Hope Community Church
October 18 2026
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      • Matthew 5:21–26NASB95

  • Old Testament Theme: The Sanctity of Human Life Preaching Text: Matthew 5:21–26 (NASB95) Central Theme: God not only forbids the taking of human life but also confronts the attitudes of the heart that destroy human relationships.
    Sermon Proposition: Because human life is sacred to God, believers must guard their hearts against destructive anger, guard their words against contempt, and pursue reconciliation with others.

    Introduction —

    Exodus 20:13 KJV 1900
    13 Thou shalt not kill.
    “You shall not murder.”
    Exodus 20:13 GW
    13 “Never murder. 

    BEYOND THE ACT

    Exodus 20:13 | Matthew 5:21–26

    Introduction — Beyond the Physical Act

    Exodus 20:13 declares:
    “You shall not murder.”
    Of all the Ten Commandments, this may be the one people feel most comfortable claiming they have kept.
    We may admit that we have struggled with dishonesty, disobedience, or covetousness.
    But when we arrive at the sixth commandment, many confidently declare, “I've never murdered anyone!”
    And by the legal definition of murder, that may be absolutely true.
    But when Jesus addresses this commandment in Matthew 5:21–26, He challenges us to look beyond the physical act of murder and examine the spiritual condition of the human heart.
    Jesus teaches us that although murder is committed with the hands, the attitudes that lead to murder can begin in the heart.
    A person can have clean hands while harboring a contaminated heart.
    Psalm 24:4 reminds us that God desires both clean hands and a pure heart.
    And James 3:9–10 reminds us that the same mouth that blesses God can also curse people created in His likeness.
    We live in a society where anger has become increasingly normalized.
    People are angry on the highways, angry in their homes, angry on social media, and sometimes even angry in the church.
    And while anger does not always lead to physical violence, unresolved anger can destroy relationships, fracture families, and weaken the fellowship of believers.
    Jesus does not abolish the sixth commandment. He reveals its deeper moral demands.
    He moves us from the law given through Moses at Mount Sinai to His authoritative teaching in the Sermon on the Mount.
    And in Matthew 5:21–26, Jesus teaches us three responsibilities that move us Beyond the Act of murder toward honoring the lives of others.

    Point 1 — The Restraint of Anger (vv. 21–22)

    Matthew 5:21–22 NASB95
    21 “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not commit murder’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’ 22 “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.
    Jesus begins by referencing the sixth commandment, which prohibits murder.
    But He moves the discussion beyond the external act to the internal disposition of the heart.
    The religious teachers emphasized the physical act of murder and its judicial consequences.
    But Jesus exposes the deeper problem that can precede the act:
    anger that develops into contempt and hostility toward another person.
    Notice His authoritative expression:
    “But I say to you.”
    Jesus is not correcting Moses. He is correcting an inadequate understanding of God's commandment to Never Murder
    Two Greek expressions help us understand His teaching.
    Rhaka — “Good-for-nothing.” A contemptuous expression communicating disdain and disrespect toward another person.
    Contempt shapes our attitude.
    Mōros — “Fool.” A degrading insult that expresses contempt for another person's character or worth.
    Insulting speech expresses that contempt through the mouth.
    Jesus teaches that destructive behavior often begins long before it becomes a physical act.

    Illustration — Cain and Abel

    Consider Cain and Abel in Genesis 4:5-6
    Genesis 4:4–7 NASB95
    4 Abel, on his part also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of their fat portions. And the Lord had regard for Abel and for his offering; 5 but for Cain and for his offering He had no regard. So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. 6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? 7 “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it.”
    Cain and Abel had both presented offerings before the Lord.
    God regarded Abel and his offering favorably, but He did not regard Cain and his offering favorably.
    As a result, Cain became angry, and his countenance fell.
    His inward anger had become visible through his outward expression.
    But notice what God says to Cain.
    Genesis 4:6–7 NIV
    6 Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? 7 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 rule over it.”
    Church, don't miss this!
    Although Cain's offering had not been accepted, his opportunity for acceptance had not disappeared.
    God was giving Cain an opportunity to do what was right.
    His countenance had fallen, but it did not have to remain fallen.
    God warned Cain that sin was crouching at the door, desiring to master him.
    Cain had a choice. He could master his anger, or he could allow his anger to master him.
    Unfortunately, Cain allowed his anger to become an act of violence against his brother.
    The murder in the field was preceded by a spiritual struggle in Cain's heart.

