Matthew 5:21-26

²¹ “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ ²² But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sisterwill be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

²³ “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.²⁵ “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

In our journey through life, we often encounter teachings and rules that guide our behavior. But what if these guidelines are merely scratching the surface of what true righteousness looks like? This question lies at the heart of one of the most profound teachings in the New Testament – the Sermon on the Mount.

As we delve into Matthew 5:21-26, we’re confronted with a revolutionary perspective on righteousness that goes far beyond mere outward compliance. Jesus challenges us to examine our hearts, pushing us to consider the root of our actions rather than just their outward manifestation.

The passage begins with a familiar commandment: “You shall not murder.” On the surface, this seems straightforward. Most of us can confidently say we’ve never committed murder. But Jesus doesn’t stop there. He pushes deeper, stating that even harboring anger against another person makes us subject to judgment.

This teaching isn’t about changing or deepening the original commandment. Instead, it’s about revealing the heart behind it. The command “do not murder” was never just about preventing physical violence. Its true purpose was to guide us towards love, towards valuing the image of God in every person we encounter.

Jesus is addressing a critical issue here – the danger of surface-level righteousness. He’s calling out those who pride themselves on following the letter of the law while ignoring its spirit. This mirrors His criticism of the Pharisees elsewhere in Matthew, where He compares them to “whitewashed tombs” – beautiful on the outside but dead within.

So what does this deeper righteousness look like in practice? Jesus provides a powerful example: reconciliation. He instructs His listeners that if they remember, even in the midst of worship, that someone has something against them, they should leave their offering and go reconcile first. This teaching emphasizes the importance of addressing conflicts and hurt feelings promptly, even prioritizing it over religious rituals.

This call to reconciliation isn’t just about smoothing over disagreements. It’s about actively pursuing peace and restoration in our relationships. It’s about taking responsibility for healing rifts, whether we caused them or not. As Romans 12:18 puts it,

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.”

But why should we take on this responsibility, especially if we feel we’re not at fault? The answer lies in the very heart of the gospel. Jesus Himself modeled this for us. When we were enemies of God, separated by our sin, Jesus took the initiative to reconcile us. He left the glory of heaven, lived a perfect life, died in our place, and rose again – all to bring us back into relationship with God.

This is the standard we’re called to emulate. If God approached conflict with us the way we often approach conflicts with others, reconciliation would be impossible. Instead, He made our reconciliation His responsibility, even though the fault was entirely ours.

Living out this teaching isn’t easy. It requires us to confront our anger, to examine our hearts, and to take difficult steps towards reconciliation. It might mean reaching out to someone we’ve been avoiding, admitting our faults, or forgiving someone who has hurt us deeply.

The apostle Paul echoes this teaching in his letters. In Ephesians 4:31-32, he writes,

³¹ Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. ³² Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Similarly, in Colossians 3:8,

⁸ But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

These passages underscore the seriousness with which we should approach anger and conflict. They’re not just normal parts of life to be accepted, but active hindrances to our spiritual growth and our witness to the world.

As we reflect on this teaching, it’s worth asking ourselves some challenging questions:

1. Is there currently any anger or tension between me and another person, especially another believer?
2. What am I doing about it? Have I truly done everything within my power to reconcile?
3. Am I willing to bring others into this situation for advice and accountability?
4. If I’ve done everything I can, am I continuing to pray for the situation and the person involved?

These questions aren’t meant to induce guilt, but to prompt honest self-examination and, where necessary, action. They’re an invitation to live out a deeper, more transformative righteousness that reflects the heart of God.

Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:21-26 challenges us to move beyond surface-level obedience to a righteousness that transforms our hearts. It calls us to actively pursue reconciliation, to take responsibility for our relationships, and to reflect God’s reconciling love to the world around us.

This is not an easy path. It requires vulnerability, humility, and often, significant effort. But it’s a path that leads to freedom, to deeper relationships, and to a more authentic expression of our faith. As we strive to live out this teaching, may we always remember the incredible reconciliation we’ve received in Christ, and may that motivate us to extend the same grace to others.

***Now, to be sure, there are situations where being at peace may be more of a distant peace, but make no mistake about it, the Scriptures still say to be at peace. So, while it may be tough, and there are nuances and specifics to every situation, I do think some of us are too quick to write off the problem, and the Spirit is inviting us to wrestle with this a bit more. Bring in community – see if there’s truly a means of reconciliation you have not pursued, see if you’ve done “as far it depends on you.”***