Murder in the Making (Day 1)
Murder Starts in the Heart
"Murder isn't just an action—it's a condition of the heart."
Matthew 5:21-22 (ESV)
"You have heard that it was said to those of old, 'You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire."
Devotional Thought
The Pharisees thought they had righteousness figured out. Don't actually kill someone? Check. You're good with God. But Jesus came along and completely flipped their understanding upside down.
When Jesus said "You have heard it said" instead of "It is written," He was pointing to a problem. The religious leaders had taken God's clear command and watered it down. They added their own interpretation that made the sin smaller, more manageable. Sound familiar?
Here's what they missed: murder doesn't start when someone pulls a trigger or swings a fist. It starts way earlier, in the quiet moments when we nurse our anger and let it grow. It starts when we look at someone who hurt us and think, "You're worthless."
Jesus wasn't adding rules to make life harder. He was performing heart surgery. He was showing us that God doesn't just see our actions—He sees the intentions, the anger, the slow burn of resentment we carry around.
The Pharisees could plot against Jesus, hire others to do their dirty work, and still sleep well because technically, they didn't "murder" anyone. But Jesus saw their hearts. He knew that murder was already complete in their minds long before it happened in reality.
This hits different when we realize how often we do the same thing. We don't punch the person who cut us off in traffic, so we're good, right? We don't actually hurt the family member who keeps disappointing us, so we're righteous, right? But what's happening in our hearts? What are we rehearsing in our minds?
When Jesus said "You have heard it said" instead of "It is written," He was pointing to a problem. The religious leaders had taken God's clear command and watered it down. They added their own interpretation that made the sin smaller, more manageable. Sound familiar?
Here's what they missed: murder doesn't start when someone pulls a trigger or swings a fist. It starts way earlier, in the quiet moments when we nurse our anger and let it grow. It starts when we look at someone who hurt us and think, "You're worthless."
Jesus wasn't adding rules to make life harder. He was performing heart surgery. He was showing us that God doesn't just see our actions—He sees the intentions, the anger, the slow burn of resentment we carry around.
The Pharisees could plot against Jesus, hire others to do their dirty work, and still sleep well because technically, they didn't "murder" anyone. But Jesus saw their hearts. He knew that murder was already complete in their minds long before it happened in reality.
This hits different when we realize how often we do the same thing. We don't punch the person who cut us off in traffic, so we're good, right? We don't actually hurt the family member who keeps disappointing us, so we're righteous, right? But what's happening in our hearts? What are we rehearsing in our minds?
Application Questions
- Heart Check: Think about someone who has hurt or offended you recently. What thoughts have you been having about them? Be honest.
- Historical Reflection: The Pharisees minimized sin to feel righteous. Where in your life might you be doing the same thing—following the "letter" while ignoring the "spirit" of God's commands?
- Real Life: How might this teaching change the way you handle conflict at work, home, or in your community this week?
Today's Challenge
Pick one person you're struggling with right now.
- Instead of focusing on what they did wrong, ask God to show you what's happening in your own heart toward them.
- Don't try to fix anything yet—just be honest about what you discover.
Today's Prayer
God, this is uncomfortable. You see things in my heart that I don't want to admit are there. Help me be honest about the anger I carry, the resentment I nurse, and the ways I minimize my own sin while magnifying others'. Give me the courage to let You do heart surgery, even when it hurts. I want to be righteous in my heart, not just in my actions. Amen.
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