Are You A Murderer

ARE YOU A MURDERER?

Text: Matthew 5:21-26

INTRODUCTION:

1. Jesus contrasts the words of the ancients with his teachings.

2. He says that things go deeper than our actions.

3. He tells us that we should watch what we say.

4. He tells us to correct our anger quickly.

5. The implications of these lessons from the mouth of Jesus are enormous

TRANSITION: Jesus contrasts the words of the ancients with his teaching.

I. The words of the Ancients

A. Is Jesus contradicting the Old Law?

1. Remember Matthew 5:19, “Anyone who annuls one of the least of

these…shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven.”

a. In Revelation he is honored by the elders.

b. This is definitely not the least if those surrounding the throne are praising him.

2. In verses 31-32 and 19:9 he deals with contrasting teachings on divorce.

3. In John 4 he deals with an adulteress woman.

4. Look @ Matthew 19:8, “Because of the hardness of your hearts MOSES permitted you to divorce and it was not this way from the beginning.”

5. See the Jews made up traditions as they went along.

a. They would say, “This is what Moses meant to say.”

b. They would then hold people to these opinions as if they were the Law.

6. John 5 vs. the Tract of the Sabbath

a. The healed man transported his bed.

b. The actual Law doesn’t mention this activity.

c. There were 39 rules in the Tract of the Sabbath.

d. The last one was transporting anything at all.

B. What about Jeremiah 17:21 and Nehemiah 13:19?

1. These verses are talking about transporting things related to work. Loads of merchandise, the like as this.

2. Jesus healed a man.

3. Look at Matthew 12:11. “What man is there among you who has a sheep, and if it falls into a pit on the Sabbath, will he not take hold of it and lift it out? How much more valuable then is a man than a sheep!? So then it is lawful to do good (works) on the Sabbath.”

4. Jesus was pointing out that they were teaching for doctrine the traditions of man.

5. He never violates or contradicts the Law; he simply fulfills it, and refuses to be subject to the binding of men.

TRANSITION: The Pharisees were worried about what they could and could not do

II. Jesus says that things go deeper than your actions. You say that whoever commits murder is subject to the court.

A. Jesus says whoever is angry (without cause) is liable to the court.

1. If we examine the word court here we may get more insight into the meaning.

2. It is the word kris-eye.

3. This means the process of passing judgment or someone who judges.

4. Jesus is saying that if you commit murder you are subject to someone who will pass judgment on you.

a. A tribunal

b. Most likely referring to the Sanhedrin or some court of law.

5. If you are angry for no reason you are subject to a judge also.

a. How will the Sanhedrin know about or deal with an angry person?

b. They could not and would not deal with everyone who got angry.

c. But there is a judge who can and will deal with them.

d. Acts 1:24, “And they prayed, ‘You Lord who knows the hearts of all men’.”

e. God knows the heart of everyone.

f. From the smallest to the greatest he knows and deals justly with each of us.

B. By the same token, the Sanhedrin is not going to go around slapping the back of the hand of everyone who hurls an insult.

1. Granted, this is not just any insult.

a. It is the word where we get our word moron.

b. It means foolishly stupid.

c. It is calling someone a stupid idiot.

d. The NASB has “good-for-nothing” calling someone worthless.

e. It is toned down in the term raca.

f. If you say, “You are a good-for-nothing, stupid fool” you will stand before the Sanhedrin.

g. If you say, “You are empty-headed (raca)” you are in danger of the fires of hell.

h. The Sanhedrin will help take care of the more visible and heinous activities, God still expects us to be right on the inside.

2. We may sneak one past the rulers of the land, but God sees even the small things and will deal out punishment if those small things are not acceptable to him.

TRANSITION: So I am mad at someone, I am not going to kill them, but I have a few choice words I would like to share with them. What do I do now?

III. Jesus tells us to correct the problem quickly.