"Consider the verse following our text today in Matthew 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘you shall not murder;’ and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’” The scribes in their routine might expound upon that to determine what classifies as murder-suicide, abortion, capital punishment, self protection. But Jesus doesn’t go there. Jesus looks at the condition of the person and determines that even anger and casting insult is problematic. So examine your heart and go be reconciled to God and one another. Jesus isn’t bypassing commenting on the issue of murder but rather is pointing to one of the roots causes of such an action, anger. Let us not just be satisfied with lists of laws but let us understand what they are rooted in. Let us not be satisfied with avoiding sin, but let us examine our hearts to find where such sin comes from.

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