Listen to the short passage of Scripture below and then watch some related resources. As you meditate on this passage, think about this question: Why does Jesus connect anger and insults with murder
Matthew 5:21-26
Murder and Contempt
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The Old Testament laws about murder, adultery, and divorce reveal God’s wisdom and the heart of human behavior. Jesus teaches that righteousness means seeing all people as images of God and treating them with dignity.
Jesus teaches that insults and murder both come from a place of contempt that devalues others. God commands humans not to murder because every person is an image of God who is to be loved.
Chapter from Sermon on the Mount E10
Matthew 5:22’s Crimes and Punishments Mismatch
Jesus highlights three actions with corresponding consequences: rage, insults, and rude comments. While the severity of the crimes decrease, the consequences increase! This mismatch shows that God takes all forms of contempt seriously.
Within the Old Testament command to not murder, Jesus reveals God’s wisdom about how we view and treat others. He connects anger and insults with murder because they all come from a heart posture of contempt, which is harmful at any level. True righteousness means treating every human as an image of God who is to be loved and respected.