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The Eleventh Sunday After Trinity
Sermon on the Mount, 6th Sermon
August 11, 2002
 
NKJ Matthew 5:21 " 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.' 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. 23 "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 "leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 "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. 26 "Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.
 
TEXT: 21 " 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.'
 
Now Jesus begins to point out specific misinterpretations and false teachings of the Pharisees and scribes—so that His disciples and those observing—can properly understand God’s Commands
 
This verse begins with “You have heard that it was said to those of old”
 
The Jews have heard this taught by their leaders and teachers—thus they have heard it said of old—this false teaching regarding the Fifth Commandment goes way back in Jewish history
 
The Rabbis taught that the Fifth Commandment only pertained to killing with your own hands
 
If you turned a man over to another to have him murdered—you were not in violation of the Fifth Commandment
 
To understand this from Scripture—we need only look to the trial and events leading to the crucifixion of Jesus
 
This first reading from the Gospel of John shows the Jewish high priest Caiaphas and the Jewish officials turning Jesus over to the Roman Governor—Pilate—for execution
 
Notice that they do not dare enter the Praetorium—or governor’s palace—for fear of soiling themselves with the crime of Jesus’ murder
 
They wanted Pilate to kill Jesus and allow them to remain blameless under their interpretation of the Law
 
NKJ John 18:28 Then they led Jesus from Caiaphas to the Praetorium, and it was early morning. But they themselves did not go into the Praetorium, lest they should be defiled, but that they might eat the Passover. 29 Pilate then went out to them and said, "What accusation do you bring against this Man?" 30 They answered and said to him, "If He were not an evildoer, we would not have delivered Him up to you." 31 Then Pilate said to them, "You take Him and judge Him according to your law." Therefore the Jews said to him, "It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,"
 
John’s Gospel continues to make it clear that the Jews knowingly had Jesus executed—and they did it in the name of the Law of God
 
NKJ John 19:4 Pilate then went out again, and said to them, "Behold, I am bringing Him out to you, that you may know that I find no fault in Him." 5 Then Jesus came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. And Pilate said to them, "Behold the Man!" 6 Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him." 7 The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God."
 
It is always interesting to go back into the Old Testament—and read the original words God gave the Jews as the Law—this allows us to draw our own conclusions
 
NKJ Leviticus 24:15 "Then you shall speak to the children of Israel, saying: 'Whoever curses his God shall bear his sin. 16 'And whoever blasphemes the name of the LORD shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the Lord, he shall be put to death. 17 ' Whoever kills any man shall surely be put to death.
 
Jesus—of course was not a blasphemer—He was the true Son of God—He did not appoint Himself to the office of Son of God as stated by His accusers—therefore the Jews committed murder at the hands of Pilate
 
In the eyes of God—they killed Jesus
 
The Jews continued to deny this even after the resurrection—let’s look at the events that occurred when Peter and the Apostle’s were brought before the Jewish leaders for preaching the Word of Christ—the Jews wanted to execute them too
 
NKJ Acts 5:29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men. 30 "The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. 31 "Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. 32 "And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him." 33 When they [the Jews and their leaders] heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them.
 
This was not an interpretation of the Law that was unique to the Jews of Jesus’ day—we can find King Saul intending to have David—his replacement as king—chosen by God—killed by the Philistines rather than the king himself raise a hand against him
 
NKJ 1 Samuel 18:17 Then Saul said to David, "Here is my older daughter Merab; I will give her to you as a wife. Only be valiant for me, and fight the LORD's battles." For Saul thought, "Let my hand not be against him, but let the hand of the Philistines be against him."
 
Saul’s interpretation of the Fifth Commandment goes back over 1000 years before Christ was born
 
Therefore Jesus is trying to correct 1000 years of false teaching to God’s people
 
TEXT: 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.
 
In verse 21 Jesus stated that the Jews misrepresented the Fifth Commandment—now He continues in verse 22 with an explanation of the true interpretation
 
Let’s begin with a look at each of the three sentences of this verse—and see if we can gain proper understanding
 
The first sentence—But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.
 
The inspired words of John’s epistle go even further to explain the relationship of anger and judgment
 
NKJ 1 John 3:14 We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love his brother abides in death. 15 Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
 
NKJ 1 John 2:9 He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now. 10 He who loves his brother abides in the light, and there is no cause for stumbling in him. 11 But he who hates his brother is in darkness and walks in darkness, and does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded his eyes.
 
