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The warning underlying Matt. 5: 21, 22 is that all degrees of hatred and contempt,
whether expressed or not, are dangerous and liable to condemnation by God Who alone
can righteously judge the feeling and malevolent of the heart. This point is enforced by
what follows:
"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your
brother has something against you, leave the gift there in front of the altar. First go and
be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift" (5: 23, 24, N.I.V.).
The law of love is on a higher plane than that of sacrifice, therefore postpone sacrifice
rather than reconciliation, remembering the importance of peace-makers (verse 9). It is
essential for such to get rid of bad feelings against someone else before bringing his
offering to the altar.
The next words of the Lord expand this:
"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while
you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge
may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth,
you will not get out until you have paid the last penny" (5: 25, 26, N.I.V.).
The point stressed here is that no time must be lost. It must be done quickly. The
offended person may die, or the offender may die, therefore put an end to the situation of
enmity as soon as possible.
The Apostle Paul gives similar advice in Eph. 4: 26:
"Be ye angry and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath."
In other words, do not let the day end before such a condition is put right. What a
weight of troubles would be avoided if believers would always heed this advice!
Adultery.
"You have heard that it was said `do not commit adultery'. But I tell you that anyone
who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart"
(Matt. 5: 27, N.I.V.).
This injunction of God protects the sanctity of marriage and the peace of married life.
There never was a time when this command was more needed than today. Moral
standards have collapsed in this and other countries of the world with disastrous results;
leading to misery and profound unhappiness. One of the latest surveys is that one
marriage in three ends in divorce in this country and thousands of homes are broken up,
with pitiful effects on the children of such marriages.
When will people realize that God's laws are not given to deprive people of happiness,
but to give and protect happiness and well-being. Until this is recognized, there can be
no end to the pressing problem of broken homes and the heart ache that this inevitably