THE SIN OF MURDER

Most of us are familiar with the words of the Lord Jesus in Matthew 5 where He was addressing the law. It may look like He was making corrections to the law but that is not so. The law is perfect and has nothing wrong with it. What Jesus was addressing was the people's understanding of the law. The people had misunderstood the Spirit of the law therefore they were not able to get the message God was communicating through Moses. I used to think Jesus was introducing new things, but I have found the things He said in Matthew 5 in the Psalms and other books of scriptures. Jesus was revealing the righteous standard of God which is contrary to ours. If we don’t understand His standards, we might think we are okay and not as bad as the people around us. One vital thing we must know if we want a fruitful Christian life is that righteousness is what God calls it, not what we call it. If you are reading the scriptures and you see how harshly God reacts to a thing, it means that thing is a great issue not that God has problems. We look to God and observe His ways to know what is right and what is wrong. It is risky to walk with God using societal morality. When we study the bible, it is to learn holiness and righteousness according to the mind of God.

THE SIN OF MURDER

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ ²² But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. ²³ “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. ²⁵ “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny (Matthew 5:21-26).

This is our anchor scripture for this teaching. Please note what I said earlier about God’s standards as we want to look at the issue of murder through the lens of the mind of God. First, understand that murder is the subject matter of this portion of scripture. Jesus did not deviate from this subject at any point. Everything Jesus is saying here is with respect to murder. The context is murder. Bear that in mind.

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ ²² But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.

When we think of murder, we often think of killing someone by shooting, stabbing and physical abuse. That’s correct but it is not limited to that. Anger is also murder. It is not like murder. It is murder. What we were formerly taught was that anger can lead to murder but that is not what Jesus is saying here. Murder doesn’t start from anger, anger is murder. Look at the verse again. Anger has the same judgment as killing someone. The anger here is not talking about being upset. We all can be upset. The bible says be angry but sin not. The anger becomes a sin of murder when the sun goes down on your anger. In other words, when grudge, resentment, hatred and bitterness set in. These are all sins of murder. Whoever has these things in his or her heart is a murderer. Murder is not about someone dying. Nobody has to die. It is about someone hating, resenting, begrudging and not forgiving. “Anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him” (1 John 3:15). I hope you get the point. Anyone who hates or has a grudge or has resentment towards anybody in this life regardless of race or tribe and irrespective of what has been done to you, is a murderer. The sin of murder is not about death, it is about the content of your heart. Do not harden your heart. Accept this truth so that God can cleanse you of this unrighteousness. With God all things are possible.

Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Remember that Jesus has not deviated from the subject of murder. The key word here is ‘says’. Apart from physically taking a life or being sinfully angry, the misuse of the tongue is also murder. We don’t think big of these things but it doesn’t matter what we think, it is about what God thinks. In the eyes of God, taking someone’s life is the same as cursing the person. Whoever thought that just saying raca will put one in trouble with the court or that calling someone a fool will put one in hell?! James told us that the tongue sets the course of nature on fire and afterward it is set on fire by hell. This is the righteousness of God Jesus revealed to us. The use of abusive language is murder. You can kill with your tongue. The recipient party doesn’t have to die (though it leads to death sometimes) it is murder all the same. It is not like murder, it is murder. A lot of married couples are murderers. They kill themselves every day. Parents kill their children. Children kill their siblings and school mates. Citizens kill their country. The land that God gave them to guard and keep. These things are spiritual. The people of the land curse their ruler. Do you know God commanded us not to curse our rulers? (Exodus 22:28). It doesn’t matter what situations appear to be like. There’s a reason David never spoke against Saul nor did he attempt to kill him despite all Saul did to him. Our God hates slander. It annoys Him.

Now, let’s look at two scriptures showing God’s indictment against the human race.

¹⁶ But to the wicked person, God says:” What right have you to recite my laws
    or take my covenant on your lips? ¹⁷ You hate my instruction and cast my words behind you. ¹⁸ When you see a thief, you join with him; you throw in your lot with adulterers. ¹⁹ You use your mouth for evil and harness your tongue to deceit.²⁰ You sit and testify against your brother and slander your own mother’s son. ²¹ When you did these things and I kept silent you thought I was exactly like you. But I now arraign you and set my accusations before you. ²² “Consider this, you who forget God, or I will tear you to pieces, with no one to rescue you –Psalms 50:19-20.

And again…..

¹⁰ As it is written: “There is no one righteous, not even one; ¹¹ there is no one who understands; there is no one who seeks God. ¹² All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.” ¹³ “Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit.” “The poison of vipers is on their lips.” ¹⁴ “Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness.” ¹⁵ “Their feet are swift to shed blood; ¹⁶ ruin and misery mark their ways, ¹⁷ and the way of peace they do not know.” ¹⁸     “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

It is very interesting how much emphasis God laid on the use of the tongue. The use of the tongue requires discipline. We should speak evil of no one. We should not slander anyone under any circumstances. We shouldn’t speak evil of those who have done us wrong. Bless them instead. Pray for them. Stop speaking evil of your leaders and your country. Our tongue must be used for blessing and not cursing (James 3). Don’t expect to have command over the affairs of life if the tongue you are using to pray and declare things just finished cursing people, job and country. Don’t be a murderer. Be warned!

²³ “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. ²⁵ “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Wow. Jesus still hasn’t deviated from the subject of murder that’s why He used the word “Therefore” meaning ‘because of what I’ve said earlier’. The spirit behind what Jesus is saying here is the spirit of reconciliation. If there is any rift you have with anybody, any unsettled quarrel before you come to God, reconcile with them and settle all quarrels quickly. Let’s get practical so that we stop practicing worthless religion. God does not accept any offering or tithe you give if you have not reconciled with your neighbor. Read the scripture again. The words ‘first’ and ‘quickly’ connote priority. In the mind of God, reconciliation comes first before giving. These days we have put giving ahead of reconciliation. We tell people, give your tithe, sow seed, honor the man of God but these people are not on good terms with their parents, in-laws, children, spouses, co-workers and even the brethren in church. We need to know that God does not accept any gift given by someone who has unsettled disputes with any man on earth whether that be a Christian or not. That you put money in the offering basket doesn’t mean God has accepted it. That your pastor has accepted your offering doesn’t mean God has accepted it. God has rules and we must strive according to the rules. As much as it depends on you, follow peace with all men. Husbands and wives, don’t bother giving offering if you have issues with your spouse. God won’t even answer your prayers. God can’t bless contention.