Exactly The Same Thing

captain howdy said...

So, for the Ten Commandments to be literally true, murder has to be exactly the same thing as hate. And if murder and hate aren't exactly the same thing, then the Ten Commandments is false. Right, Ray?

@captain howdy

The Ten Commandments were not made false by God. Jesus "filled out" the Law to its full meaning.

The commandment says "do not murder". Jesus fills that commandment out, and says that it's not just the act of murder that is sin, but that it's really the condition of a man's heart that makes him guilty of breaking the commandment.

Jesus is teaching people who are already familiar with the Ten Commandments:

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.'" Matthew 5:21 (NIV)

God's commandment says "Do not murder". Breaking the commandment means judgment from God.

Jesus goes on to teach something that is not familiar to his listeners. He "fills out" the commandment, bringing it to its full meaning:

"But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell." Matthew 5:22 (NLT)


Jesus says that its the condition of a man's heart, not just his actions, that make him guilty of breaking the commandment.

With careless words, a man my find himself brought before the court of man.

But with purposefully angry words, Jesus says that it is certain that man will find himself judged by God.

So, no, captain howdy. The commandment "do not murder" is not false. It is a true shadow of the full meaning of the law.

HTH