More Than We Want to Admit – Matthew 5:21-26

Sheryl Crow sings a rather haunting song called “Murder in My Heart” and one of the stanzas says, “Went out late last night, Just to get a little air, And I walked beneath the streetlights, And I saw nobody there, Just a bitterness that followed me, A saddening surprise. There’s murder in my heart, And I made me that way. There’s murder in my heart. I can’t make it go away.”

No doubt the teachings of Jesus have filtered into our songwriting. Jesus has said our righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees, a shocking statement because no one seemed more righteous than they were, but as he expounds the law a desperate realization settles in. Righteousness is so much more than we want to admit.

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 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. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny. (Matthew 5:21–26, ESV)

Jesus now begins to do something amazing. He begins to give the quintessential exposition of the ten commandments and the moral law.   He speaks to the commandment about murder, adultery, and using the Lord’s name in vain, then moves to the issue of loving one’s neighbor, a major commandment in the Law.

We should have deduced from the tenth commandment, do not covet, that it was not just external obedience that God was commanding but internal obedience, as well. It is not enough, for example, as Jesus tells us, to be innocent of committing murder just because I don’t kill the person I hate. If I have murderous thoughts against him I am breaking God’s command. The Pharisees’ righteousness too often stopped at the external compliance.

So Jesus teaches that it is not just actual murder that will be judged but murderous intentions. If I murder your reputation, I am violating the command not to murder. If I insult you, I am guilty. Even if I am in the midst of worshiping God but I have failed to be reconciled with the one who has something against me, I am not honoring the intent of this commandment. To be compliant with this command means I need to be seeking unity and peace in all my relationships. I need to be seeking to promote life and harmony in relationships instead of taking it.

This is not unlike Paul’s application of the command not to steal. In Ephesians 4:28 he says, Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. The thief doesn’t stop being a thief until he not only stops stealing but starts providing for the needs of others from his own hard labors. In the same way, Jesus is teaching us that I don’t cease being a murderer until I start promoting the life of others. I don’t slander them, I build them up. I don’t continue angry altercations, I reconcile.

And, Jesus warns, if I don’t obey the law in this way I am in danger of judgment and my righteousness is not exceeding that of the scribes and the Pharisees, and I will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Murderers don’t get in. Of course, if I am truly a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, I will be growing in my obedience to this command and all the others. I will evidence my relationship with Jesus by my life-promoting endeavors.