In the Bible—hatred and love are more an attitude toward our neighbor—fellow man—than an emotion
 
So we learn that a person who shows love for his brother—sincere love from the heart—love that is a fruit of their faith—that person walks in the light—and inherits eternal life
 
The person who cannot show love for his neighbor—because in his heart he does not love him—that person is not a believer—but walks in the darkness of death
 
We will all be judged on our walk through life
 
NKJ Romans 2:12 For as many as have sinned without law will also perish without law, and as many as have sinned in the law will be judged by the law 13 (for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified; 14 for when Gentiles, who do not have the law, by nature do the things in the law, these, although not having the law, are a law to themselves, 15 who show the work of the law written in their hearts, their conscience also bearing witness, and between themselves their thoughts accusing or else excusing them) 16 in the day when God will judge the secrets of men by Jesus Christ, according to my gospel.
 
NKJ 1 Peter 1:17 And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one's work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; 18 knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, 19 but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. 20 He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you 21 who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. 22 Since you have purified your souls in obeying the truth through the Spirit in sincere love of the brethren, love one another fervently with a pure heart,
 
NKJ 2 Corinthians 5:10 For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad.
 
The second sentence of verse 22—And whoever says to his brother, 'Raca!' shall be in danger of the council.
 
Jesus uses a satire to make the point that in God’s sight—anger and murder are worthy of hell—therefore—if the Pharisees and scribes did not properly judge the seriousness of anger—but merely treated the Fifth Commandment as a civil law—the case would have to go to a higher court—the council of the Sanhedrin—which would do no more than the Pharisees and the scribes
 
Jesus’ point was that the angry name calling and other foolish acts of anger put souls in jeopardy of eternal death
 
The word Raca appears only this once in God’s Word—and is a term used in angry name calling—it meant that you were worthless or empty in the eyes of the name caller—similar to calling someone a numskull today
 
The third sentence—But whoever says, 'You fool!' shall be in danger of hell fire.
 
This sentence continues the thought of the previous sentence—but uses a different name-calling word—you fool—Jesus’ point is the same
 
Name calling and expressed anger is just as bad as murder in the eyes of God—because they could drive a person to inner anger in such a way as to isolate them from the things of God—and therefore they would be condemned to eternal death
 
Some believe that calling another a fool will condemn a person to hell—to clarify that point—we look to the Word once again
 
First we hear Jesus speaking to the believers on the road to Emmaus after He was resurrected
 
NKJ Luke 24:25 Then He said to them, "O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken!
 
And we hear the word foolish coming from Paul to the Galatians
 
NKJ Galatians 3:1 O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified?
 
Hence we confirm that the passage of our text is referring to name calling and demonstrations of anger toward our fellow man
 
TEXT:  23 "Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 "leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
 
Jesus continues to make His point with an example from Jewish worship—the lesson is this—God looks at our heart—and no act of worship is acceptable to Him that comes from a heart which is guilty of unconfessed wrong to another
 
The focus of worship by the Pharisees and the scribes was on the gift—the offering—Jesus is putting the emphasis on the worshipper being prepared—not the offering—but the offerer
 
Jesus offers this as an example of fulfilling the Fifth Commandment with the heart
 
TEXT:  25 "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. 26 "Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.
 
Jesus concludes His teaching on the 5th Commandment with a parable—a debtor and the person owed on their way to the judge
 
            The debtor is a person who wronged his brother
 
It would be best if they settled before they stand before the judge
 
Taking this to its logical conclusion—the person who wronged his brother must ask forgiveness of his brother
 
That brother then has a responsibility to forgive—lest he be a reversal of roles—and he owes forgiveness or withholds forgiveness unto judgment upon himself
 
The legal system of the day would require punishment of imprisonment until the debt was paid—but in prison—there would be no way to earn money to repay—hence the risk of imprisonment forever
 
The spiritual meaning is this—we are making our way to the Judge—God—either at the end times or upon our demise on this earth—settle up your wrongdoing debts along the way—if either of you dies before settling—there will be no way to settle—and it will go before the Judge to decide
 
Repent all!--Forgive others readily—hold no ill will toward your fellow man
 
Then you will be properly prepared for worship
 
I hope this helps you better understand the Fifth commandment—as Jesus intended for us to understand it