Read: Matthew 5:21–26

Why do you think God hates murder or killing? Do you think it is just because we need to be nice people? Of course we do need to be nice, but God hates murder because he is the God of life. God has created people to have a special relationship with him. People have been created in the image of God. This means that we are God’s representatives here on earth. A representative is someone who does things in the place of someone else. For example, the queen has representatives in different countries to carry out the work that she wants done. So, God created us as his image bearers, as his representatives, so that we can look after the earth as he wants us to.

That is why God says we may not murder. Murdering is killing God’s representative, killing God’s image bearer. But murder is even more than that. It starts in our hearts. Hating someone is the beginning of murder.

Even being angry at someone else is murder in your heart and deserves punishment, Jesus says. We all get angry at others from time to time, don’t we? But when we are angry, it is usually selfish on our part. We’re angry because they took the book we wanted. We’re angry because they didn’t do what we wanted them to do. But then we are angry at God’s image bearer, the person God created to represent him on earth.

Jesus says that we may not call our brothers or sisters “Raca” or “fool.” To say “Raca” to someone is like calling them an idiot. It’s like saying that they have no brains, that they are stupid. Again, then we are attacking God who gives people brains.

Christ Jesus never murdered anyone and was never wrongly angry at others. He obeyed this commandment perfectly. And because of his obedience we are forgiven when we do sin against this commandment. Christ has also changed our hearts and will help us as we try not to get angry, hate others or call people names.

Reflection with your child:

Why is anger and name calling bad?

Source: Sermon by Rev. D. Agema