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MURDERERS AND ADULTERERS
SATURDAY, MAY 17
Matthew 5:21-32

Matthew 22:36-40

 

“Ye have heard

that it was said…”

 

MURDERERS AND ADULTERERS
 
As part of His fulfilment of the Law, Jesus exposed the misinterpretations and misapplications of the Law by the scribes and Pharisees. Those rabbis taught superficially that the sixth commandment — “Thou shalt not kill” — applies only to murder. But Jesus explains its true meaning. The sixth commandment does not only mean the physical taking away of another person’s life. God’s prohibition is much deeper than that. Murder is committed not only physically, but also verbally, by means of abusive words that stem from a hateful heart. Hurling invectives like “idiot” or “moron” against someone is the same as plunging a knife into his heart. “A tongue six inches long can kill a man six feet tall.”
 
The rabbis also diluted the force of the seventh commandment — “Thou shalt not commit adultery” — by applying it only to the external act. Any lustful thought, desire, or glance of the eye is adultery. In the area of marriage and divorce, the rabbis made it easy for the men to cast off their wives. For example, Rabbi Hillel taught that a man had the right to divorce his wife if she was a poor cook. Rabbi Akiba even allowed a man to divorce his wife if he found someone prettier. As long as divorce papers were served, a man could marry another according to his wish.
 
But Jesus made the marriage law absolutely binding: “But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery.” In other words, the marriage bond is for life, and if broken because of fornication, no remarriage is allowed. Marriage is a “life sentence”!
 
Are we guilty of murder and adultery?
 
THOUGHT: “The sins of the spirit are ten times worse than the sins of the flesh.”

PRAYER: Father, I confess my sins. Forgive me.

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