Sins of Speech: Matthew 5:21-25

[Bootstrap]

I think it might be helpful to look at some passages on how Christians should speak, one at a time, in separate threads. Some requests for this thread:

1. No more than 2 posts per person per day. Let's leave room for more than one person to speak. I will also limit my participation to no more than 2 posts per day.
2. Focus on what the text teaches us.
3. To start with, focus on just this text. I may open it up to other texts later, but let's spend some time looking at this one first.

Here's the text - what do we learn from it?

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 sister will 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.

[Silentreader]

I think it might be helpful to look at some passages on how Christians should speak, one at a time, in separate threads. Some requests for this thread:

1. No more than 2 posts per person per day. Let's leave room for more than one person to speak. I will also limit my participation to no more than 2 posts per day.
2. Focus on what the text teaches us.
3. To start with, focus on just this text. I may open it up to other texts later, but let's spend some time looking at this one first.

Here's the text - what do we learn from it?

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 sister will 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 the J.B. Phillips NT the last sentence in v.22 reads:

and anyone who looks on his brother as a lost soul is himself heading straight for the fire of destruction.

[Silentreader]

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.

If I want to come before God in supplication and worship, and am aware that I have caused offence to a brother, and have the means to make it right, I must make it right before attempting to come into God's presence.