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Daily Devotion: Matthew 5:21-24

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Matthew 5:21-24     "Ye have heard that it was said by 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. Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift." 

Remember that the words we are reading were spoken by Jesus to His disciples. As His followers, we are held to a higher standard than simply what is acceptable from a legal standpoint. Jesus had just declared that our righteousness must exceed that of the lawyers and the self-righteous (Matthew 5:20). We are to work to keep our hearts and minds from going astray.

Most of us can say that we have never committed murder. Jesus reminded us that the law declared that to do so would bring us in danger (make us liable) to stand before the court. We could easily be persuaded to think of ourselves as good because we are free of this guilt. That is the righteousness of the Pharisee, and Jesus said we had to exceed that.

Have you ever been angry with your fellow man for no good reason? Jesus said if we have, then we are in danger of the same judgement as one who had broken the commandment “Thou shalt not kill.” To look at another and think they are worthless (not just their actions, but the person themselves) brings us in danger of the council (to stand before a tribunal). To judge another’s worthiness of a relationship with God is to expose our own unworthiness of Him.

We cannot truly serve the Lord when we know we have wronged a brother in word or deed. It might not have happened in a public way to bring us into danger of man’s judgement, but it is not hidden from God. We cannot present ourselves a living sacrifice when we harbor in our hearts the notion that we are, by our nature, better than other men. Dear ones, let us be at peace with our brothers that we might make an acceptable offering to the Lord, which is our reasonable service. 

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