Word For the Day Matthew 5:21-22 (KJV)

21 Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; an whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment.

22 But i say unto you, That whatsoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment; and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

COMMENTARY: Christ begins this series of contrasts by quoting the statement of the law, Thou shalt not kill (Ex. 20:13). This reference to killing is clearly understood in its context in both the Old and New Testaments as referring to an act of murder. Jesus goes beyond this outward demand of the law by stating that whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause is in just as great danger of judgment as a murderer, for anger is the emotion and inner intention that leads to murder. The term raca (meaning "vain fellow" or empty head") was a Hebrew or Aramaic expression of contempt (cf. 2 Samuel 6:20). The council is a reference to the Jewish religious council called the Sanhedrin. Thou fool (Greek moros) means "stupid." The English word moron comes from this term. Those using such a malicious expression would be in danger of hell fire. The idea seems to be that if one makes light of his fellowman, he will be in danger of slander. But if one makes bitter, damning statements with reference to hell toward his fellowman, he shall actually be in danger of hell himself. The term hell is Gehenna. It refers to the valley of Hinnon at Jerusalem, where fires provided a powerful and graphic picture of the ultimate destruction of hell and the lake of fire (Cf. 2 Kings, 2 Chronicles 28:3; Jeremiah 7:31).