he law is that “You shall not kill.” It is one of the 10 commandments. Before I began preaching in prison I knew very few murderers. Now I have met a few. There is nothing about their appearance that would indicate so. I am thrilled to say some are now brothers in Christ and demonstrate a loving spirit.
People respected the law, not only because God gave it, but also because of the consequences. If you took someone’s life your life could be taken.
I should note that killing in this verse and others refers to murder, as translated in the New International Version, not to all matters of taking another's life. In Scripture there are many examples: killing animals, taking human life in war, and punishment by death for certain crimes and carried out by civil government under the law. Hopefully capital punishment is a deterrent for someone to kill another human being. These laws seek to protect society and allow victims recourse in self-defense. Such a law was to impress on the hearts and minds of people that God punishes murders.
Violence has become a major concern across American cities. Most killings have been by family members who lose their tempers and get in arguments. Although killing of innocent, unknown victims is also on the increase. Some gang killing are to gain respect of others in the gang. Some psychos kill for thrill.
Jesus said, “if you say to your brother "Raca", you are answerable to the Sanhedrin.” This is an Aramaic word. “Rafa” is a word of curse, as is “fool”. One was cursing another and wishing they could do them harm. It was enough to bring judgment by the local courts, the high court and even by God himself. “Raca” meant a curse - calling another empty-headed, stupid imbeciles, and morally depraved.
“If you say you fool you are in danger of the fire of hell.” Fool was used for a rebel and atheist. It was used as an expression of contempt. Remember, Jesus is speaking of the heart expression. If you carry a serious heart grudge, but never say a word, it is just as wrong. When we let our hatred brood, boil and harbor within, it is no different to God than murder. Words express what's in our hearts. Such anger affects our relations with God. It is a spiritual disease. Anger grows from the attitude, verbalizing and striking out to destroy character. It is not enough to refrain from striking a man. Jesus doesn’t want His followers to even harbor hard, resentful feelings.
What about the verse Mt. 23:17, when Jesus calls the Pharisees blind fools? He was upset with them over their perverted legal interpretations of the Bible. When people are blind to God and leading others away from the righteousness of God by faith, they should be called fools. That is a great sin deserving of contempt and righteous anger. Sinful anger is talked about in James 4:1-3. For such an attitude of bitterness, fighting and self justification is in God's eyes deserving of Hell. We need to mourn, weep, and confess that sin that has so easily entangled us.
When angry people full of hate give an offering to God, it is not acceptable. Things are not right in their hearts. Don't bother to think how righteous you are in worship, when there is bitterness within. It affects our relationship with God. True worship is not stating prayers and giving large amount of money in the offering plate. Worship is enhanced by better relationships with those around us.
From New Testament understanding, we are not sent to hell because of the words we say, but as James says, the words of our tongue are like a thermometer evaluating the condition of our hearts. To have a continued cursing and embittered mouth reveals a heart that is not obedient to the Holy Spirit, even if our actions are not taken to an extreme of murder.
Watch not only what you say and the manner of your words, but the attitude behind them.
