But I say unto you, That whosoever 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.
Christ corrects not Moses but the scribes' false reading of him. Truth carries more weight than custom or the hoary age of error. This precept restrains not the hand alone but all affections hostile to brotherly love, anger, contempt, reproach are all murder of the heart.
AI summary
The sixth commandment forbids killing directly or indirectly, and protects life itself. But Christ expands it far beyond mere murder: anger without cause, contempt, harsh words, all violate the law's true intent and spiritual depth.
AI summary
Commenting on Matthew 5:21-26
Christ speaks with magisterial authority against the Pharisees' hollow gloss on the murder law. Causeless anger toward any man breaches the commandment; there is anger that is right, against sin and vice, but unjust wrath lies under God's judgment.
AI summary