In our last blog post, I wrote about how the Jewish religious leaders of Jesus’ day had lost the real meaning of the Law. The Law had, to them, become a list of very specific rules to follow. They had lost the heart of the Law, that we are to love God and love our neighbor. Starting in verse 21 of Matthew 5, Jesus proceeds to illustrate how the religious leaders were missing the point.

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” – Matthew 5:21-22

When we try to deal with God according to the Law and our works, we often try to lower the bar to a point that we think we can achieve. Don’t murder. I can do that. See, I’m a good person, I’m not going around murdering people. That’s the same thing the Jewish religious leaders were doing.

In this passage, however, Jesus pulls the rug out from that approach. He brings us back to the underlying purpose of the Law, to love God and love our neighbor. Sure, you may not be physically killing your neighbor, but are you holding a grudge for something they did instead of forgiving them? Have you said nasty things about them or called them names?

When I was a kid, I learned the phrase,

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”

But I learned through experience that it’s not true. You’ve probably learned that lesson, too. Words can hurt…badly. In fact, bones and bruises heal in a few days or weeks, the damage from words can last a lifetime.

Loving each other means more than refraining from killing. It’s not hating each other. It’s not destroying each other with words.

This passage gets real at the end.

“whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”

What are we to do? Shoot, I’ve done that and worse. What hope do I have?

When the bar of the Law is placed correctly, we can never achieve it. We have all fallen short of the glory of God. So, we don’t approach God by our works, but by His mercy in the work of Jesus Christ on the cross. Through faith in Jesus our sins, even those nasty things we’ve called people have been removed. They are as far from us as the East is from the West. Instead, you have been made holy and righteous in God’s sight.

Being made holy and righteous by God (not of ourselves) we are then called to walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5) and receive the fruit of the Spirit. In this case, we look to patience, gentleness, self-control, and most of all…love. These are the work of God within us which help us to let go of the anger and control our tongue.

Heavenly Father,

I confess I have held grudges instead of forgiving. I have called people names and torn them down with my words instead of building them up. I am sorry and ask for Your forgiveness, trusting Your promise that You will forgive. Help me to love others. Help me to forgive others as You have forgiven me. Give me patience, gentleness, self-control, and love.

Amen.

In Christ’s Service,

Pastor Kurt