The Gospel Of Matthew Chapter 5 Part 12 Jesus Shows True Intent of 6th Commandment

We will encounter the scribes and Pharisees more frequently.

I recommend that you re-read the posts from May 21 & 22, 2025 because it discusses the origin and beliefs of the scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees. 

Essentially, Pharisees were religious hypocrites who had a prideful spirit of disdain for those who were not like them.

They added works and rule keeping as a means of obtaining favor of God and salvation.

They placed traditions of men higher than the authority of the inspired scriptures. 

Spiritual leaders must beware diminishing God's commands. 

Matthew 5:21-22  Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22)  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 

Christ laid down clear principles that Moses and the prophets were to be followed by the Jewish people. 

However, scribes and Pharisees were not fit to remain as their teachers because they twisted and reasoned around what God said in His Word.

Thus, the ones who were supposed to be good spiritual leaders led the Jews astray into a false religious system.

"Ye have heard"  begins a section where Jesus addressed some false views of scripture promoted by scribes and Pharisees. 

Jesus demonstrated in each example that the righteousness taught by scribes and Pharisees was defective. 

People needed a better righteousness, or they could not be saved. 

Our Lord illustrated what He meant by first showing the errors of scribes and Pharisees before giving a corrective.

Given this context, Jesus exposed wrong views about the law of God that were propagated by scribes and Pharisees. 

Then, Jesus gave the correct interpretation of the law of Moses.

God's commandments are more than a law in that they search our heart.

Exodus 20:13  Thou shalt not kill. 

This commandment is the sixth of ten that God gave to Moses. 

It is repeated in Deuteronomy 5:17 and expounded in more detail in other places like Deuteronomy 19:11-13.

The scribes and Pharisees reduced the command against murder to the level of a civil statute. 

They did not grasp that it was a command from God meant to expose hatred and anger that leads to murder. 

Paul tells us that the law of God is holy, just, good and spiritual in nature.

Romans 7:12-14  Wherefore the law is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good. 13)  Was then that which is good made death unto me? God forbid. But sin, that it might appear sin, working death in me by that which is good; that sin by the commandment might become exceeding sinful. 14)  For we know that the law is spiritual: but I am carnal, sold under sin. 

Paul was uniquely well qualified to speak about the law. 

He was a Pharisee and had the strictest, most conservative training that Judaism could offer.

Notice what the apostle conveys about the law of God.

It is holy, just and good. 

The law is designed to expose the evil and sin in our heart that we might repent and seek God's forgiveness.

The law is spiritual in nature, not merely a statute to punish evil doers.

The law exposes hatred and anger in our heart that will be judged.

Matthew 5:22  But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. 

Jesus expounded the spiritual nature of the law by teaching that those who are angry with their brother without a righteous reason, are as guilty as a murderer.

Those who are angry and hateful in spirit and say terrible things about their brother are "tongue murderers." 

They are as ripe for judgment as a man who actually committed murder. 

Scribes and Pharisees taught that as long as you did not commit the physical act murder, you were righteous under the law.

Yet, the law is holy, just, good and spiritual in nature because it addresses the issues of our corrupt heart and our need of deliverance from sin.

This is why we need a new heart and spirit from God, for our's is corrupt.

Mark 7:20-23  And he said, That which cometh out of the man, that defileth the man. 21)  For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, 22)  Thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: 23)  All these evil things come from within, and defile the man. 

Notice our Lord's words in Mark's gospel.

Jesus opens up to us the nature of the law of God. 

It is meant to expose the corruption in our heart so that we can confess the sin, forsake it and be cleansed by God.

Jesus showed that the physical act of murder begins in the heart with evil thoughts that lead to murderous thoughts preceding the act of murder.

Thus, God's command against murder is very broad because it is seeks to expose sin in our heart before we commit the act.

We all have moments of anger and wrong thoughts. 

It is sobering to grasp that thinking harmful thoughts against another person is on the same level as murdering them, in the sight of God. 

Jesus teaches us the true intent of the commandments is not merely that we obey and do not commit murder.

King Solomon warns us to guard our heart from sin with all our strength.

Proverbs 4:23  Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life. 

Its true intent is to expose what is in our heart.

King Solomon tells us to keep or guard our heart with all due diligence because out of it are the issues of life. 

What is in our heart comes out in our thoughts, words and actions and those who seek to glorify God must examine their hearts daily.

The scriptures are living truth that knows our thoughts and intents.

Hebrews 4:12  For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 

The Spirit of God moved the author of Hebrews to give us one of the most compelling reasons to study the scriptures.

The Word of God is quick, it has spiritual life, and it is God speaking to us.

The Word of God is sharper than any surgeon's scalpel so that it can do spiritual surgery in our heart.

The Word of God is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of our heart.

Thus, hearing Jesus teach about the sixth commandment helps us see the spiritual application of the law of God.

He wants to renew our minds by giving all who repent and trust Christ, a brand new heart and spirit.

Jesus wanted the multitude to understand that refraining from murder is not enough if they harbor murderous thoughts against his brother.

Jesus brings us to some of the application of this truth.

What is in our heart has a great impact on whether or not we worship God rightly. 

Matthew 5:23-26  Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24)  Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. 25)  Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. 26)  Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. 

Jesus tells us that when we are giving an offering or bringing a sacrifice to God's altar, we must have clean hearts.

When we remember that if we have some kind of issue or dispute with our brother, we are to stop our religious activity and immediately seek to reconcile.

Only then are we clean and ready to bring our sacrifice or offering to God.

The Pharisees were concerned with the external appearance in worship. 

They did not regard the internal state of their mind or heart. 

As long as they conformed to external religious rituals they thought they were right with God. 

As long they did not murder anyone they were safe, even if their heart brimmed with anger and hate toward their brother.

Scribes and Pharisees believed they were righteous even when their heart was filled with envy, malice, and hatred.  

Our Savior taught a different doctrine. 

It was of more consequence to have a right heart than mere external compliance with a heart full of anger.

He that comes to worship God having malice, and hatred, and envy in his heart, is a hypocritical worshipper.

God is not mocked and He will judge us if our heart is not right with Him. 

Galatians 6:7-8  Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8)  For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting. 

Such a one will meet with God’s displeasure. 

We must always remember that God is not deceived, and he will not be mocked.

Some believers thought that God would not see their sin.

They thought that God did not care how they lived or what they did since they were not under the law, but under grace.

Those who profess the name of Christ and have hateful, angry, envious hearts are those who mock God.

What we sow we will reap, so if we are fleshly minded then we can expect judgment from God. 

If we worship God in Spirit and in truth, then we know that this is acceptable with Him.

Let us examine our own hearts and seek to glorify God by asking Him to renew our minds.

Bob