The emotions, and motives of Murder:

Introduction:

Good Morning, Everyone its good to be here with all of you this wonderful morning, to be able to come to worship this morning. Last week we talk about one of the purpose that Jesus Christ had come to earth to do, which was to fulfill the law. we talk how he fulfill the law, we also talk about the covenant between God, and people of Israel, what it meant for us as Christians this week we are going to be looking at The emotions, and motives behind Murder, Lets turn in our Bibles to Mt 5:21-26

Matthew 5:21–26 NKJV

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.

From this passage here in the gospel of Matthew, we are going to be looking at how what Jesus means by this. Our points for today are the value of life, control of our emotions, and the physical and Spiritual consequences of our actions.

The Value of life:

Our first point for today is the value of life, and we can really see that within our main passage in Matthew here in verse 21 Lets turn in our Bibles to Mt 5:21

Matthew 5:21 NKJV

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.’

From this verse here in Matthew we come God, and Christ had always value human life, throughout scripture we see that even in the old Testament God value mankind life. Let’s turn our Bibles to Ex 20:13

Exodus 20:13 NKJV

13 “You shall not murder.

This part of the Ten Commandments that God had give Moses, and we come to see that Moses himself would speak this to the people of Israel in Deut 5:17. Even Paul talks about the value of life in Rom 13:8-10

Romans 13:8–10 NKJV

8 Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.

From this passage here in the letter to the early Church in Rome, Paul is reminding the early Church about how it is through love that fulfilled the law, and from that love we as Christians can see our value because of how Christ taught his followers, through the law. Lets turn our Bibles to Mt 5:13

Matthew 5:13 NKJV

13 “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

From this verse here within the same chapter as our main passage, we see that Christ is reminding his disciples, followers, Believers about how they are the salt, Salt was valuable. As Christians we are valuable to God, and Christ. As Christians we see just how valuable we really are to God, because God send his son to die for all who wish to have a relationship with God. Let turn in our Bibles to John 3:16-17

John 3:16–17 NKJV

16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. 17 For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.

From this passage in John we come to understand that this is a conversation between Jesus, and Nicodemus, but for all who read this come to understand the love God had all of mankind, we also come to understand the value we as mankind has, which is the blood of Christ. Which leads to how Christ is warning all who chose to follow about how we should have Control over our emotions of Jealously, and Anger.

Control of Emotions:

This really allow to look at our second point for today which we can see in Mt 5:21-22

Matthew 5:21–22 NKJV

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.

From these two verse here we see that Christ leaves a warning for all who wish to be a Christians. even in our anger will be in danger, or our jealously. From these two verse we can recognize that Christ is reminding us to keep our emotions in check, or better have self control of our emotion. As Children we must learn to control our emotion because our emotion can lead to make poor decisions within this life. there are several examples within the Bible to show us, the emotions of Jealously and anger. Let’s turn in our Bibles to Gen 4:4-8

Genesis 4:4–8 NKJV

4 Abel also brought of the firstborn of his flock and of their fat. And the Lord respected Abel and his offering, 5 but He did not respect Cain and his offering. And Cain was very angry, and his countenance fell. 6 So the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin lies at the door. And its desire is for you, but you should rule over it.” 8 Now Cain talked with Abel his brother; and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him.

From this passage not only do we get the record of the first murder, but we also see that God did warn Cain, like how Christ is warn all Christians back in verse 22 of Mt 5. we come to understand how this happen because of Cain Jealously of his sacrifice not being accepted, and because of the jealously eventually lead to anger, his anger lead to him to murder his younger brother. we also can see the emotion of anger can be just but can also cause problems for us Christians, In Gen 34:1-31. we see the story of about two of Jacobs sons, and his daughter who was defiled by a prince of the land, because of their anger towards the king and Prince for what he has done we see that Sons of Jacob kill all the males of the land was just, but according to Jacob saw the that this could have cause problems for his family late down the road because son’s Jacob were deceitful. Gen 34:13

Genesis 34:13 NKJV

13 But the sons of Jacob answered Shechem and Hamor his father, and spoke deceitfully, because he had defiled Dinah their sister.

