In Matthew 5:21-22, Jesus says, “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.” At first glance, it may seem like Jesus is contradicting or changing the Old Testament law here by expanding its scope. However, a closer look shows that is not the case. Here are several reasons why Jesus did not contradict the law in Matthew 5:21-22:
1. Jesus affirmed the commandment against murder
First, it is important to note that Jesus begins by affirming the commandment against murder from the Old Testament. He says “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder.'” Here he references Exodus 20:13 which is one of the Ten Commandments. So Jesus starts by upholding the original Old Testament commandment.
2. Jesus was correcting faulty interpretations, not changing the law
In Jesus’ day, the commandment against murder was often interpreted very narrowly by the scribes and Pharisees. As long as you did not literally, physically murder someone, you were considered righteous. Jesus was addressing this faulty, narrow interpretation. He was showing that God cares as much about our hearts, attitudes, and words as He does about our literal, physical actions. So Jesus was correcting and expanding their too-narrow understanding of the commandment, but He was not contradicting what the commandment actually said or meant from the beginning.
3. Jesus was calling people to a higher standard of righteousness
God’s laws have always been concerned about the heart and motives, not just external compliance. For example, God rebukes hatred, unrighteous anger, and contempt for others throughout the Old Testament (Leviticus 19:17, Proverbs 6:16-19, Psalm 5:5, etc.). Jesus was calling people to a higher ethical standard by insisting that the commandment prohibiting murder includes hatred, anger, and contempt of others in one’s heart. He was teaching that you can obey the letter of the law but still violate the spirit of the law.
4. Jesus emphasized the root, not just the fruit
When you prohibit certain fruits (i.e. specific actions), you have to prohibit the roots (i.e. heart conditions) that produce those fruits. Murder is the fruit. Hatred, anger, and contempt are the roots. By condemning the roots of murder in the heart, Jesus was actually upholding and reinforcing the commandment against murder. He was emphasizing that we have to deal with the root cause, not just the surface symptoms.
5. Jesus took the law to its logical conclusion
Jesus took the commandment to its logical and inevitable conclusion. If murder is wrong, then hatred must also be wrong, because hatred, if unchecked, easily leads to murder. If the fruit is wrong, then the root producing it must also be wrong. Jesus took the true meaning of the commandment and developed it to its fullest extent and application. But developing the application of a law is different than contradicting the law itself.
6. Jesus demanded a change of heart, not just behavior
The Pharisees tended to focus only on external obedience to the letter of the law. But Jesus knew that God looks at the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Outward behavior changes are meaningless if the heart remains sinful. So Jesus was demanding more than outward compliance; He was demanding a heart change. But this emphasis on heart obedience was consistent with the true intent of Old Testament law.
In conclusion, when understood within its proper context, Jesus was not contradicting or changing the law here but rather was upholding the true meaning and intent of the law against murder by focusing on the heart attitudes and inner person from which murder springs. He was giving the fullness of the law, not contradicting or abolishing it. Jesus Himself said He came not to abolish but to fulfill the law (Matthew 5:17). And He fulfilled it by declaring its true depth and meaning.
Additional Reasons
Here are some additional reasons why Jesus did not actually contradict the Old Testament law in Matthew 5:21-22:
7. Jesus affirmed the inspiration of the Old Testament
Jesus viewed the Old Testament as God’s inspired Word (Matthew 5:18, John 10:35). He submitted His teachings and life to its authority. So we know He would not have blatantly contradicted or undermined any of its laws or commandments. His view of Scripture ruled this out.
8. Some laws already taught what Jesus emphasized
Some Old Testament passages already prohibited what Jesus condemned in Matthew 5:21-22 – hatred, anger, contempt. So He was reinforcing what the Old Testament already prohibited in principle (Leviticus 19:17, Proverbs 6:16-19).
9. Jesus practiced what He preached
Jesus perfectly fulfilled and practiced the law Himself, down to the smallest detail (Hebrews 4:15). His own righteous heart and sinless behavior demonstrate that He was not doing away with the law’s true requirements.
10. This was Jesus’ pattern of teaching throughout Matthew 5
In Matthew 5, Jesus repeatedly said “You have heard…But I say…” Yet in each case He was expanding and reinforcing the Old Testament commands, not contradicting them. This passage must be interpreted in light of that whole pattern seen throughout the Sermon on the Mount.
11. Laws have principles behind them
The specific laws in the Bible are applications of broader principles. By focusing on the principle behind the law against murder, Jesus was upholding the spirit of the law.
12. Jesus upheld the law in everything He did
In His entire ministry and teaching, Jesus staunchly upheld the moral requirements in God’s law. It would be inconsistent to then say He contradicted those moral requirements in Matthew 5:21-22. His whole life and ministry affirmed the Old Testament.
In summary, for all these reasons, we should understand Jesus to be expounding the true meaning of the law in Matthew 5:21-22, not abolishing or contradicting it. He upheld the law, while correcting wrong interpretations and superficial obedience to it.
Implications of Jesus’ Teaching
If we conclude that Jesus was not contradicting the Old Testament law here, what are some implications we can draw from His teaching in this passage? Here are a few key implications:
1. The law concerns inward motives and attitudes, not just outward actions.
A mere outward obedience or legal compliance is not enough. The Pharisees obeyed the law outwardly but were full of greed and self-indulgence inwardly (Matthew 23:25). God cares first and foremost about the heart.
