Subject To Judgment

• What does God think about name-calling?

• Which is worse, daydreaming about hurting someone or actually hurting them? Why?

“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.”
Matthew 5:21-22

We know that it is wrong to commit murder. But sometimes we forget that it is just as wrong to think murderous thoughts and feel murderous feelings.

Now, you’re probably not going to murder your brother or sister today, but you might think hateful thoughts toward someone or spout a few cruel words, and that is what Jesus is talking about in these verses from Matthew.

Sin can begin in the mind, before we actually do anything. Sometimes sin begins and ends in the mind, and we never take action at all. But these thoughts are still sin. Just because it happens in our heads doesn’t mean that we’re not accountable. Nothing is hidden from God.

We are accountable for the words we say, the insults we hurl and the thoughts we think. So, before we allow anger to lead us to sin, we need to take a moment to pray for grace instead.

PRAYER
Dear God, please help us to avoid temptation. Please help us to keep our thoughts on you and to avoid sinning in our minds and hearts. Amen.