"The Law and Murder"
Sermon on the Mount • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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In the context of Matthew 5, Jesus is teaching specifically His disciples what genuine righteousness looks like.
The religious leaders of Jesus' day were consumed with outward behavior. In fact knew the Law, They could quote the Scriptures, they had rules and traditions which outwardly they seemed to follow. They wanted people to see their righteousness.
But Jesus continues to exposes the difference between external religion and internal righteousness.
20 “For I say to you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus is not saying that salvation comes through being morally better than the religious leaders. On the contrary, He is showing that true righteousness must reach deeper than outward behavior.
The Pharisee would say things like - “I have never murdered anyone...”
Jesus says, essentially says - “What is happening in your heart?...”
In our text this morning as well as the next five weeks we will see how Jesus goes after the root problem, and that is not merely the fruit.
Read Matthew 5:21-27
21 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ 22 “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. 23 “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. 25 “Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 “Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent. 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’;
The sixth commandment which is found in Exodus 20 as well as in Deuteronomy says - “You shall not murder.”
The scribes and Pharisees understood the command primarily in terms of the outward act. Murder was condemned, and rightly so.
But by Jesus' day, Jewish religious teachers had developed an extensive system of interpretations and traditions surrounding the Law. The problem was not that all interpretation was wrong. The problem was that human tradition could become a substitute for the true spiritual purpose of which God's Word mandates.
Jesus does not abolish the sixth commandment. He takes His hearers back to its true intent.
God has always cared about the heart.
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”
23 Watch over your heart with all diligence, For from it flow the springs of life.
10 “I, the Lord, search the heart, I test the mind, Even to give to each man according to his ways, According to the results of his deeds.
13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.
Jesus is teaching that murder does not begin with the hand, rather, it starts in the heart.
Matthew, Vols. 1–4: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Effect on Our View of Ourselves
In the spring of 1931 one of the most notorious criminals of that day was captured. Known as Two-gun Crowley, he had brutally murdered a great many people, including at least one policeman. It is said that when he finally was captured in his girlfriend’s apartment after a gun battle, the police found a blood-spattered note on him that read, “Under my coat is a weary heart, but a kind one, one that would do nobody any harm.” Even the worst of men try to exonerate themselves. Such obvious self-deceit as that of Crowley’s seems absurd, yet that is exactly the attitude the natural man has of himself. “I may have done some bad things,” he thinks, “but down deep I’m not really bad.
Proposition - True righteousness is not merely external obedience; it reaches into the depths of our hearts and transforms how we respond to those around us. We are going tolook at: 1) the root problem, 2) the response to the problem, 3) the reconciliation to the problem, and 4) the basis for reconciliation.
Interrogative Question - In what ways can we identify and address the 'root problems' in our hearts that lead to anger and conflict?
Matthew, Vols. 1–4: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary The Effect on Our View of Ourselves
In the spring of 1931 one of the most notorious criminals of that day was captured. Known as Two-gun Crowley, he had brutally murdered a great many people, including at least one policeman. It is said that when he finally was captured in his girlfriend’s apartment after a gun battle, the police found a blood-spattered note on him that read, “Under my coat is a weary heart, but a kind one, one that would do nobody any harm.” Even the worst of men try to exonerate themselves. Such obvious self-deceit as that of Crowley’s seems absurd, yet that is exactly the attitude the natural man has of himself. “I may have done some bad things,” he thinks, “but down deep I’m not really bad.
Matthew, Vols. 1–4: The MacArthur New Testament Commentary (Chapter 27: Who Is a Murderer? (Matthew 5:21–26))
The Old and New Testaments are filled with the names of murderers. In the Old are Cain, Lamech, Pharaoh, Abimelech, Joab, the Amalekites, David, Absalom, Zimri, Jezebel, Haziel, Jehu, Athaliah, Joash, Manasseh, and many others. The New Testament list includes Herod, Judas, the high priests, Barabbas, Herodias and her daughter, and others. Biblical history, like human history in general, is filled with murderer
The Sermon on the Mount: (Matthew 5–7): An Expositional Commentary What Is Murder?
