# On the 4th Sunday of every month, Pastor Mizuguchi gives a lecture of reflections upon, “The Sermon on the Mount.” This session today, is the fourth of the series.

1. The Prohibition of Violence

Jesus’ long discourse known as the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) is so named because He taught His disciples and the crowds that followed Him from a mountainside at the beginning of His public ministry (Matthew 5:1). Continuing to focus upon the Sermon on the Mount, we are reading today from Matthew 5:21-26. Here, Jesus, interprets the prohibition of murder in the Ten Commandments (Exod. 20:13) to apply to the destruction of people with violent and publicly abusive anger. In relation to Judgement, Jesus likens anger to murder.

The Old Testament book of Leviticus sets out a code for law-court Judges: “If anyone takes the life of a human being, he must be put to death. Anyone who takes the life of someone’s animal must make restitution—life for life” (Leviticus 24:17-8). This is not an endorsement of personal vengeance. In effect, it is saying that punishment should fit the crime, but it should not go beyond that. This is the law of proportional punishment, a formula often found in human communities throughout history. Speaking about the law of God, Jesus previously said, “For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven ” (Matthew 5:20). Jesus was saying that his listeners needed a different kind of righteousness, for example, love and obedience.

Meanwhile, as long as we do not physically take the life of another person, we can pretend to abide by the law. But, Jesus, in the following verses is linking anger and murder, suggesting a comparable punishment and judgement: “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell’” (Matthew 5:21-22).

“To be angry with his brother” means to feel hatred, hostility or bitterness toward others. To say to his brother, ‘Raca’ (meaning empty one or fool in Aramaic), is openly signifying hostile feelings. Such strong feelings and harsh expressions only lead to more anger, which often leads to violence. James says, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry, for man’s anger does not bring about a righteous life that God desires” (James 1:19-20).

The natural human instinct to be aggressive might cause one to become violent, which often leads to extreme and unacceptable physical behaviour.¡¡Jesus, interprets the prohibition of murder in the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20:13) to apply to the destruction of people with violent and publicly abusive anger, and dismissing them to hell. killing is a terrible sin, but anger is also an offence, because it violates God’s command to love.

2. Liable to Judgement

The majority of us can easily comply with God’s command, “You shall not murder” ( Exodus 20:13). But, if being angry with someone will attract a similar judgement to that of murder, we all stand condemned. Some may wonder why Jesus made this comparison between murder, anger, and judgement. The simple answer is that anger toward brothers, with an attitude that insists on the righteousness of oneself, only breeds contempt, which ultimately leads to physical violence.

One example is that of Cain and Abel in the Old Testament book of Genesis, “Abel kept flocks, and Cain worked the soil. In the course of time Cain brought some of the fruits of the soil as an offering to the Lord. But Abel brought fat portions from some of the firstborn of his flock. The Lord looked with favor on Abel and his offering, but on Cain and his offering he did not look with favour” (Genesis 4:2-5).

The Bible does not reveal the reason why God favoured Abel. Indeed the world is filled with absurdities which humans are unable to explain logically. The fact that Abel received God’s favour, and Cain did not, is hard to understand. So much so, Cain became angry and hated Abel. Seeing Cain’s reaction God says, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it” (Genesis 4:6-7).

Despite God’s words, and through anger, Cain killed Abel. Cain’s aggressive feelings toward his brother resulted in a clear case of murder. I can give you another example from the famous play, Romeo and Juliet, written by Shakespeare. Shakespeare used the same psychological procedure in the scene of Tibalt’s murder. Romeo endured Tibalt’s insulting behaviour, because Romeo and Juliet were recently married by the Franciscan Friar Lawrence, and Tibalt was a cousin of Juliet.

But Mercutio, one of Romeo’s friends, without the knowledge of their marriage, accused Romeo as a coward and fought a duel with Tibalt on Romeo’s behalf. When Marcutio was killed in the duel, Romeo unveiled his anger and stabbed his sword into Tibalt’s chest to revenge his friend. This incident exposes the tragedy, in which Romeo and Juliet, being led by destiny, come to their respective deaths. This is just another case where feelings of anger provoked a murder.

