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…__Murder__ was man’s very first crime. (Gen 4:8) Since that day,
murder has been a constant part of human life.
…Did you know that over __25,000__
murders are committed in our country each year? What a horrible statistic!
This works out to __70__ murders every single day. If you add to this
the abortions done, the figure is staggering.
…Jesus has just made two things clear: First, His teaching stood firmly in
agreement with __everything__ in the OT. Second, The Jewish
traditions that the people had been taught by the Rabbis did __not__
reflect the OT.
…The Lord
presented
__six__
corrective illustrations revealing what God really meant. The first one
relates to murder.
TWO PRINCIPLES EXPOSING THE TRUTH THAT ALL ARE GUILTY OF MURDER.
...for all of us
have violated the sixth commandment. (Exodus 20:13)
I.
Jesus Tells That It Is Possible For Us To Be Murderers
__Without__
Taking A Life.
(vv21-22)
“But I tell
you, that anyone who is angry with his brother…”
A. Jesus
began by presenting the
__usual__ way in which the Rabbis taught this Commandment of Moses.
(v.21)
1.
The
contrast that Jesus is making is not between Himself and the Old Testament.
It was between Himself and the
__traditions__ taught by the religious leaders.
2.
These
traditions had greatly narrowed and
__reduced__ the commandment not to murder.
…Such a one who did was merely
subject to the __civil__ court.
…Also, the commandment was reduced to just the __physical__ act of
murder.
3.
There
was no mention of God and His judgment for destroying an image-bearer of God
B. Jesus,
with full authority, tells the
__true__ meaning of Law by giving several __ways__ that murder
can be committed. All of these are nonphysical. “without knives”
…for it is __possible__ and probable for a model law-abiding citizen to
be as guilty of murder as anyone on death-row.
1.
If
you harbor
__anger__ in your heart against a brother, Jesus tells that you are
guilty of murder. This is not “righteous anger.” All anger is incipient
murder.
2.
If you say contemptible things, reflecting anger, like “Raca”…which means
“empty” or “brainless,” you have murdered. This appears to mean the speaking
of
__slander__ about a brother. Jesus tells us that this is murder.
3.
If you speak words that condemn a person’s character, “he is a
__fool__” (moron), then you have committed murder.
…All who have done so, are deserving of the __fire__ of hell.
…In this, Jesus revealed God’s real intent in the command not to murder, and
by this He exposed all of us as __guilty__ of murder, for we have
done these things.
II. Jesus
Unfolds The Positive Side Of The Sixth Commandment Commanding Us To Maintain
Right Relationships With Others. (vv23-26)
…For carelessness in this is the __same__ as murder. He gives two
stories:
A. The
story of the man at the altar in the Temple, tells us of that we need to
reconcile any
__broken__ relationship. (vv23-24)
1.
“True worship is not enhanced by better music, prayer, architecture, or
preaching, but by
__better__ relationships between those who come to worship.” In
God’s sight, there is no value whatsoever in an act of worship if we harbor a
known __sin__. Deal with it!
2.
Even make God
__wait__, go and make it right, then come and give your gift in
worship.
…Remember, “to obey is better than sacrifice.” (1 Samuel 15:22)
B. The
story of the two men headed to court tells us of the urgency to settle up now,
before it is too late. (vv25-26)
1.
Now is the
__time__ to reconcile, do not delay. Do as much as you possibly can in
this…
2.
If we refuse to do this, God will
__deal__ with us.
…This law, forbid the outward act of murder and every thought and __word__
that sought to destroy a man’s life!!!
LESSONS FOR OUR LIVES:
1. Do not have a false sense of confidence that you have not murdered,
for murder is a matter of the heart, not so much the hand.
2.
You could kill, short of murder with your heart and your tongue. Beware.
Repent.
3.
If you are presently in a state against another, there is no value in your
acts of worship. Go make it right.
4.
Humble yourself, go and make the broken relationship right. Do it with
haste.
5.
Come today and make Christ your Savior.
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