5:22
Jesus then builds upon the teaching of the Pharisees saying that if we are angry with our brother or sister (the Greek word means a fellow disciple) will be subject to judgement. Some manuscripts add “without cause”. This is probably an addition to what Jesus said. However, it would be a mistake to read it as saying we are always wrong to be angry, that is not Biblical. So the “without cause” is a helpful addition and not changing the meaning. “Raca” was a term of abuse. Just in case we haven’t got the seriousness of the matter, Jesus finally adds that if we say “You fool” we are in danger of the fires of hell. Note that Jesus was quite happy to talk about hell, and to do so in graphic terms.
5:23,24
Jesus has just warned us against having hateful attitudes in our hearts against a brother or sister. However, He recognises that there will be times when we do have something against a brother, and sometimes there will be justification for this. So the question us what do we do when these circumstances arise? In fact, what are we to do when someone has something against us! Which is what Jesus is talking about here. In those circumstances our human reaction is to be defensive, and we do so by lashing out at our brother (whether verbally, or inwardly). Instead, we are to go and get things sorted out, to go be reconciled. Then we can offer our gifts to God with a good conscience.
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