What Is “Murder”?

The 6^th commandment (“You shall not murder,” Ex 20:13) seems pretty simple at first glance. Many assume that, if they have never taken a life, they have fulfilled this law.

Yes and no.

In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is speaking to believers about what his Christian counterculture must look like—about how believers must live as children of God. And so, when it comes to “murder,” Jesus gives us what I’ll call a “maximal interpretation” of the statute, to show us the spirit behind the letter of this law. He extends the definition of “murder” beyond the physical act to include the attitudes and emotions within the human heart.

Interpreting the Law: A Narrow or Expansive View?

There are two common ways people understand commands in the bible about “right and wrong” (i.e., the moral law). The first seeks to minimize their implications, limiting personal responsibility. The Pharisees and legal experts of Jesus’ time often adopted this approach, dissecting the law in minute ways to determine the narrowest possible application (“and who is my neighbor?” Lk 10:29). This is a legal (not necessarily legalistic) approach. You precisely define terms at every step to narrow your liability.

But Jesus calls for a different way that maximizes personal responsibility—you must err on the side of your own guilt! In fact, “murder” means more than “planning to kill someone and doing it.” It means that (a) if you have biblically unjustified anger against someone, or (b) you do nothing to stop someone else’s anger against you, then (c) “murder” has occurred. Jesus says you must resolve it immediately—even if that means not going to church!

Anger as a Form of Murder

In Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus says:

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.” 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.

This passage reveals that the issue extends beyond external actions to internal attitudes and assessments. The word “Raca,” which the NIV should not have left untranslated, means you think the person is unintelligent and you have contempt for him. You could render it as dummy, blockhead, or (somewhat cruelly—but that’s the point) retard. The NIV translated the other insult as “fool,” which is a bit too stuffy and highbrow. Something like slow, stupid, or moron would be better.

Jesus is saying that biblically unwarranted anger, contempt, and hatred in your heart is the same as “murder.” It is murder. The fact that such a person may be bound for “the fire of hell” means he may not be a true believer at all!

Why not? Because “anyone who hates a brother or sister is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him” (1 Jn 3:15).

Two Implications from Everyday Life

If anger and (in effect) hatred are the same as murder, then what does this mean for everyday life? Jesus says it’s so important that we ought to skip church—to leave our seats on Sunday morning immediately, if necessary—and resolve issues with people right now.

Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift (Matthew 5:23-24).

Get up. Walk out of the church building. Fix the issue. Now.

Jesus ups the ante next and says we must even address issues other people have with us! It isn’t enough to watch out for anger and hatred in our own hearts. We must also mitigate the anger folks have with us.

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. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny (Matthew 5:25-26).

Some Christians believe this is an allegory that means we ought to square things with God before judgment day. That’s silly—Jesus is talking to believers who God has already rescued. Some Roman Catholics see the false doctrine of purgatory here, but that has nothing to do with what Jesus is saying. The truth is that Jesus is just using an example from everyday life—a civil issue about debt collection—to illustrate how widely we can apply the maximal implications of the 6^th commandment in our lives.

The Curious Case of Helen and Fred

Here’s a real-world example. Helen and her neighbor Fred have been engaged in a long-standing dispute. Years ago, Helen’s family set off fireworks that frightened Fred’s dogs. Since then, Fred has smoldered with rage and now he has struck back. He recently destroyed a small garden Helen maintained in a shared alley. I asked her if she planned to contact Fred (in some way) to address the issue. Helen said no. In fact, she was pondering how to have her revenge!

This is where Jesus becomes real—in the boring, annoying, everyday events of real life. You and I are ordinary people living ordinary lives. There will probably be no “big event” where you stand for Christ like some movie hero and the world cheers you on. Instead, you and I will live quiet, anonymous lives and then we’ll die. Our “big moments for Jesus” are actually a million little moments, like Helen and Fred’s—stupid, silly, dumb situations where we can show our Jesus counterculture … or not.

Are you “murdering” anyone in your heart right now? What will you do about it?