Do we commit murder? Yes—by this definition. We lose our temper. We harbor grudges. We gossip. We kill by neglect, spite, and jealousy. And we would learn that we actually do worse things than these if only we could see our hearts as God is able to see them. It is no accident that even in our own speech such things sometimes are termed character assassination, or that we speak of destroying a person by words. This is literally true, and we do it. Jesus says, we are not to be that way as Christian
Commentary on the Sermon on the Mount Verse 21
Therefore, Thou shalt not kill, is as much as to say: You may find as many ways to kill as you have members of the body, by your hand, tongue, heart, by signs and gestures, by angrily looking at any one, by begrudging him his life, by your eyes or even by your ears—if you don’t like to hear him spoken of, that all means killing. For then your heart and all there is about you is so disposed that you would be glad if he were already dead, and although meanwhile your hand is quiet, your tongue is silent, your eyes and ears are muffled, yet your heart is full of murder and manslaught
I. The Root Problem - vs. 21-22
I. The Root Problem - vs. 21-22
21 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ 22 “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
Jesus begins with something everyone would agree with:
Murder is wrong.
But then He goes deeper.
A. The command forbids murder -
The sixth commandment was never merely a suggestion.
Human life is valuable because humanity is created in the image of God.
27 God created man in His own image, in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.
That is why murder is so serious.
6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed, For in the image of God He made man.
The Bible therefore teaches the sacredness of human life.
But Jesus wants us to understand that the same heart that eventually produces murder can also produce sinful anger, hatred, contempt, and hostility.
B. Anger is the basis of murder -
Jesus says in Matthew 5:22 - “everyone who is angry with his brother...”
Jesus is not teaching that every expression of anger is sinful.
There is such a thing as righteous anger.
Jesus Himself demonstrated righteous anger.
5 After looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.
26 Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
The issue is not simply whether we ever experience anger. The issue is what kind of anger are we cultivating and what are we doing with it.
There is a righteous anger that responds to sin because we love God and righteousness.
And there is also a very selfish anger that may saying some like the following -
“You offended me, so I have the right to punish you emotionally.”
This kind of anger can grow into bitterness and hatred.
The Sermon on the Mount: (Matthew 5–7): An Expositional Commentary What Is Murder?
Do we commit murder? Yes—by this definition. We lose our temper. We harbor grudges. We gossip. We kill by neglect, spite, and jealousy. And we would learn that we actually do worse things than these if only we could see our hearts as God is able to see them. It is no accident that even in our own speech such things sometimes are termed character assassination, or that we speak of destroying a person by words. This is literally true, and we do it. Jesus says, we are not to be that way as Christians.
Illustration: The Spark and the Fire
A forest fire does not begin as a forest fire.
It begins with something small—a spark. (Did you see the news this past week where a bear in Crested Butte)
If that spark is extinguished immediately, the danger is over.
But if it is fed, it can consume thousands of acres.
Anger can work the same way.
A small offense occurs.
Then we replay it.
Then we talk about it.
Then we tell somebody else.
Then we imagine what we should have said.
Then we convince ourselves that the other person is completely wrong and we are completely right.
The little spark becomes a fire.
31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Notice how many words Paul uses to describe the flow -
Bitterness can produce wrath.
Wrath can produce anger.
Anger can produce clamor.
Clamor can produce slander.
And it can eventually produce malice.
Commentary on the Sermon on the Mount Verse 21
Therefore, Thou shalt not kill, is as much as to say: You may find as many ways to kill as you have members of the body, by your hand, tongue, heart, by signs and gestures, by angrily looking at any one, by begrudging him his life, by your eyes or even by your ears—if you don’t like to hear him spoken of, that all means killing. For then your heart and all there is about you is so disposed that you would be glad if he were already dead, and although meanwhile your hand is quiet, your tongue is silent, your eyes and ears are muffled, yet your heart is full of murder and manslaughter.
C. Jesus exposes the root problem -
22 “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
The expressions that Jesus uses communicate contempt—treating another person as worthless, stupid, beneath you, or unworthy of respect.
Jesus is not teaching that the mere pronunciation of a particular word automatically sends someone to judgment.
