2010-02-03 Murder

Matthew 5:22

For over 400 years, God's people had heard things watered down, argued, explained, and justified for so long that they accepted it as normal.

Jesus came along and blasted the status quo.

The most “pressing” or “urgent” thing that the Jews were dealing with was oppression under Rome.

Rome was occupying and controlling the Holy Land. Any good Messiah would change this instantly, right?

Not Jesus. He did not come with an agenda to change who ruled the lands.

Jesus was out to change who ruled the heart.

People wanted to be free from the Romans.

Jesus wanted people free from their sinful selves.

People wanted the kingdom of heaven on earth.

Jesus wanted the the people to have the kingdom of heaven within.

This rule of God was personal and spiritual.

This rule of God put Him in charge of you.

This rule of God was a heart issue, and Jesus knew that everyone had a heart problem.

Like a good surgeon, Jesus cut straight to the issue and began working it out, in all its blackness and evil, in order to hold it up publicly for everyone to see.

Heart surgery, or rather, a transplant, was what Jesus was after.

Jesus holds up a human heart and declares in Matthew 5:21, 22, “You have heard that it was said, “Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.

Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”

2 examples to make one point.

The first parallel is extreme:

- murder someone and you get punished

- be angry with someone and get punished

Outward murder deserves punishment.

Inward murder deserves punishment.

The same punishment, judgment, is handed out for BOTH the outward and inward act of murder.

The second parallel is more common:

- publicly slander someone and face judgment

- privately insult someone and face judgment

Outward hatred deserves judgment.

Inward hatred deserves judgment.

Jesus is telling people that what the inward you does is just as important as what the outward you does.

The inward you is more important to God than just the outward you.

FYI – we are all murderers at heart, and deserve hell.

We live in a world of inward secrets and outward lies.

God sees through that, and commands HIS people to change from the inside out.

Our outward life needs to match our inward life.

Who do you need to apologize to? No texting.Do it face to face.

Who do you need to clear things up with? Be personal. Clean up your murderous ways.

Who do you need to forgive? Do your part, let God in to do some personal renovations in your own life.