Birth Of A Just Nation | STOP HATIN' | Matthew 5:21-26

The Holy Spirit searches each of us, not to accuse without cause, but because there is real guilt in our hearts—more than we often realize. The standard of God’s justice is not excessive; it simply matches the gravity of our offense, which is treason against the Almighty Himself. As we turn to Matthew 5:21-26, Jesus redefines the commandment “Do not murder,” showing that the law is not just about the act of killing, but about the heart posture behind it. Anger, insults, and contempt toward others are all forms of spiritual violence that God judges as seriously as physical murder, because every person bears the image of God. To hate, to insult, or to write someone off as irredeemable is to desecrate the image of God in them.

Jesus exposes how easy it is to excuse ourselves by comparing our sins to others or by hiding behind religious activity. Yet, He calls us to radical honesty: to recognize our anger, to refuse to harbor contempt, and to seek reconciliation quickly. The antidote to anger is not denial, but truth-telling and swift action—dealing with our grievances before the sun goes down, lest we give the devil a foothold in our lives. When we refuse to reconcile, we become accomplices to the accuser, Satan, whose aim is always division and destruction.

God values restored relationships over religious rituals. If we remember that someone has something against us, we are to leave our offering and go make things right. This is not just a suggestion, but a command that reflects the heart of God, who Himself crossed the greatest chasm to reconcile us to Himself. Jesus not only settled with our accuser by taking our judgment upon Himself, but He also empowers us by His Spirit to be agents of peace and reconciliation. He is our advocate, our perfect attorney, who pleads His own blood on our behalf. Yet, there is urgency: the offer of His advocacy is for today, for there will come a day when He returns as Judge.

In the end, the call is clear: stop hating. Whether in our hearts, our words, or our actions, we are to pursue peace, reconciliation, and unity, trusting in the finished work of Christ and the ongoing work of the Spirit. Even when reconciliation seems impossible, we lean on Jesus—because that’s what He is for.

Key Takeaways

• 1. The Depth of God’s Law: Jesus does not merely prohibit the act of murder, but exposes the root of murder in the heart—anger, contempt, and the refusal to see others as image-bearers of God. This deeper standard reveals that we are all guilty and in need of grace, not just for our actions but for our attitudes and thoughts. [16:36]
• 2. The Danger of Unresolved Anger: Harboring ongoing anger is not a minor issue; it is spiritual complicity with the enemy. When we let anger linger, we create space for the devil to work in our lives, becoming accomplices to his work of division and destruction. The call is to deal with anger quickly, refusing to let it take root. [36:54]
• 3. The Subtlety of Contempt: Insulting others or dismissing their perspectives as worthless (“raqa”) is a form of violence against their dignity as image-bearers. This can happen in marriages, churches, and even in theological debates, when we refuse to listen or straw-man others’ positions. True love seeks to understand and dignify, even in disagreement. [44:16]
• 4. The Urgency of Reconciliation: God prioritizes restored relationships over religious performance. If we know someone has something against us, we are to seek reconciliation before continuing in worship. This is a practical, non-negotiable command that reflects the heart of the gospel: God’s relentless pursuit of peace with us. [51:17]
• 5. Christ, Our Advocate and Peacemaker: Jesus not only paid our debt and settled with our accuser, but He also empowers us to be peacemakers. He is our perfect attorney, pleading His blood on our behalf, but the offer of His advocacy is for today. There will come a day when He returns as Judge, so we must receive His grace now and extend it to others, even when reconciliation seems out of reach. [64:47]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [00:36] - The Holy Spirit’s Search and Our Guilt
• [01:11] - Setting the Stage: Matthew 5 and Personal Application
• [03:00] - Reading the Text: The Commandment and Its Consequence
• [05:13] - Worship and the Work of Christ
• [07:10] - Reflections on Justice and the American Legal System
• [11:04] - Jesus Redefines the Law
• [13:35] - The Commandment: Do Not Murder
• [17:15] - The Image of God and the Weight of Murder
• [21:03] - The Power of Images and the Pain of Disrespect
• [24:18] - The Church’s History with Violence
• [29:32] - Jesus’ Amendments: Anger, Insult, and Contempt
• [34:02] - The Antidote to Anger: Truth and Quick Reconciliation
• [39:38] - The Violence of Insult and the Sin of Contempt
• [46:08] - The Heaviest Judgment: Calling Others Irredeemable
• [50:38] - Application: Reconciliation Over Religion
• [53:48] - Settling with Accusers and the Call to Unity
• [57:35] - Our Only Hope: Christ, Our Advocate
• [64:47] - Jesus, Our Perfect Attorney
• [66:12] - The Urgency of Receiving Christ’s Advocacy
• [68:17] - Prayer and Repentance

Bible Reading

Matthew 5:21-26 (ESV) — “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.”

Ephesians 4:25-27 (ESV) — “Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.”

Observation Questions

1. According to Jesus in Matthew 5:21-22, what actions and attitudes are judged as seriously as murder?
2. What does Jesus say we should do if we remember someone has something against us while we are offering our gift at the altar? (Matthew 5:23-24)
3. In Ephesians 4:26-27, what warning does Paul give about anger and its consequences?
4. The sermon describes three “amendments” or deeper applications of the commandment “do not murder.” What are they? ([29:32])

Interpretation Questions

1. Why does Jesus equate anger, insults, and contempt with the act of murder? What does this reveal about God’s concern for our hearts, not just our actions? ([16:36])
2. The sermon says that harboring ongoing anger is like “making a hotel room for Satan.” What does this mean, and why is unresolved anger so spiritually dangerous? ([36:54])
3. Why does Jesus prioritize reconciliation with others over religious rituals or offerings? What does this say about God’s values? ([51:17])
4. The sermon describes Jesus as our “advocate” or “attorney.” What does it mean for Jesus to plead his own blood on our behalf, and why is there urgency in receiving his advocacy? ([01:04:47])

Application Questions

1. The sermon challenges us to stop excusing our anger by comparing ourselves to others or hiding behind religious activity. Is there someone you are angry with or hold contempt for? What would it look like to be radically honest about that anger this week? ([30:08])
2. Ephesians 4:26 says, “Do not let the sun go down on your anger.” Can you think of a recent situation where you let anger linger? What practical steps could you take to address anger quickly in the future? ([35:29])
3. The sermon talks about “raqa”—insulting or dismissing someone as empty-headed or worthless. Are there people in your life (family, church, work) whose perspectives you tend to write off or straw-man? How can you show them dignity as image-bearers of God this week? ([44:16])
4. Jesus commands us to seek reconciliation before continuing in worship. Is there a relationship in your life that needs to be restored? What is one concrete step you can take toward reconciliation, even if it feels difficult or undeserved? ([51:17])
5. The sermon says that refusing to reconcile makes us “accomplices to the accuser, Satan.” How does this perspective change the way you view unresolved conflict or division in your life? ([36:54])
6. Jesus is described as our perfect advocate, but the offer of his advocacy is for today. Is there an area where you need to receive his grace or extend it to someone else? What is holding you back from doing so? ([01:04:47])
7. Sometimes reconciliation seems impossible. The sermon says, “That’s what Jesus is for.” How can you lean on Jesus and trust the Spirit’s help when peace feels out of reach? ([01:07:33])