1. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n 21“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 22But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.

2. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n 23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.

3. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n 26Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

4. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n a) What beatitudes are missing for a person who commits the sins of vs. 22?

5. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n a) What beatitudes are missing for a person who commits the sins of vs. 22? n 22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire

6. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n Poor in Spirit n Mourn n Meek n Hunger and Thirst n Merciful n Pure in heart n Peacemakers n Persecuted

7. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n Do we sometimes apply the commandment regarding “You fool!” in a Pharisaic fashion?

8. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n Do we sometimes apply the commandment regarding “You fool!” in a Pharisaic fashion? n What is the difference between calling one a fool and calling one an idiot?

9. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n Raca—This is a Syriac word, expressive of great contempt. It comes from a verb signifying to be empty, vain; and hence, as a word of contempt, denotes senseless, stupid, shallow-brains. Jesus teaches here that to use such words is a violation of the spirit of the sixth commandment, and if indulged, may lead to a more open and dreadful infraction of that law.

10. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 Children should learn that to use such words is highly offensive to God, for we must give an account for every idle word which we speak in the day of judgment, Matt. 12:36. Children should learn that to use such words is highly offensive to God, for we must give an account for every idle word which we speak in the day of judgment, Matt. 12:36.

11. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n Matthew 12:36 (NKJV) 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.

12. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n Do we sometimes apply the commandment regarding “You fool!” in a Pharisaic fashion? n What is the difference between calling one a fool and calling one an idiot? n “Mommy why do all the idiots come out when daddy drives?

13. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n What beatitude(s) would motivate a person to be reconciled with his brother before bringing a gift to the altar?

14. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n Poor in Spirit n Mourn n Meek n Hunger and Thirst n Merciful n Pure in heart n Peacemakers n Persecuted

15. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n Therefore, if thou bring thy gift to the altar …—The Pharisees were intent only on the external act in worship. They looked not at all to the internal state of the mind. If a man conformed to the external rites of religion, however much envy, and malice, and secret hatred he might have, they thought he was doing well. Our Savior taught a different doctrine. It was of more consequence to have the heart right than to perform the outward act.

16. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n If, therefore, says he, a man has gone so far as to bring his gift to the very altar, and should remember that anyone had anything against him, it was his duty there to leave his offering and go and be reconciled. While a difference of this nature existed, his offering could not be acceptable. He was not to wait until the offended brother should come to him; he was to go and seek him out, and be reconciled.

17. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n So now the worship of God will not be acceptable, however well performed externally, until we are at peace with those that we have injured. “To obey is better than sacrifice,” 1 Sam. 15:22. He that comes to worship his Maker filled with malice, and hatred, and envy, and at war with his brethren, is a hypocritical worshipper, and must meet with God’s displeasure. God is not deceived, and he will not be mocked.

18. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n Jesus’ statement in vs. 25, 26 has the appearance of simply being practical advice, but that does not fit the context well. If we assume that we have wronged our adversary and their case is just, then Jesus’ command is for us to act as the meek would in such circumstances.

19. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n 25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny.

20. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n Agree with thine adversary quickly—This is still an illustration of the sixth commandment. To be in hostility, to go to law, to be litigious, is a violation always, on one side or the other, of the law requiring us to love our neighbor, and our Saviour regards it as a violation of the sixth commandment.

21. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n While you are in the way with him, says he, that is, while you are going to the court, before the trial has taken place, it is your duty, if possible, to come to an agreement. It is wrong to carry the contention to a court of law. See 1 Cor. 6:6-7. The consequence of not being reconciled, he expresses in the language of courts. The adversary shall deliver to the judge, and he to the executioner, and he shall throw you into prison.

22. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n He did not mean to say that this would be literally the way with God, but that His dealings with those that harbored these feelings, and would not be reconciled with their brethren, were represented by the punishment inflicted by human tribunals. That is, he would hold all such as violators of the sixth commandment, and would punish them accordingly.

23. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n There is no propriety in the use sometimes made of this verse, in representing God as the “adversary” of the sinner, and urging him to be reconciled to God while in the way to judgment. Nor does the phrase “thou shalt by no means come out thence until thou hast paid the uttermost farthing” refer to the eternity of future punishment.

24. Murder and Proper Relations – Matthew 5:21-26 n It is language taken from courts of justice, to illustrate the truth that God will punish people according to justice for not being reconciled to him. The punishment in the future world will be eternal indeed Matt. 25:46, but this passage does not prove it.

25. Adultery – Matthew 5:27-30 n Matthew 5:27-30 – 27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to sin, pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

26. Adultery – Matthew 5:27-30 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell.

27. Adultery – Matthew 5:27-30 n Adultery – Matthew 5:27-30 n Could vs. 27 be a quote from the Old Testament. If so, where?

28. Adultery – Matthew 5:27-30 n n Our Saviour in these verses explains the seventh commandment. It is probable that the Pharisees had explained this commandment, as they had the sixth, as extending only to the external act; and that they regarded evil thoughts and a wanton imagination as of little consequence, or as not forbidden by the law. Our Saviour assures them that the commandment did not regard the external act merely, but the secrets of the heart, and the movements of the eye.

29. Adultery – Matthew 5:27-30 n n He declares that they who indulge a wanton desire, that they who look on a woman to increase their lust, have already, in the sight of God, violated the commandment, and committed adultery in the heart.

30. Adultery – Matthew 5:27-30 n Adultery – Matthew 5:27-30 n Could vs. 27 be a quote from the Old Testament. If so, where? n If the Pharisees misused vs. 27, what might they have taught in their false righteousness?

31. Adultery – Matthew 5:27-30 n Adultery – Matthew 5:27-30 n Could vs. 27 be a quote from the Old Testament. If so, where? n If the Pharisees misused vs. 27, what might they have taught in their false righteousness? n What commandment in the Old Testament would also have it clear that lust is a sin?

32. Adultery – Matthew 5:27-30 n What beatitudes would prohibit it?

33. Adultery – Matthew 5:27-30 n What beatitudes would prohibit it? n How important is obedience according to vs. 29- 30?

34. Divorce – Matthew 5:31-32 Matthew 5:31-32 (NKJV) – 31 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. Matthew 5:31-32 (NKJV) – 31 “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.

35. Divorce – Matthew 5:31-32 n a) Does vs. 31 seem to refer to a technical behavior required by the Pharisees? Is the answer of Jesus much broader than technical applications of law? Read Matthew 19:3-9. Why was divorce allowed for more than one reason?

36. Divorce – Matthew 5:31-32 n b) What beatitudes in particular would be applicable to questions regarding divorce (regardless of the specific law God gives concerning it)?