Hate is Murder

Call to worship

Philippians 2:9–11 NKJV

9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Giving

Mark 12:41–44 NKJV

41 Now Jesus sat opposite the treasury and saw how the people put money into the treasury. And many who were rich put in much. 42 Then one poor widow came and threw in two mites, which make a quadrans. 43 So He called His disciples to Himself and said to them, “Assuredly, I say to you that this poor widow has put in more than all those who have given to the treasury; 44 for they all put in out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty put in all that she had, her whole livelihood.”

Hate is Murder

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.

“You Have heard it said”

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.’

you have heard it said is not a quote of the Old Testament law. it is rather a point back to the real intent of the Law given by God. God the Father gave the Law, God the son clarifies the Law. Jesus points the people back to the heart of the Law.

Exodus 20:13 NKJV

13 “You shall not murder.

Deuteronomy 5:17 NKJV

17 ‘You shall not murder.

Murder in biblical times was the same as it is today. it is not self-defense, it is not in defense of country, it is not manslaughter, it is premeditated taking of a life.

The prohibition of murder happened before the giving of the ten commandments.

We are made in the image of God.

Genesis 1:26–27 NKJV

26 Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.” 27 So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them.

Genesis 9:6 NKJV

6 “Whoever sheds man’s blood, By man his blood shall be shed; For in the image of God He made man.

We are prohibited from “playing God” in the lives of others. Murder is deciding when someones life will end. What could be a greater act of playing “god” then deciding when life is over.

The root of murder is anger.

Matthew 5:22 NKJV

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.

“The Judgement” is the court of men. according to Old Testament Law before a person can be punished for murder a council of men had to be convened. Jesus says if you hate your brother, under the kingdom you are going to court.

Jesus drills Down on “Murder” In three ways:

1. Do not be angry with your brother without a cause.

Psalm 4:4 NKJV

4 Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah

Ephesians 4:26 NKJV

26 “Be angry, and do not sin”: do not let the sun go down on your wrath,

2. Don’t call your brother ‘Empty Headed’

The term “Raca!” is an Aramaic insult that means empty headed.

This goes back to purpose. We don’t know what people are created for and what they are gifted with.

Remember, the Lord Jesus uses the term “brother. ” there is no doubt then that The Lord is referring to fellow disciples.

3. Do not call your brother a fool.

Proverbs 10:23 NKJV

23 To do evil is like sport to a fool, But a man of understanding has wisdom.

The word fool is in Greek is akin to the word for moron.

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Moron

mo•ron \ˈmȯr-ˌän\ noun

[irregular from Greek mōros foolish, stupid] 1910

1 usually offensive: a mildly mentally retarded person

2: a very stupid person—mo•ron•ic \mə-ˈrä-nik, mȯ-\ adjective—mo•ron•i•cal•ly \-ni-k(ə-)lē\ adverb—mo•ron•ism \ˈmȯr-ˌä-ˌni-zəm\ noun—mo•ron•i•ty \mə-ˈrä-nə-tē, mȯ-\ noun

do not think you know what God is doing with another. Don’t say about The Lord or His creation is stupid.

Unity: Keep your eye on the prize

Matthew 5:23–24 NKJV

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.

Can I come before God for Mercy when I am unwilling to go extract it or offer it to my brother?

Unity: Stay out of Drama.

Matthew 5:25 NKJV

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.

where as in verse 24 we are dealing with brothers in Christ.

this time we are dealing with gentiles. because the kind of financial prison is a gentile invention.