    Application

    And church, we must examine not only what we have done to others but what we have allowed ourselves to feel and say about them.
    Are we allowing anger to become bitterness?
    Have we used words intended to humiliate someone?
    Are we looking down on people as unworthy of respect?
    Are we devaluing someone whom God created in His image?
    Remember, you cannot always control what others do to you, but through the power of God, you can exercise self-control over how you respond to them.
    We must put a restraint on our mouths and refuse to allow sin to master us.
    Proverbs 18:21 NASB95
    21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
    Our words can encourage or discourage.
    Our words can strengthen or weaken.
    Our words can build relationships or destroy them.
    And if we are going to move Beyond the Act, we must respond to God's Word and choose life over death.
    Deuteronomy 30:19 NASB95
    19 “I call heaven and earth to witness against you today, that I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. So choose life in order that you may live, you and your descendants,
    Every time we choose love over hatred, peace over hostility, and reconciliation over resentment, we demonstrate what it means to honor the life God has created.

    Transition

    But Jesus does not stop with the anger in our hearts.
    He moves from the condition of our hearts to the condition of our relationships.
    And that brings us to our second point.

    Point 2 — The Responsibility of Reconciliation (vv. 23–24)

    In verses 23–24, Jesus declares:
    “Therefore if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering.”
    Notice the movement.
    Jesus moves from anger to worship.
    He describes someone presenting an offering at the altar who suddenly remembers that another person has a grievance against him.
    Jesus instructs that person to leave the offering and pursue reconciliation.
    The point is striking.
    God is concerned not only about our relationship with Him but also about our relationships with others.
    We cannot properly honor God through the first four commandments while deliberately neglecting our responsibilities toward our neighbors in the remaining commandments.
    You cannot substitute religious activity for relational responsibility.
    The Greek word diallassō means “to be reconciled” or “to restore friendly relations.”
    Notice that Jesus does not say, “Wait until your brother comes to you.”
    He says, “Go!”
    Reconciliation requires initiative.
    Imagine someone coming into church, lifting their hands in worship, singing hymns, giving an offering, and saying amen to the sermon.
    Yet that same person refuses to acknowledge someone they have wounded.
    Jesus teaches that the altar is not a place to hide from relational responsibility.
    Before we offer God the worship of our lips, we should be willing to address the wounds caused by our lives.
    Sometimes reconciliation requires an apology.
    Sometimes it requires admitting we were wrong.
    Sometimes it requires a willingness to forgive.
    And while reconciliation is not always possible, Romans 12:18 reminds us:
    Romans 12:18 NASB95
    18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
    We cannot always control another person's response, but we are responsible for sincerely pursuing peace. Where relationships are unsafe, appropriate boundaries remain necessary.

    Transition

    But Jesus does not merely tell us to pursue reconciliation.
    He tells us something about when we ought to pursue it.
    That brings us to our third point.

    Point 3 — The Urgency of Reconciliation (vv. 25–26)

    In verse 25, Jesus declares:
    “Make friends quickly with your opponent at law while you are with him on the way.”
    Jesus presents a legal illustration involving two individuals on their way to court.
    He encourages them to settle their dispute before it reaches the judge.
    His emphasis is on urgency.
    The Greek word tachy means “quickly” or “without delay.”
    In other words, don't unnecessarily postpone opportunities for peace.
    Because unresolved conflict can become increasingly costly.
    One angry conversation can become months of silence.
    Months can become years.
    And before long, people who once loved one another become strangers.
    How many relationships could have been preserved if someone had simply taken the first step toward reconciliation?
    Church, don't allow pride to prolong what humility could begin to repair.
    Don't assume tomorrow will provide the same opportunity for reconciliation that exists today.
    Ephesians 4:26 NASB95
    26 Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
    The longer we allow hostility to remain in our hearts, the more opportunities we give it to damage our relationships.
    If reconciliation is necessary, pursue it while the opportunity remains.

