Matthew 5:21-24
Murder
21"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' 22But 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.
23"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.
Jesus helps us with His interpretation about Mosaic Law...In Matthew, chapter five, He talks about our sixth commandment... It is thou shall not murder...He takes this commandment even further than the normal interpretation that is in the Ten Commandments...
Jesus knows that many people of the past and of His day (and even today read the first five books of the Bible, called the Law of Moses, and even the whole Bible) and follow it very literally and strictly...
God, through Moses gave us a set of rules, called the Law...But Jesus here is interpreting the Law...He is telling us that following God is more than following a set of rules...It is how we feel, about things, in our hearts, also...The rules are necessary, and Jesus upholds the Law, but further explains, what God means...
If we feel contempt for our neighbors or brother...Remember, Jesus includes everyone as His brother...And we will be judged...What if, we have not murdered and only committed a little sin (of anger) and not the "big" sin of murder...God will judge everything, all sins... He judges our deeds, what we say, and even our thoughts...He judges our hearts, what no one can see but Him...God knows us, our hearts, and our characters and will judge us perfectly...
We are to have good hearts, to love God, and to treat our neighbors with the same respect we have for ourselves...Just following a set of rules, is not enough...God wants more...He wants it all...He wants us to be better...When we are angry with our brother(s) we are further from God...Being angry at your neighbor is not what God wants...When we are angry, forgive your neighbor, be reconciled with him in your heart, then we can offer our gift and prayers to God...
Jesus teaches us to love God and to love thy neighbor...To be tolerant of others is not enough...
How difficult these teachings are...This world, if we could all do what Jesus asks and teaches, would be a great world...This maybe the kingdom of God if even our actions, words, and thoughts were completely pure toward everyone and everything...
Jesus knows that we are not perfect...He knows we will have times when we will disagree and be angry with our brothers...He wants us to look at ourselves, be humble, seek peace with our neighbors and then we can seek peace with God...