So from the Old Testament writings of Leviticus we read, ” Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against one of your people, but love your neighbor as yourself. . . .” (Leviticus 19:17-18).

3. Reconciliation

Jesus seeks the essence of the law by retracing the feelings of the humans heart. And it is only God who can see the profound complexity of the humans mind. Therefore Jesus requires us to return the ‘right to judge’, back to God. And He said, “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24).

In the above verses, it is not a question of who is right or wrong. The focus is on the existence of conflict which split the two brothers. Even if he considers himself to be right, he must reconcile with his brother before offering the gift. Until he does so, his conscience should prevent him from going to the Temple.

Jesus says, “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” (Matthew 5:25-26).

A few days ago I heard on the TV news a story about a murder which occurred in a restaurant. The incident happened when a drunken client complained about the owner-chef’s cooking. He became aggressive with the owner, not only verbally, but also physical, by kicking the chairs, for example. When he left the restaurant, a regular client followed and challenged him. The quarrel escalated into the exchange of blows. The client who was hostile to the restauranteur, struck his head on the ground, and died a few hours later.

This is yet another death provoked by anger. In each instance, pausing for the act of reconciliation could have prevented the untimely deaths of those mentioned in the the various stories.

4. Following Jesus

I chose Ephesians 2 :14-16 as today’s invocation verses: “For he himself is our peace, who has made the two one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, by abolishing in his flesh the law with its commandments and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new man out of the two, thus making peace, and in this one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility.” The writer is Paul, addressing the church at Ephesus, and all believers, about the necessity of being one-in-Christ.

Jesus compels us to promote reconciliation, even if we think we are right. But it is extremely difficult for us to behave this way. Too often we insist on our righteousness, and refuse to resign the build-up of attitude and hatred. Only Jesus breaks down the walls of prejudice, reconciles all believers to God, and unifies us in one body. Because of Jesus’ death, we are all one. Our hostility has been put to death (Ephesians 2:16).

Although the need to follow Jesus is great, the cost can also be huge. Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a German Lutheran Pastor, wrote: “Nachfolge (The Cost of Discipleship)"**, translated into Japanese and compiled in the book entitled, “Following Christ”. In that work, through his interpretation of the Sermon on the Mount, he sought to find ways of living which would allow others to follow Christ.

When Hitler took power in Germany, many German churches commenced to praise him as the liberator-restorer of Germany. But, Bonhoeffer recognized Hitler’s demoniac nature. He founded the Confessing Church with other members in order to resist Nazism. He wrote books and papers to show the German people how to combat evil by following Jesus.

Bonhoeffer was arrested and executed by the Gestapo, and his written works were burned. But, despite all of those incidents, his words were inherited by his advocates, and continue to be read all over the world. By following Jesus we can be emancipated and freed from the evil of the earthly world, and then become servants to the world in His name.

The background to the tragedy of Romeo and Juliet, was the hatred between two families, Montagy and Capilet. Although the two families came to recognise the reasons behind the tragedy, and become receptive to reconciliation - it was too late for the young couple.

Jesus’ words brings forth the truth: “If you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift” (Matthew 5:23-24). Our attitudes toward others often reflect our relationship with God.

Christ gave the Sermon on the Mount, and then went on to shed His blood on the Cross of Calvary. Therefore we also, in bearing the Cross, listen to His words, and follow Him. So now, let us abandon any thoughts of self-righteousness or expressions of ill-feeling or negativity towards anyone. Instead, follow in Jesus’ footsteps, and listen to His words from the Sermon on the Mount, as he teaches his followers and believers everywhere, about righteousness, anger and reconciliation.

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reference
* http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dietrich_Bonhöffer
** The Cost of Discipleship (1948 in English). Touchstone edition with introduction by Bishop George Bell and memoir by G. Leibholz, 1995 paperback: ISBN 0-684-81500-1. Critical edition published under its original title Discipleship: John D. Godsey (editor); Geffrey B. Kelly (editor). Fortress Press, 2000. ISBN 0-8006-8324-2 (from wikipedia)