What Does Murder Truly Mean?

21 "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, "You shall not murder'; and "whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' 22 But I say to you…..

Jesus now begins the part of his teachings on some of the Ten Commandments, that I spoke about before.  Where Jesus states the “Shall Not” and then says: “But I say to you…..”

At a first read, it would seem that, Jesus is basically contradicting Moses’ law.  At least that could be the assumption!  However, he is actually doing something much more.  Something all-encompassing!

He is pushing beyond — exceeding —the understanding of murder.

He is actually broadening the scope of what it means to murder — to destroy.  

Point of interest!

It might help to mention here that Jesus is not just addressing his students, his disciples, who have been following him.  His basic focus is on the whole people of Israel. The Hebrew people who had been the major translators of Mosaic Law.  He is attempting to educate them as to their need to reassess traditional understanding, not only of the law; but their understanding of God’s true character.

The issue at hand is murder!  Killing!  Taking a life by some kind of force!

21 "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, "You shall not murder'; and "whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' 

But I, your promised Messiah, say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister you are liable to judgment.  If you insult a brother or sister!  If you say: “you fool!”  You are liable to judgment of the fires of hell!

Now, if we are really listening to what Jesus is saying here.  We all stand totally guilty.

The first time I read these words.  I mean the first time as a seminary student.  A student that would be asked to teach and preach God’s word.  I sat there amazed!  I realize how very ignorant I really was.  And, I was forty-seven year old!

One thing Seminary training does, is break down your idealistic imagination about former teaching of “what it says in the Bible.”  It is both interesting, and life changing, to be asked to actually pay attention to what you have, always thought, you believed. 

So I invite you to pay attention to what Jesus might be doing here.  Because three times he is telling us not to be rude or arrogant. 

He is clearly making a point that is not to be ignored! 

We are not to cause others to feel less!

We are not to be hateful and/or destructive toward another child of God.

We do not have the right to, in anyway, take a position of rudeness, meanness or superiority over another. 

We do not have permission to make anyone feel worthless.

Verbal attacks, unkind conversation, is something that has long been the most damaging activity in history.

When reading about this, one reader brought up a childhood jingle.  “Sticks and stone can break my bones.  But words can never hurt me.”  Then wrote: “Bodily injuries can be healed in most cases. But unkind words can cause damage that may never heal.  You shall not murder, by itself, does mean killing the body.  But it also means destroying one’s spirit.”   

Unquote!

This conversation on the Fifth Commandment is, in fact, Jesus’ theme throughout his entire ministry.

We are to be “builders,” to use the Apostle Paul’s terminology.  We are to be fruit bearers!  Love givers!  Not destroyers!  We are to work for the good of others.  We are to work for harmonious relationships.

Verbally abusive conversation tears down!  It can cause more damage to a person’s spirit than a physical assault.  Words, used unwisely, can kill the heart of another. 

Now, having said all of that, lets be perfectly honest.  Unless we are angels, all of us have said things that should not have been said.  Most of us have spoken out of anger or frustration in our life time.  I certainly know I have!  

I also know that every time I read these words from Jesus they make me cringe.

And I believe that they are meant to make us cringe.  They are meant to make us think.  To think hard about the limited difference between “Sticks and stones” and unkind words.

So what do we do with this passionate teaching from our Lord and Savior?

Well, even though we have broken, this very detailed commandment, with unkind words from time to time.  We can adjust that way of speaking.  All we have to do is asked for help.  Because, Jesus is simply asking us to think before we speak.  To be aware of how hurtful our anger can be.

Clarification:

Having established the harm words can do.  I want to talk about the habit.  The habit of verbal abuse!  That is, those who spend a good part of their time throwing verbal daggers.  Constantly degrading — being mean — with their assaults on spouses, children and others that get in their way.  

They just don’t seem to give a rip about how it might damage someone.  They even think that they are justified.  Yet, they leave a mark on the target.  Just like a bullet, words cannot be taken back.

I can’t help but believe that Jesus was talking to these habitual offenders in this pointed adjustment to the Fifth Commandment. 

The point?  

In our inadvertent sins of the tongue.  We very quickly want to bite that care-less tongue. At the very least we are sorry later.  We most probably ask God for forgiveness!  Not to mention the person we spoke unkindly to.

It is fairly clear to me that God is grateful for our repentant hearts.  Grateful, because our repentance is an amazing point of grace.  

This point of grace is also what divides the habitual mean word from those of us who, from time to time, lose our very human tempers. I believe God finds great joy at our awareness — admission — of our weakness.  I also believe that God wants us to know that we need him to keep us strong.  To keep us less tempted to cause hurt to others.  

I have said this before, and I’ll say it many times again.  The point of grace, for anyone of us, is simply the desire to do it God’s way.  Knowing we will never do it perfectly.

Thanks be to God for tremendous patience!