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The Gospel Truth
Learn from the Law Jesus fulfilled the ceremonial law by becoming the ultimate, complete sacrifice for sin. The civil law he fulfilled by inaugurating the New Testament church, a universal body of believers that would encompass and transcend Old Testament Israel. The moral law he fulfilled by perfectly obeying every commandment of God. The moral law of God remains with us virtually unchanged. Christ's expectation for his followers is that we will strive to keep it perfectly, too. We can't, of course, but we can aim high. The original command was written in Hebrew, Jesus preached his sermon in Aramaic, and we have it recorded in Greek. In any translation there are different words with slightly different meanings for "kill." What we glean from the law is that it is wrong to take another human being's life in an intentional, malicious, sinful way. This prohibition against killing would not apply to war, capital punishment or self-defense. The commandment only applies to murder - the willful, sinful taking of someone else's life to satisfy your own selfish and sinful desire. Yet even the Pharisees taught people not to commit murder. But that's as far as the Pharisees would go with that law. Jesus commands us to go deeper. Live by the Spirit Jesus knew that just as there was more than one way to skin a cat, there was more than one way to commit murder. And he knew that the sin of murdering with the hands was predicated by another sin found in the heart: anger. The anger Jesus spoke of is akin to killing. There are some justifiable reasons for it and there are some exceedingly sinful reasons for it. Jesus often displayed his anger at the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. He flashed his anger, and a whip, at people who used worship as a means for financial gain. His servant Paul wrote that it is okay to be angry as long as such anger doesn't lead to sinful thoughts and actions. We usually refer to this as "righteous indignation." Like killing, there are some instances of anger that are alright with God. There are others, however, that are pure murder. The KJV translates this as "angry ... without a cause." It is a sin I call "hot hypocrisy" that arises from feelings of ignorance, inferiority and misguided revenge. It is a sin that uses the tongue to lash out at someone and say something hurtful about them that is not true, thus in many cases murdering their reputation. Jesus gives two examples: idiots and morons. Literally, "Raca" or "goodfor nothing" speaks of a person without good sense. "Fool" designates a person who does not know God. If you say it, and it is true, that's one thing. But even that is an unpleasant thing, like killing someone in war or self-defense, that should be avoided if at all possible. But if you say it, untruthfully, maliciously, for your own personal satisfaction or gain, then you have done something that is just as serious as murder. You may do it and escape judgment with a little "j" but you will face another Judgement with a capital "J" instead. The Pharisees had not killed anyone with their hands. Yet with their speech they picked and poked and pushed public opinion until even the son of God could be nailed to a cross. One form of murder led to another. Jesus' commands us to avoid them both. Practice real righteousness First of all, realize that lashing out at people with your mouth is just as serious to God as shooting them with a gun. Killing someone's reputation or destroying someone's relationship with others is pure murder. If you don't understand something in the Bible, don't lash out against someone who does. If you are not as spiritual or gifted as someone else, don't cut them down. If you are mad and hurt over something that someone has done to you in the past, you can't make it right by being angry and hurting someone else. Reflect upon the story of Cain and Able where unholy anger based upon ignorance, inferiority and misplaced revenge was the root of an actual murder. To practice real righteousness you must bury the hatchet, not swing it. Secondly, realize that personal repentance takes priority over public worship. In other words, you cannot be right with God if you have wronged your brother. Offerings have always been a vital part of the public worship of God. Jesus taught it does you no good if you have been up to no good against your brother. You will be a pariah in public worship if you have angrily gossiped and slandered others. Repent, and if you cannot repent, stay home.
Thirdly and finally, do it now. Reconciliation is an urgent matter. Jesus taught that if you knew you were going to jail, but that there was something you could do to avoid it, you'd do it and do it as soon as possible. This is how you practice righteousness. It is an urgent matter. Cease hostile and angry speech now. Seek an apologetic audience with someone you have hurt today. Learn to love the Lord with all your heart, mind, soul and strength by practicing love for your neighbor, by speaking to and about them like you want people to speak to and about you.
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