He is exposing the heart attitude behind the words.
You can refrain from murder while still destroying someone with your words.
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
5 So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6 And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell.
You may never physically attack someone with the intent of murdering them, but you can attack their reputation.
You can destroy a friendship with gossip.
You can crush someone's spirit with insults.
You can treat someone as though they are worthless.
The point that Jesus is making is simply that God sees that heart.
II. The Response to the Problem - vs. 23-24
II. The Response to the Problem - vs. 23-24
23 “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.
This is an unbelievable statement that Jesus makes - try to imagine the setting.
A Jewish worshiper has traveled to Jerusalem.
He has brought his sacrifice.
He is standing at the temple.
He is participating in worship.
And Jesus says:
Stop, go make things right.
A. Worship cannot be separated from relationships -
Jesus is not saying reconciliation earns salvation.
Nor is He saying that every disagreement can immediately be resolved.
He is saying that we cannot pretend to be right with God while deliberately nurturing sinful hostility toward other people.
20 If someone says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for the one who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen.
That is strong language.
The Bible refuses to separate our relationship with God from the way we treat people.
B. Reconciliation requires humility -
Notice how Jesus says it “if...your brother has something against you”
Jesus does not say, “Wait until he comes to apologize.”
He says go.
Sometimes we are the offended person.
Sometimes we are the offender.
Sometimes we are both.
But a biblical Christian does not say:
“I'm waiting for them to make the first move.”
Instead:
“What can I do to pursue peace?”
Jesus says in Matthew 5:9
9 “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
A peacemaker is not someone who merely likes peace. A peacemaker pursues peace.
C. Reconciliation does not mean pretending sin did not happen -
Biblical reconciliation is not the same as saying:
“It doesn't matter.”
Sin does matter.
Forgiveness does not mean that wrong becomes right.
Reconciliation means that instead of allowing anger, bitterness, and revenge to control us, we pursue a biblical resolution.
18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
Notice the qualification:
“If possible.”
Sometimes the other person will not reconcile.
Sometimes reconciliation requires time, repentance, boundaries, or the involvement of wise spiritual leadership.
But “as far as it depends on you” means that the believer must not use someone else's unwillingness as an excuse for his own bitterness.
Illustration: The Unpaid Debt
Imagine borrowing money from someone and refusing to repay it.
Every time you see that person, the debt is sitting between you.
You may try to ignore it.
You may change the subject.
You may avoid looking at them.
But the debt is still there.
Unresolved conflict can be like that.
You can attend church.
Sing hymns.
Listen to preaching.
Carry a Bible.
And still have a relational debt you refuse to address.
Jesus says:
Deal with it.
III. The Reconciliation to the Problem - vs. 25-26
III. The Reconciliation to the Problem - vs. 25-26
25 “Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 “Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last cent.
Jesus now uses a legal illustration.
Two people are in conflict.
One is taking the other to court.
Jesus says - Make things right while there is still opportunity.
A. Delay makes problems worse -
Many relational problems become worse because people wait.
People often times think the following -
“I'll deal with it later.”
Later becomes tomorrow.
Tomorrow becomes next week.
Next week becomes next year.
Eventually, the relationship has become so damaged that reconciliation is much more difficult.
26 Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27 and do not give the devil an opportunity.
Paul's point is not that every disagreement must be completely solved before bedtime.
The point is this -
Do not give anger a permanent residence in your heart.
B. Sin becomes harder to remove when we feed it -
Think about a splinter.
If you get a tiny splinter in your finger, you want to remove it.
You don't say:
“I'll just leave it there for six months.”
The longer it remains, the more irritation it can cause.
Bitterness works similarly.
A small offense left untreated can become a deeply rooted grievance.
15 See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springing up causes trouble, and by it many be defiled;
Notice the word root.
Roots are hidden.
You cannot always see them.
But eventually they produce something visible.
Bitterness in the heart eventually shows itself in our words, attitudes, relationships, and behavior.
C. Life is short, and opportunities are limited -
Jesus' illustration ultimately reminds us that there is a limited window of opportunity.
There comes a point when we can no longer go back and fix things.
That ought to make us take reconciliation seriously.
