Sermon On The Mount: Murder & Slander
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.' 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.
Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First, be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 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. Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.
Matthew 5:21-26 (NKJV)
Recall the sixth of God's Ten Commandments: 'You shall not murder' (Exodus 20:13).
But the Sermon on the Mount digs deeper. In It, Jesus exposes this sin’s root. At its core are pride, anger, and hatred. Before the physical act of murder, deadened hearts pump poisonous thoughts and words.
'A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks' (Luke 6:45).
Truth be known: you can kill someone quickly or slowly:
'All rash anger is heart murder... Raca is a scornful word and comes from pride: Thou fool is a spiteful word and comes from hatred. Malicious slanders and censures are poison that kills secretly and slowly. Christ told them that how light soever they made of these sins, they would certainly be called into judgment for them' (Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary).*
Actors, models, and talent for Christ: When you expressed your calling to enter the vast mission fields of entertainment, did any naysayer call you foolish?
Here’s a Bible truth: Dream-denouncing is forbidden by God, because the hated dreams may come from Him--which He gives as gifts and assignments!
If they aren’t from God, they’ll come to nothing. 'For if their purpose or activity is of human origin, it will fail. But if it is from God… you will only find yourselves fighting against God' (Acts 5:38-39).
On the other hand, if YOU’VE harbored or expressed hateful thoughts against someone else, REPENT! Be reconciled. Ask forgiveness from God and the dreamer. Then you’ll be in right standing with them both.
Sermon On The Mount: Murder & Slander (Part 9)
* Additional Bible Commentary on Matthew 5:22:
https://biblehub.com/commentaries/matthew/5-22.htm
NOTE: This is a 2023 update of a 2013 Carey Lewis Devotion. You may see notes to 'Actors, Models & Talent for Christ.' If you think you're not in show business, think again. Shakespeare said, 'All the world's a stage and all its men and women merely players. Mostly true. But you're not merely players. You are messengers and ambassadors for the King of kings.