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Matthew 5:21-26
As Jesus continues this sermon to His disciples, He brings into light the “New” way in which He is bringing into the earthly world for all who believe in Him. He uses an example of the commandment to not murder (Exodus 20:13; Deuteronomy 5:17) and goes a step further; He says in Matthew 5:22 (NKJV), “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.” The idea that Jesus is bringing in this passage is to not be angry with one another. Jesus teaches us in John 13:34 (NIV), “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” And the Apostle Paul teaches us in Ephesians 4:15-16 (ESV), “Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
This is a command to love one another from the heart.
Jesus came to establish a “New” way in which one would discontinue striving to “make the appearance of being righteous,” which is only superficial, and through our salvation in Him through His ministry and then work for salvation on the cross, have a change of heart into purity that changes one’s intent. This is a change that is seen in the life of the believer and is only possible through the indwelling of God’s Holy Spirit in which He gives freely to those who put their faith in Him. Jesus came to change our hearts desires from the ways of man to the ways of God, if we will put and keep our faith in Him.
Dear LORD,
We are prone to point fingers and accuse one another of the visible faults that we all have. But this is not the way of life that Jesus teaches us to strive for but that we would put on a new life through our salvation in Him and strive to love one another as You first showed Your love for us in giving us the gift of salvation through sending Your one and only Son to die in our place so that we may live through Him. Please help us to see the need to follow in the teachings of Jesus so that we may draw near to You and live – in Christ! In Jesus name I pray, amen.