Matthew 5:21-26, CEB – “You have heard that it was said to those who lived long ago, don’t commit murder, and all who commit murder will be in danger of judgment. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with their brother or sister will be in danger of judgment. If they say to their brother or sister, ‘You idiot,’ they will be in danger of being condemned by the governing council. And if they say, ‘You fool,’ they will be in danger of fiery hell. Therefore, if you bring your gift to the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift at the altar and go. First make things right with your brother or sister and then come back and offer your gift. Be sure to make friends quickly with your opponents while you are with them on the way to court. Otherwise, they will haul you before the judge, the judge will turn you over to the officer of the court, and you will be thrown into prison. I say to you in all seriousness that you won’t get out of there until you’ve paid the very last penny.
Earlier, I suggested that Jesus was about to take on the Pharisees on several matters of the law of Moses. In this very next passage, the onslaught begins with a prohibition in the law that almost no one would argue with – “don’t commit murder.” There is a lot that could said about what constituted “murder” in the law, because many killings in the Old Testament seemed to be justified by the scriptures themselves. But herein lies Jesus’s issue with the Pharisees. The Pharisees would spend hundreds of pages of commentary and thousands of hours verbally debating what constituted “murder” instead of what is more important to God – holding up the sanctity and honor of human life. Disrespecting and acting hatefully towards another of God’s creatures “takes” life from them. Allowing offenses to fester in unforgiveness and resentment instead of working to make peace with your brother or sister takes life from you and your brother or sister. Of course, killing is wrong. But Jesus wants us to realize that we slowly kill each other in other ways instead of just physical violence.
The opposite is true as well. When we forgive and make amends, we give/add life instead of take it. When we use our words to build up instead of tear down, we’re giving life to ourselves and others. When we find productive ways to channel our anger, we add to life instead of subtracting from it. It’s not so much that the Pharisees had it wrong on murder; it’s that they missed the point. The point is not to figure out when it’s technically justified to end someone’s life. The point is that every life is a life given by God and is precious to God. When we participate in damaging that life in any way, we are attacking something that God loves. That is very serious business, Jesus says.
Is it ever appropriate to end a life? This is a worthwhile question, but only after you have acknowledged how infinitely valuable that life is and that you can diminish that life in other ways without technically ending it. Jesus is warning us that this is a dangerous and slippery slope to find ourselves on. Always looking for a way to honor and take care of life is the way of God and it should be our way as well.
Questions: Are there ways in which you have “taken life” from others by your actions? Are there unresolved resentments towards others that are “taking life” from you?
Prayer: Lord, you are the Author and Origin of all life. Help us to see that so clearly that we see and value others and ourselves the way that you do. Forgive us for all the ways we take away from life rather than adding to it. Amen.
Prayer Focus: Pray for God to bless someone that you need to forgive. The more you do this, the easier it will become to forgive them.
Video: Instead of a song today, I thought I’d include a news story about someone I met personally a while back that added to my family’s lives. We were moving our son into college and stopped at the gate to inquire about a parking pass. This man’s kindness and joy towards us really touched us deeply and I know he does this habitually. He models a love for all life that Jesus is talking about above. His name is Robert Green and here’s a story done about him a couple of years ago:
Weekday Word w/ Eric 
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