Matthew 5:21, 22

[Full of Questions]

Matthew 5:21, 22
"You have heard that it was said long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgement.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgement. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,') is answerable to the Sanhedrin but anyone who says 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell."

I don't know what to make of this.  Is it actually dangerous just to say the words, or is it just if one means them?

I was reading a book out loud and one of the phrases in the book was very similar to "you fool."  I think it was, "you silly little fool."  I was just reading and wasn't calling anyone that word.  But I still started to be worried...thinking, what if I said something bad? 

What is this verse saying?

[shawn]

Matthew 5:21, 22
"You have heard that it was said long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgement.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgement. Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,') is answerable to the Sanhedrin but anyone who says 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell."

I don't know what to make of this.  Is it actually dangerous just to say the words, or is it just if one means them?

I was reading a book out loud and one of the phrases in the book was very similar to "you fool."  I think it was, "you silly little fool."  I was just reading and wasn't calling anyone that word.  But I still started to be worried...thinking, what if I said something bad? 

What is this verse saying?

I certainly wouldn't overanalyze.  That leads to worry and lacking peace in our spiritual walk.  That produces all sorts of unhealthy compensations...ie fixating on every action rather than Christ.  I believe this is saying to love your neighbor.  Don't speak poorly of them in anger. 

[lomarah]

Hi Full of Questions. I also believe this is about loving your neighbor. It's not about saying this or that, but the attitude that you have toward your fellow human beings. I'm sure we've all said or felt something like this at one point or another (or much more!) but Jesus is leading us into righteousness and as we yield to His leading we will become closer to our Father's perfection. Jesus will never leave us or forsake us so stop worrying and draw close to Him!  :cloud9:

[Aleax]

I've said many worse things. Honestly, I sometimes even have daydreams about burning certain people's houses down. Sad but true. However, a few days ago I received encouraging prophetic words concerning this. The prophetess said something like that in due time, God will enlighten me on how to deal with these difficult things I'm carrying inside of me. I just need to stay close to Him and trust Him instead of wasting my time on irrelevant things.

[Nathan]

I believe it's the same as when Jesus spoke to them about divorcing their wives and marrying another . . .about commiting adultery, it's about relationship and also about the fact that if you think you have the ability within you to follow the law you are sadly mistaken.  You think the law is saying not to murder, but the truth is, murder comes from inward seeds of something much more subtle. 

He said about the adultery, "you think that sleeping with another woman while you're married is committing adultery, I'm telling you that even "thinking" about another woman is committing adultery. 

And here he says "You think murdering someone is a terrible sin, i'm telling you that when you use harsh words against another brother, you're committing a sin.

The message was . . .these laws are not in place so that you can fulfill them.  They are in place to show you that you "can't" fulfill them.  That's why it is such an important deal when Jesus proclaimed that he came to FULFILL the law.  It was because only the Lamb that was slain before the whole world could be the Messiah of this world.  And when we get caught up in our own consciousness of trying to live sinless lives, we are actually blaspheming Christ in that we're trying to do what only he can do in us and has already done for us.

So no . . .it's not about calling another person a fool.

[thinktank]

With silly quotes like this I honestly think that God wants people to believe that he burns people in hell.

Or the translation is very wrong or Gods methods of speaking a underlying spiritual principle are pretty crude and he needs to work on his writing skills  :icon_jokercolor:

Or perhaps God spoke it like that because that is the manner of speech that the Jewish population enjoyed. Personally I despise it, but God has to reach all kinds of different people, and some are seemingly strange in their ways and so need to be spoken to in this manner.

In fact if you notice each book in the bible has a differnt tone to it, compare the psalms to the book of Mathew and see the difference. Where Psalms talks about grace and power, Mathew is mostly about threats and destruction and doing good etc, very differnt styles, to reach different kinds of people.
:2c:

[bushy]

This word hell here is gehenna of fire which was a valley near Jeruselam where garbage was burned and maybe lepers were sent, a horrible stinky place, but doesn't have a thing to do with our Father sending anyone to eternal hell, of which there is no such thing.  :thumbdown:

[shawn]

With silly quotes like this I honestly think that God wants people to believe that he burns people in hell.