1 Do not boast about tomorrow, For you do not know what a day may bring forth.
If there is someone you need to forgive, pursue reconciliation.
If you have wronged someone, confess it.
If you have spoken wrongly about someone, correct it.
If you have allowed bitterness to grow, deal with it before God.
IV. The basis of Reconciliation -
IV. The basis of Reconciliation -
32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Have you ever been in a situation where you felt like people understand what someone did to you?
Perhaps not.
But Jesus understands.
He was betrayed.
He was rejected.
He was falsely accused.
He was mocked.
And yet at the cross He prayed for His enemies.
34 But Jesus was saying, “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” And they cast lots, dividing up His garments among themselves.
The gospel gives us the ultimate reason to forgive.
32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.
Notice the standard:
“just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.”
The Christian does not forgive because the offense was insignificant.
The Christian forgives because God's grace toward us is greater than our right to hold a grudge.
Illustration: The Cancelled Debt
Imagine owing a debt you could never repay.
Then someone comes along and pays the entire debt for you.
You walk away owing nothing.
Later, someone else owes you a small amount.
You could demand payment.
Or you could remember:
“I was forgiven a debt I could never pay.”
That is the picture Jesus gives us throughout the New Testament.
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
The more clearly we understand God's forgiveness of us, the more willing we should be to extend forgiveness to others.
SO WHAT?
Examine your heart -
Am I harboring anger toward someone?
Am I bitter?
Have I become comfortable thinking badly about another person?
Am I secretly hoping someone fails?
Have I damaged someone's reputation with my words?
Am I refusing to forgive?
23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me and know my anxious thoughts; 24 And see if there be any hurtful way in me, And lead me in the everlasting way.
Deal with anger quickly -
Don't feed it.
Don't rehearse the offense endlessly.
Don't recruit an audience to your grievance.
Don't turn one offense into ten offenses by adding assumptions and accusations.
Pray.
Think biblically.
Seek wise counsel.
And pursue peace.
Watch your words -
Before you open your mouth ask yourself these questions -
Is it true?
Is it necessary?
Is it gracious?
Will it help?
Does it honor Christ?
29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
Be willing to take the first step -
Don't always wait for the other person.
Jesus says:
“go; first be reconciled.”
Sometimes the most spiritual words you can say are:
“I was wrong. Will you forgive me?”
Or:
“I have allowed bitterness to grow in my heart, and I need to ask your forgiveness.”
Humility is not weakness.
Humility is obedience.
Remember how much you have been forgiven -
When someone hurts you, remember the gospel.
You have sinned against a holy God.
Yet through Christ, God offers forgiveness to those who repent and believe.
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you.
How can we ensure that our worship is not hindered by unresolved conflicts with others?
In what practical ways can we cultivate a heart that seeks internal righteousness over external appearances?
How does understanding the depth of our own hearts help us to avoid judgment and contempt towards others?
What steps can we take to address the 'root problems' in our hearts that contribute to anger and conflict?
How can we reflect on God's forgiveness towards us to better extend forgiveness to others?
What are some practical strategies we can implement to manage our anger before it leads to conflict?
How can we proactively pursue reconciliation in our relationships instead of waiting for others to approach us?
In what ways can we express our desire for peace in our daily interactions with others?
What can we do to ensure that our words bring life rather than destruction to others?
How can we identify and confront any hidden bitterness within ourselves?
Our text today annihilates the idea that righteousness is merely about outward conduct. Jesus teaches us -
You may never murder someone—but you can hate them.
You may never strike someone—but you can destroy them with your words.
You may sit in church—but still harbor bitterness.
You may bring an offering—but still refuse reconciliation.
You may look righteous on the outside—but God sees the heart.
Friends if you find yourself struggle with any of these things let me tell you the answer is not simply to become better people.
The answer is Christ.
He changes the heart.
He forgives sin.
He gives grace.
He teaches us to forgive.
He enables us to pursue peace.
And He reconciles sinful people to a holy God.
18 Now all these things are from God, who reconciled us to Himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation,
Before we can properly pursue reconciliation with others, we must first be reconciled to God through Jesus Christ.