2. The law’s standard of righteousness is extremely high.
Jesus was showing that the law actually demands far more than the Pharisees realized. It requires absolute moral perfection, even regulating our attitudes, emotions, and words. We cannot keep God’s law on our own strength.
3. Jesus has authority to teach the true meaning of God’s law.
As the lawgiver and the fulfillment of the law, Jesus has the authority to define and expound upon the law’s true meaning and application. His teachings carry the full weight of the law itself.
4. The law must be applied to the realities of everyday life.
Merely having the law codified is not enough. We must think through how it looks in real-world situations and how it applies to the thoughts and attitudes of our hearts. The law was meant to be lived out.
5. The law is based on eternal moral principles.
Behind each law is a moral principle that reflects the nature and character of God. The laws in Scripture flow from God’s own righteousness. So even while cultural applications may change, the moral principles behind them endure.
Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:21-22 gives us a deeper understanding of God’s law and challenges us to evaluate whether we are obeying it both outwardly and inwardly. It also affirms that none of us are able to fulfill the law’s perfect righteous standard – our only hope is found in Christ and His atoning sacrifice for us.
Examining Key Verses
To develop a full understanding of this passage, let’s take a detailed look at some of the key verses line by line:
“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’”
– Jesus begins by quoting Exodus 20:13 where the command “You shall not murder” was given. This affirmed the Old Testament law’s prohibition of murder.
“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.”
– “But I say to you” indicates Jesus is now expanding and applying the commandment for His hearers. He condemns not just outward murder, but also anger, insults, and contempt toward others.
– Yet even these inward sins made one morally “liable.” Jesus ties these heart attitudes to levels of judgment, just as murder deserved judgment.
– So Jesus equates the civil penalties for various capital crimes under the law with God’s moral judgment for inward sins. In God’s eyes, hatred deserves punishment just like murder.
– So He was upholding the law by condemning the inward sins producing murder. He was not contradicting the law itself.
“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” (Matthew 5:23-24)
– Here Jesus applies His teaching to a real-life situation involving temple sacrifice.
– He teaches that the spirit behind the law (love for others) takes priority over just going through the motions of ritual obedience.
– True righteousness requires earnestly pursuing peace with others, not just performing correct rituals.
– So again Jesus is calling for more than outward compliance to the law – He wants the law’s principles of love and reconciliation to rule our hearts.
In conclusion, a close examination of Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 5:21-22 and the surrounding passage shows He was not contradicting but rather expounding and reinforcing the law’s true meaning by calling for both inward and outward righteousness. His emphasis went beyond letter of the law to the change of heart it was meant to produce all along.
Addressing Counterarguments
Some disagree and claim that Jesus did abolish the law in Matthew 5. They offer the following counterarguments:
Counterargument 1: Jesus explicitly replaced the Old Testament law.
They say phrases like “but I say to you” show Jesus was replacing the Old Testament commandments with new teachings.
Response: But as shown above, Jesus began by affirming the law (“you have heard that it was said”). The phrase “but I say to you” is followed by applications and expansions, not contradictions, of the law.
Counterargument 2: Jesus contradicted the lex talionis law of retribution.
They argue Jesus’ command to “turn the other cheek” (Matt. 5:39) contradicts the Old Testament lex talionis law of “eye for eye, tooth for tooth” (Ex. 21:24).
Response: However, Jesus said the greatest commandments are to love God and love your neighbor (Matt. 22:36-40). “Turn the other cheek” applies the love command to the situation of being struck. Jesus expounded the spirit behind the civil lex talionis laws.
Counterargument 3: Jesus replaced the strict justice of the law with grace and mercy.
They say Jesus was moving away from the Old Testament’s strict justice toward the New Testament ethic of grace and mercy.
Response: The Old Testament itself teaches that God desires mercy more than sacrifice (Hosea 6:6). Grace and mercy do not replace God’s justice, they fulfill it. Jesus came to demonstrate God’s mercy within God’s justice. The law and Jesus’ teachings both reflect God’s righteous character.
In summary, these counterarguments fail to prove that Jesus contradicted or abolished the law. Rather, He fulfilled and expounded on the law, while steering people away from superficial, legalistic obedience to it.
Jesus and the Old Testament Law – Conclusion
In conclusion, while Jesus in Matthew 5:21-22 expanded the application of the commandment against murder to include anger and contempt, He did not contradict or abolish the Old Testament law itself. Rather, He upheld the law by calling people to conform both outwardly and inwardly to the righteous standard it reflects. Through His teachings, Jesus corrected wrong interpretations of the law and pointed people back to the spirit and principles behind the laws given through Moses. He sought to instill the law within people’s hearts, not just secure their external compliance to rules. Jesus taught that because God cares about our thoughts and attitudes, the law’s applications are far broader than the letter. His emphasis on the heart’s motives fulfilled the true spirit of the law rather than overturning the law. By condemning sinful anger and contempt, Jesus reinforced the law’s condemnation of the actions those evil heart conditions produce. So in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus provided the fullness and proper interpretation of God’s law, while the Pharisees had corrupted the law through superficial, legalistic obedience. His teachings in Matthew 5:21-22 reveal the true meaning and apply the law in a way that leads people to repentance and dependence on God’s mercy.