Matthew 5:22

Matthew 5:22 is a pivotal verse within Jesus's Sermon on the Mount, where He deepens the understanding of God's law beyond mere external compliance to the very intentions and attitudes of the heart. This verse challenges His listeners, and us, to consider the spiritual weight of anger and contempt.

Context

This verse follows directly from Matthew 5:21, where Jesus reiterates the commandment, "Thou shalt not kill." He then immediately expands upon it, revealing that God's standard for righteousness extends far beyond the act of murder itself. Jesus teaches that the roots of murder — unrighteous anger and contempt for one's brother — are also serious offenses in God's sight. He elevates the moral standard from outward actions to the inner disposition of the heart, showing that true righteousness begins within.

Key Themes

• The Radical Nature of Jesus' Teaching: Jesus reinterprets the Mosaic Law, moving beyond a literal interpretation to expose the spiritual intent behind the commandments. He emphasizes that sin originates in the heart, not just in outward actions.
• The Seriousness of Unrighteous Anger: The verse warns that unchecked anger towards a brother, even without physical violence, puts one "in danger of the judgment." This highlights that internal attitudes are significant to God.
• Escalating Degrees of Contempt and Judgment: Jesus illustrates a progression of contempt, from inward anger to verbal abuse, correlating with increasing levels of consequence. This progression underscores the severity of devaluing another person.
• Divine Justice: The mention of "judgment," "council," and "hell fire" signifies various forms of accountability, from earthly legal proceedings to ultimate divine reckoning.

Linguistic Insights

• "Without a cause": The phrase "without a cause" (Greek: eikē) is notably absent from some of the earliest and most reliable Greek manuscripts. Its inclusion in the KJV suggests an emphasis on unrighteous or unjustified anger, implying that there might be a righteous anger (e.g., anger against injustice or sin, as seen in Jesus's own anger in Mark 3:5). However, even righteous anger must be managed righteously, as noted in Ephesians 4:26.
• "Raca": This is an Aramaic term (from the Hebrew reqa) meaning "empty one," "worthless," or "empty-headed." It was a derogatory insult, signifying utter contempt for someone's intelligence or worth. Speaking "Raca" to a brother was to strip them of their dignity.
• "Thou fool": The Greek word here is moros, from which we get "moron." Unlike "Raca," which implied intellectual emptiness, moros in this context suggests moral emptiness or spiritual depravity. To call someone "fool" in this sense was to declare them morally worthless or godless, a profound condemnation that usurps God's role as judge.
• "Hell fire": This translates the Greek Gehenna tou pyros, literally "Gehenna of fire." Gehenna was originally the Valley of Hinnom, a ravine outside Jerusalem where pagan child sacrifices had once been performed (2 Kings 23:10). By Jesus's time, it had become a constantly burning refuse dump, symbolizing a place of utter destruction and eternal punishment. Jesus uses it as a metaphor for the ultimate divine judgment for those who utterly reject God and His ways, including the contempt of His image in others.

Practical Application

Matthew 5:22 calls believers to a profound level of self-examination and heart purity. It teaches us that:

• Guard Your Heart: Our inner attitudes and thoughts matter deeply to God. Unchecked anger, resentment, and contempt, even if unspoken, are serious spiritual issues.
• Watch Your Words: Our speech reflects our heart. Derogatory or demeaning words, even subtle ones, can carry the weight of sin and violate the dignity of others who are made in God's image.
• Seek Reconciliation: Because the internal state is so crucial, Jesus immediately follows this teaching with a call to reconciliation with an offended brother before offering worship (Matthew 5:23-24). This underscores the priority of right relationships.
• Embrace Forgiveness: Recognizing the seriousness of anger and contempt should motivate us to extend forgiveness to others and to seek it when we have wronged them, fostering a spirit of love and unity within the body of Christ.