Reflection on Mt 5:21-22

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.’ 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.

A) You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not murder!’

The Fifth Commandment says: You shall not murder! Evil thought connected with deceit and manipulation and resulting in hatred is the root of murder. There is not only physical murder but also psychological and spiritual one. Behind all three forms of murder there is a spirit of lies and death. Man is easily manipulated by his own self-deceit or is deceived by others whom he believed or immediately by the devil’s suggestive thoughts. The Fifth Commandment also includes ruining one’s own health. Today you can read on every pack of cigarettes: “Smoking kills!” The same is the effect of drugs, alcohol, immoral life (AIDS, sexual murders, revenge out of jealousy…), or risking one’s own or someone else’s health. Abortion and euthanasia are sins of killing too.

1) What does the Fifth Commandment say? Ex 20:13

You shall not murder!

2) What was the punishment for bloodshed according to the Law of Moses? Gen 9:6

Whoever sheds man’s blood, by man his blood shall be shed; for in the image of God He made man.

3) Why did Cain murder his brother? 1Jn 3:12

…not as Cain who was of the wicked one and murdered his brother. And why did he murder him? Because his works were evil and his brother’s righteous.

4) How are the children of the devil manifest? Jn 8:44

You are of your father the devil, and the desires of your father you want to do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaks a lie, he speaks from his own resources, for he is a liar and the father of lies.

5) Who will not be allowed to enter into the glory of the heavenly Jerusalem? Rev 22:15

But outside are dogs and sorcerers and sexually immoral and murderers and idolaters, and whoever loves and practises a lie.

6) Who is worthy of praise for the gift of life? Psa 139:14

I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; marvellous are Your works, and that my soul knows very well.

7) Whom does God threaten with punishment? Eze 24:9

Therefore says the Lord God: “Woe to the city of bloodshed! I too will make the pyre great.”

8) Whose prayers does God not hear? Isa 1:15

When you spread out your hands, I will hide My eyes from you; even though you make many prayers, I will not hear. Your hands are full of blood.

B) But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment.

“There is nothing covered that will not be revealed.” (Mt 10:26)

Anger is a manifestation of hatred, which is the contrary of love. It can be of different degrees and can be heightened to deep aversion or bitter hostility, be it in the political or, and above all, religious sphere. The wicked hate the righteous (Psa 34:22) often without a cause (Psa 35:19). Hatred towards a brother and neighbour is forbidden in the Scripture (Lev 19:17; Deu 19:11). The world hates Jesus and His disciples (Jn 15:18; Lk 19:14). Hatred is understood here as demonic power (1Jn 2:9) dominating the world.

1) Where from do evil thoughts, murders … proceed? Mt 15:19

For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies.

2) How should men pray? 1Tim 2:8

I desire therefore that the men pray everywhere, lifting up holy hands, without anger or quarrelling.

3) Who is in darkness? 1Jn 2:9

He who says he is in the light, and hates his brother, is in darkness until now.

C) And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council.

Hatred in the heart is manifested in words of hatred, or even acts of hatred. A bad word kills, a good word saves.

1) Can someone love God if he hates his brother? 1Jn 4:20

If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?

2) What will Christians endure for their faithfulness to the name of Jesus? Mt 10:22

And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.

3) Who will suffer harsh punishment? Pro 15:10

Harsh discipline is for him who forsakes the way, and he who hates correction will die.

D) Whoever says to his brother, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

One can kill someone morally by defamation: “Don’t tell anyone, it’s strictly confidential, but this person is mentally ill.” This is typical of the scribes and Pharisees and, unfortunately, of modern liberal theologians, too, who use this lie when they need to get rid of the people who have the Spirit of God, whom they view as undesirable rivals. They thus kill Christ in the souls and eliminate true witnesses. Just as the Pharisees handed Jesus over because of envy (Mt 27:18) and hated Him without a cause (Jn 15:25), so also modern Pharisees treat those who belong to Jesus.

In actual fact, he is mentally ill who spreads such lies about others and, moreover, he is demon-possessed because he commits the crime of spiritual murder.

1) Who is a murderer? 1Jn 3:15

Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.

2) How did adversaries defame Jesus? Mk 3:21

And when His family heard about this, they went out to lay hold of Him, for they said, “He is out of His mind.”

3) How did Jesus respond to slander? Jn 8:49

Jesus answered, “I do not have a demon; but I honour My Father, and you dishonour Me.”

4) How did the spiritual battle against Jesus become manifest? Jn 8:52

Then the Jews said to Him, “Now we know that You have a demon! Abraham is dead, and the prophets; and You say, ‘If anyone keeps My word he shall never taste death.’”

5) Which are the two most evil slanders used by the enemies of Christ? Jn 10:19-21

Therefore there was a division again among the Jews because of these sayings. And many of them said, “He has a demon and is mad. Why do you listen to Him?” Others said, “These are not the words of one who has a demon. Can a demon open the eyes of the blind?”

Reflection: What is the root of hatred?

a) you believe that someone wishes you ill or does evil to you, which is a lie

b) someone really did evil or caused harm to you, robbed you, deceived you or betrayed you

c) your selfishness – rivalry, envy, jealousy, coveting another’s goods…

Remember: The only proper hatred is the hatred of sin (or lies). And he who shows such hatred loves the truth as well as the neighbour.

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