Watch Who You Are Calling a Fool - #5

"Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire." Matthew 5: 21-22.

Wow! Jesus here is helping us understand that when we look at the law, we tend to make it a checklist of literal activities. He wants us to understand that what is judged is not the activity - but heart attitude we hold. Murder we would all accept as a horrible sin to be committed. Christ was not negating or reducing the reality of the sin - He is instead helping us to see the magnitude of our "little sins."

Here He classifies anger (orgizo in the Greek), empty(headed) (raca in the Greek) and fool (moros in the Greek) as also being sin in the eyes of God. Nor greater nor lesser than murder. Each shows a contempt for the person being the subject of the feelings. Anger intensified leads to murder. Empty(headed) was a statement of contempt for a person. Fool (or stupid) was a greater statement of contempt for a person.

When we begin to judge other people, God warns us that this judgment will come back on us. By the same standards and descriptions, we will find others judging us - and the final Judge will see all of these feelings, attitudes and contempt will be weighed as sin. Anyone who has ever been angry or thought or called another contemptuous names cannot stand any less guiltless before the Great Judge than the murderer. The only way anyone can stand guiltless before God is by having accepted the vicarious sacrifice of Jesus Christ in our place. When we accept Him (repent and believe) we become children of God, and can stand before the Father guiltless and free.

Today, if you have accepted Christ -Thank Him for the grand release that you have. If you haven't - there is no better time than right now to call upon Him and receive the freedom from the burden of sin in your life.