Murder Revisited
Matthew 5:21-26
Magnifying the law in his teachings, how did Jesus define murder?
#DefiningMurder
#MurderMagnified
#SermonOnTheMount
Published July 29th, 2017; Updated July 31st, 2017
Passage
Main point summary
Matthew 5:21-26 Bracket
Passage
21 “ a You have heard that 1 the ancients were told, ‘ b You shall not commit murder ’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be 2 liable to c the court.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be 1 guilty before a the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘ 2 You good-for-nothing,’ shall be 1 guilty before 3 b the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be 1 guilty enough to go into the 4 c fiery hell. 23 Therefore if you are a presenting your 1 offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your 1 offering there before the altar and go; first be a reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your 1 offering. 25 a Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way, so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I say to you, a you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last 1 cent.
notes
Main point summary
Jesus corrected the people's misunderstanding of murder as that which is confined to the malicious physical act of killing to one that includes even anger and derogatory name-calling, and emphasized the severe penalty that accompanies its infraction. So serious is this commandment that not only should it not be violated but also that when someone is made aware of having angered and offended another, reconciliation should be sought before proceeding in worship, and must be sought immediately for one's own sake.
Matthew 5:21-26 Bracket
NT
Matthew 5:21-26
esv
mine
nasb
y “You have heard that it was said to those of old, z ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable a to judgment.’
“ a You have heard that 1 the ancients were told,
‘ b You shall not commit murder’
and ‘Whoever commits murder
shall be 2 liable to c the court.’
actionresult
ground
ideaexplanation
But I say to you that b everyone who is angry with his brother 1 will be liable a to judgment; whoever insults 2 his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to c the hell 3 of fire.
But I say to you
that everyone who is angry with his brother
shall be 1 guilty before a the court;
and whoever says to his brother,
‘ 2 You good-for-nothing,’
shall be 1 guilty before 3 b the supreme court;
and whoever says,
‘You fool,’
shall be 1 guilty enough to go into the 4 c fiery hell.
progression
negativepositive
d So if e you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,
Therefore if you are a presenting your 1 offering at the altar,
and there remember
that your brother has something against you,
leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.
leave your 1 offering there before the altar
and go;
first be a reconciled to your brother,
and then come and present your 1 offering.
conditional
f Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.
a Make friends quickly with your opponent at law
while you are with him on the way,
temporal
so that your opponent may not hand you over to the judge,
and the judge to the officer,
and you be thrown into prison.
actionpurpose
Truly, I say to you, g you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. 1
Truly I say to you,
a you will not come out of there
until you have paid up the last 1 cent.
alternative
inference
discourse
Comments
Disclaimer: The opinions and conclusions expressed on this page are those of the author and may or may not accord with the positions of Biblearc or Bethlehem College & Seminary.