    Conclusion — From Murder to Mercy

    The sixth commandment declares:
    “You shall not murder.”
    But Jesus teaches us that honoring this commandment requires more than refraining from physical violence.
    We must:
    Restrain our anger because the heart matters to God.
    Accept responsibility for reconciliation because relationships matter to God.
    Respond with urgency because peace matters to God.
    And church, this is where the gospel becomes especially meaningful.
    Because the same Jesus who teaches us about reconciliation is the One who made reconciliation possible.
    Col 1:20 reminds us that God made peace through the blood of Christ's cross.
    Colossians 1:20 NASB95
    20 and through Him to reconcile all things to Himself, having made peace through the blood of His cross; through Him, I say, whether things on earth or things in heaven.
    Think about Calvary!
    They falsely accused Him.
    They mocked Him.
    They spit upon Him.
    They placed a crown of thorns upon His head.
    They nailed His hands and feet to an old rugged cross.
    And while He was hanging there, suffering under the cruelty of sinful humanity, Jesus prayed:
    “Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing.” (Luke 23:34)
    Church, that's mercy!
    The One who had every right to condemn demonstrated extraordinary forgiveness.
    And through His death on Calvary, Jesus opened the way for sinners to be reconciled to God.
    But I'm glad the story didn't end on Friday!
    They took Him down from that cross.
    They laid Him in a borrowed tomb.
    He stayed there Friday night.
    He stayed there Saturday.
    But early Sunday morning, He got up with all power in His hands!
    And because He lives, we have the power through His Spirit to live differently.
    We don't have to allow anger to control us.
    We don't have to allow bitterness to consume us.
    We don't have to allow hatred to define us.
    Because of Jesus Christ:
    Anger doesn't have to have the final word!
    Bitterness doesn't have to have the final word!
    Hatred doesn't have to have the final word!
    Broken relationships don't have to have the final word!
    Because where sin created hostility, Christ has made peace possible!
    And if Christ has reconciled us to God, surely we ought to be willing to pursue reconciliation with one another.
    That's what it means to move BEYOND THE ACT!
    Cain allowed anger to master him and took his brother's life.
    Jesus, in perfect obedience to the Father, willingly gave His life to reconcile sinners to God.
    “Cain took his brother's life because of anger. But Jesus gave His life because of love! Cain's anger brought death, but Christ's love brought life!”
    And church, when I think about the love of God, I cannot help but remember where He found me.
    I was sinking deep in sin.
    I was far from the peaceful shore.
    But I'm glad that Jesus didn't leave me where He found me!
    His love reached down and lifted me.
    And if His love can lift me out of sin, His love can lift me above bitterness.
    His love can lift me above hatred.
    His love can lift me above resentment.
    Because it was love that lifted me!

      • Exodus 20:13KJV1900

      • Exodus 20:13KJV1900

      • Psalm 24:4NASB95

      • James 3:9–10KJV1900

      • Matthew 5:21–26NASB95

      • Genesis 4:4–7KJV1900

      • Genesis 4:6–7KJV1900

      • Proverbs 18:21KJV1900

      • Deuteronomy 30:19KJV1900

      • Romans 12:18KJV1900

      • Ephesians 4:26KJV1900

      • Colossians 1:20KJV1900

      • Luke 23:34NASB95

Hope Community Church
hopeccchurch@hopecchurch.org
(443) 759-9277
http://hopecchurch.org
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