with understanding with Just anger here, we can also see the Jealous type of anger here in both the Old and New Testament. we can look at the life of Saul, because of his mistake of rushing to sacrifice to God, not wait on Samuel we understand that eventually God told Samuel let Saul know that he would be rejecting him, and giving the Kingdom to his neighbor. We also understand that from the life of Saul, Saul eventually figure out that his neighbor was David the son of Jesse. Eventually we see the Jealous actions of Saul who was Jealous of David you can read all about this through book of 1st Samuel. Saul was not only jealous person after another persons life, our next example comes from the New Testament is Paul, we can look at the life of Paul. Paul not only had to deal with Jewish leaders, but also the Gentiles too. Let’s turn in our Bibles to 2nd Cor 11:25-30

2 Corinthians 11:25–30 NKJV

25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness—28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. 29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with indignation? 30 If I must boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.

Paul life was not the only one in danger because of Jealousy's, The life of Jesus Christ was sought after by Jealously, by the Pharisees, and Sadducees. we can see several examples of this throughout Jesus Christ life. Let’s turn in our Bibles to John 5:15-20

John 5:15–20 NKJV

15 The man departed and told the Jews that it was Jesus who had made him well. 16 For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath. 17 But Jesus answered them, “My Father has been working until now, and I have been working.” 18 Therefore the Jews sought all the more to kill Him, because He not only broke the Sabbath, but also said that God was His Father, making Himself equal with God. 19 Then Jesus answered and said to them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of Himself, but what He sees the Father do; for whatever He does, the Son also does in like manner. 20 For the Father loves the Son, and shows Him all things that He Himself does; and He will show Him greater works than these, that you may marvel.

From this passage here we come to see that Jesus did the will of God, and the Jewish leaders wanted to killed because they fear his popularity among the common folks was beginning to grow to much. The Sadducees, and the Pharisees both love the power of the scripture, but they miss used their own authority as teachers of the true. therefore they fear Jesus Christ who came to fulfilled the law. which leads to our last point about anger and murder.

The Physical and Spiritual Consequences of our actions:

As Christians we come to understand that Jealously and anger can lead to many kinds of problems both in the physical world, and the spiritual world. We also come to understand that because of these two emotions they can block sight of reason, in turn we can make poor decisions because of these two emotions. Lets turn in our Bibles to Ecc 7:8-10

Ecclesiastes 7:8–10 NKJV

8 The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. 9 Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools. 10 Do not say, “Why were the former days better than these?” For you do not inquire wisely concerning this.

It better for us to not rust to these emotions because the cloud our judgement of reason. Remember Cain back in Gen his anger against his brother was wrong, and because of that anger Abel lost his life. we also understand that God had try to warn Cain to control his emotions. Sin is crouching at the door and its desires is for you. that even apply to us who are Christians in today’s world. Let’s turn in our Bible to Eph 4:25-27

Ephesians 4:25–27 NKJV

25 Therefore, putting away lying, “Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor,” for we are members of one another. 26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, 27 nor give place to the devil.

From this passage in Eph, Paul remind us to have self control over our emotions. Again if we allow this emotions to go unchecked, then these emotions could cause us to sin. this also includes our hearts, what is behind these motives that make us angry and jealous. Just because your actions are just, holy, righteous, zealous, or evil, should not make you want to take another life, because of the value that was place on mankind through the death of Christ. we must come to recognize that we are in danger of eternal destruction with these emotions that are not under control.

Conclusion:

Today I hope we recognize about self control over our emotions, do not allow our anger, and Jealously to lead us to cause more than just sin. I hope we recognized the value of our fellow mankind. The love of God, and Christ had for all of mankind. I may not know what you all struggle with in your daily life but God does, and he wants to be there for you. God want to build a relationship with you, but in order to have this relationship we must being willing to submit ourselves to do the will of God, and be willing to follow his teaching. if you are in need of prayers or if you have questions please come forward. if you wish to place membership or wish to be baptized please come forward as we stand and sing.