Or the translation is very wrong or Gods methods of speaking a underlying spiritual principle are pretty crude and he needs to work on his writing skills  :icon_jokercolor:

Or perhaps God spoke it like that because that is the manner of speech that the Jewish population enjoyed. Personally I despise it, but God has to reach all kinds of different people, and some are seemingly strange in their ways and so need to be spoken to in this manner.

In fact if you notice each book in the bible has a differnt tone to it, compare the psalms to the book of Mathew and see the difference. Where Psalms talks about grace and power, Mathew is mostly about threats and destruction and doing good etc, very differnt styles, to reach different kinds of people.
:2c:

You can say what you want about WillieH's style but sometimes he hit some homeruns with his posts.  I was reading one from a couple years ago on this subject.  I think it's particularly relevant.

GOD has VEILED that which is yet to be REVEALED... He has not "let Himself be misunderstood"...  there IS a difference...

To propose that GOD has let Himself be misunderstood, is purposeful deception... as He acted PURPOSELY to make Himself MISUNDERSTOOD...

It is a far better SPIRITUAL understanding that until GOD REVEALS... men DECIEVE themselves...  Which is where VARIOUS RELIGIONS are born, along with nonsense such as EVOLUTION... and PARALLEL TIMELINES...

Endeavoring to make MEN's notions, ...that which dictates to the ALMIGHTY, as opposed to the ALMIGHTY being in COMPLETE CONTROL of His Creation dictating HOLINESS to SINFUL MEN.   And further purposes in this effort, to rob Him of the title ALMIGHTY (which by definition means having ALL MIGHT/POWER)... by noting that MAN is the essential "causation", effecting the reality of the TIMELINE in which he is found... please!

MEN delegating to GOD, rather than GOD delgating to MEN... cart before the horse, pushing from the front, ...whatever way you wish to envision futility and pride in its NATURAL HABITAT...

GOD has PURPOSED that REVELATION be withheld... and that is to let MAN, in his PRIDE, show himSELF... that he... IN THAT PRIDE... will conjure up IMAGINARY and FALSE EXPLANATIONS for that which he (as a veiled finite) has NO VALID EXPLANATION... IMAGINATION, ...in action...

Scripture plainly describes this: 

Prov 6:16-19

These Six does YHVH hate, yea, Seven an abomination unto Him: [1] A PROUD look [2] a LYING tongue [3] and hands that SHED innocent blood [4] an HEART that DEVISETH WICKED IMAGINATIONS [5] feet that be swift to MISCHIEF [6] a FALSE witness that SPEAKETH LIES [7] and he that soweth DISCORD among brethren...

[thinktank]

I find wille's writings challenging, especially as he writes quotes like this

To propose that GOD has let Himself be misunderstood, is purposeful deception... as He acted PURPOSELY to make Himself MISUNDERSTOOD...

But I think overall what he's trying to say is that God purposely set himself up to be misunderstood, so that man would draw natural based conclusions on who he is and what life is about. Almost a test of character to purposely show man the kind of thinking he employs, without God.

[WhiteWings]

God has the power/knowledge to change all things the way He wants them to be. But He didn't use that power to prevent misunderstandings.
Purposeful isn't a bad choice of words then...

[shawn]

I find wille's writings challenging, especially as he writes quotes like this

To propose that GOD has let Himself be misunderstood, is purposeful deception... as He acted PURPOSELY to make Himself MISUNDERSTOOD...

But I think overall what he's trying to say is that God purposely set himself up to be misunderstood, so that man would draw natural based conclusions on who he is and what life is about. Almost a test of character to purposely show man the kind of thinking he employs, without God.

I guess it depends on how you look at it.  God chose not to reveal all his plans at once.  He knew man would misinterpret and misunderstand.  It will all be used for his purposes.