thank you for Jesus’ radical and counter cultural teaching. Thank you that he led the way and set the example for righteous and holy living. I may not always get it right, but thank you that you are a gracious God who has given his Holy Spirit to live in me. I pray and ask that you would rid me of the anger in my heart, and allow me to reconcile with those who have hurt me.
In Jesus’ mighty name I pray,
Amen