Matthew 5:21-26

The fulfilled Law in Relation to the Teaching of the Scribes.

Matthew 5:21. Murder and Malice. Ye (have) heard: i.e. in the synagogues. The addition to the sixth commandment represents the tradition of the elders; the judgement means legal proceedings. Jesus shows that the commandment involves more than the act of murder; it embraces also feelings and words. Anger, let alone murder, is a crime, and involves judgment at God's hands. Without cause is rightly omitted: it weakens the sharp antithesis of Jesus-' words. In the Raca sentence Jesus returns to current Jewish teaching. As to Matthew 5:21 He opposed His own teaching (Matthew 5:22 a), so to this (Matthew 5:22 b) He opposes Matthew 5:22 c. Your teachers say that abusive language such as R aca is punishable by the local court (there was a sanhedrin or council of thirteen persons in every place with a population of over 120), but I say that abusive language such as Baca (the equivalent of - thou fool-') is punishable by the fire of Gehenna (Mark 9:43 *).

Matthew 5:23 further illustrates the foregoing principle. A sacrifice is not acceptable to God so long as the offerer is not reconciled to anyone whom he has wronged Matthew 5:23 f.). The literal and metaphorical in Matthew 5:25 f. are inextricably combined. On the face of them the words mean: If you are in debt to anyone, come to a settlement with him while you can, before he takes the matter into court, which will mean imprisonment. But something further is implied in 26: The Day of judgment is at hand when the creditor will be able to claim Divine justice. adversary: the injured party.