Getting Life Right: WORDS—Matthew 5:21-26
Last week, we heard what Jesus said about the enduring purpose of the Old Testament: Matthew 5:17, “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them.”
Then Jesus said something surprising: “I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”
The Pharisees were considered by many to be the most righteous people around! They strictly kept all the rules of the law—all 613 that the rabbis had listed. Yet keeping rules does not make people righteous.
Now Jesus is sitting on a mountainside, with his disciples gathered around him, and he can see the puzzled looks on their faces. How could they possibly be more righteous than the Pharisees? Jesus answers them in what is called the Sermon on the Mount.
Four times in the sermon, Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said…but I say to you.” In each case, Jesus goes beyond the rules, to get to the heart of righteousness.
He begins with one of the 10 commandments, “Do not murder.”
The immediate response of a self-righteous person like me is to breathe a sigh of relief. I might not be perfect, but at least I haven’t killed anybody! But what Jesus says about murder shatters our self-righteousness at its foundations:
Matthew 5:21-22, “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.”
Is anger the same as murder? I hope not! Jesus was without sin, but when he saw buying and selling in the temple courts, so that the gentiles could not come in to worship, he was angry, and starting flipping over tables! There is such a thing as righteous anger—or as we like to call it, righteous indignation.
But this anger is different.
This anger is out of control. The Greek word is “orgizomenos,” from which we get our word, “orgy.” The verb is the present participle form, which implies “carrying anger,” almost like resentment. Paul uses the same word in Ephesians 4:26, “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry…”
Jesus says that out-of-control, persistent anger is almost like murder. It sucks the life out of people.
It sucks the life out of us. If we carry it in our hearts, it can lead to bitterness, frustration, even rage.
It sucks the life out of relationships. The anger becomes a barrier: a cold shoulder, a hidden obstacle to love, or even a volcano threatening to blow.
Eventually, persistent anger tends to bubble up, in words as well as deeds.
Jesus goes on: “Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”
“Raca”: Even the sound of it conveys scorn: Idiot… Loser. Anyone who used that word in public could be hauled before the Jewish authorities. But calling someone a fool—that could put someone in danger of the fires of hell.
Of course, Jesus is not saying that calling someone a fool is the worst possible sin, automatically sending a person to hell. His point is that the unkind words are sin, just as murder is sin, and all sins put people in danger.
The word Jesus used for hell is “gehenna,” which was literally connected with the Valley of Hinnom, just outside Jerusalem. The valley was used as a garbage dump, and the fires in the dump never went out. The imagery is appropriate for words that cause trouble. James 3:6 says, “The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.” Destroying people with words is straight out of hell.
Words can kill.
I once knew a man who never dated, and therefore never married. He told me he asked out a girl only one time, and she sarcastically scorned him for thinking he was in the same league as her. He was so devastated that the never had the confidence to try again.
There are many stories like that: wives or husbands whose confidence was crushed by repeated words of doubt or ridicule. Adults who are still submerged in the threats of a childhood bully, or the cruel judgment of their peers. Talented people who were always told they lacked the ability to do the things they wanted to do. Immigrants who were mocked for their appearance or speech.
Of course, we wouldn’t do things like that. For us, it might be “teasing” with an edge of anger or superiority. Throwing a mistake back in the face of someone close to us. Letting some unkind words slip out, when we think, “I don’t know why I said that.” Giving “helpful feedback” in an unkind way, and enjoying our feelings of superiority. The list goes on.
It’s no big deal, we think. It is not like we stuck a knife into someone—or is it?
If our thoughts and words are not right, we are not right, and our relationships are not right. That is what God calls SIN. Sin is defined as “missing the mark”—missing the righteousness God intends for us.
Sin—any sin—must be dealt with. It is so important to deal with sin, that Jesus says it should our #1 priority, even more important than worship:
Matthew 5:23-24 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
“Be reconciled.” What if that is not possible? We must at least try. Romans 12:18-21 says, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone….Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
Jesus says, “If your brother or sister has something against you…” I think that goes beyond what we DO to them, to include what we DON’T DO for them.
1 Peter 3:7 says, “Husbands… be considerate as you live with your wives, and treat them with respect as the weaker partner and as heirs with you of the gracious gift of life, so that nothing will hinder your prayers.”
Failure in relationships is a SPIRITUAL issue, and being inconsiderate or disrespectful hinders prayer.
Failing to give the love we owe is a spiritual issue as well, and must be treated with great seriousness. Jesus makes the point with a short parable:
Matthew 5:25-26 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
Parables can be hard to interpret, and we don’t want to press the details of the judge and the officer. The point is quite clear: Give people what you owe them, and do it now.
What do we owe people? Paul gives an answer in Romans 13:8-9, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for whoever loves others has fulfilled the law. The commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not covet,” and whatever other command there may be, are summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
We owe a debt of love. The debt is owed to God, but it is payable to the people around us. Don’t hold back! Don’t put it off! Don’t give excuses that you are busy or tired, or it is too hard.
In fact, don’t let any relationship issues build up, for if you do, you will pay. You will pay at home. You will pay at work, at school, at church, or with the in-laws.
And don’t settle for just smoothing things over, or backing off. Give people the love you owe them.
God wants us to get our relationships right.
If you are carrying anger or resentment, and you can’t seem to let go of it, take it to God. God wants us to get our lives right, and he can help us with the underlying causes of our anger.
If hurtful words have come out, seek to make it right, by an apology, an explanation, or some words of affirmation and support.
If you owe a debt of love, and you have been neglecting to give what is due, make that a top priority. Don’t get too far behind, to the point where trouble overwhelms the relationship, and bad things happen.
God wants us to be righteous. He wants us to be right, he wants our relationships to be right. All of that begins by getting right with him.
Let’s pray about it now.
