Daily Devotional Sunday 26th May 2024
by William Moody
Matthew 5:21–26
Anger
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother1 will be liable to judgment; whoever insults2 his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell3 of fire. 23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 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. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.4
Footnotes
[1] 5:22
Some manuscripts insert without cause
[2] 5:22Greek says Raca to (a term of abuse)
[3] 5:22Greek Gehenna; also verses 29, 30
[4] 5:26Greek kodrantes, Roman copper coin (Latin quadrans) worth about 1/64 of a denarius (which was a day’s wage for a laborer) (ESV)
“You shall not murder.” Exodus 20 v13.
The sixth commandment about not murdering may initially appear very easy to keep. But when we understand that Jesus taught that hating someone was committing murder in our hearts (Matthew 5 v21-22), then keeping this commandment is a greater challenge.
We need to be very careful when bitterness lurks in our hearts and in our words. We need to bring such wrong thoughts to God seeking grace to repent. Is your thought-life characterised by love or hatred towards others? Are your words characterised by love or hatred? Are you guilty of breaking this commandment in your heart?
This commandment has also major implications for abortion and euthanasia. The mass murder of children in mothers’ wombs across this world is so wrong and a terrible scandal. Those guilty of this will be judged by God about this.
We must understand that all life is precious in God’s eyes and He alone has the right to take life away.
We need to pray and speak out for the defenceless young and old.
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