²¹ Ye have heard that it was said of them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment:
²² But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Matthew 5:21-22

I admit that I am guilty of murder. I’ve called people fools and stupid, even as I drive down the road, and some guy cuts me off, I’ve murdered him in my heart, just as Jesus is saying here. We are all guilty of murder if we think of the intentions of the heart.

When someone does something stupid, we have a tendency to also get stupid, and this is the warning of Jesus here, don’t be like the world and give evil for evil. Most people don’t know what’s going on around them, literally, and we have a way to snap to judgement. When we make these judgements fast without facts or context, we are in danger of judgement.

Murder is wrong, God hates murder, and when it comes to justice, we need to leave that in God’s hands, and not take it onto our own. Jesus here is saying that even the intentions of the heart should convict us of murder. Even calling a person stupid or a fool is equated to the same punishment as murder.

Lord, help my heart not to jump and react with vile thoughts. Help me to give grace and mercy first rather than judgement. Help me to be like You who are also slow to anger.