May 31

Matthew 5:21‑22
“Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time Thou shalt not kill: and whosoever shall kill shall be it: danger of the judgment: but 1 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, 2221Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: 22But 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).
GOD has said, “All souls are Mine.” He alone has the right to say when life on earth shall end for any of its inhabitants. He has delegated certain powers to governments in order that evildoers may be dealt with righteously and as a warning to others (Gen. 9:5, 65And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man's brother will I require the life of man. 6Whoso sheddeth man's blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man. (Genesis 9:5‑6); Rom. 13:44For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. (Romans 13:4)). But no one is authorized to take the law into his own hands and to slay his neighbor because of real or fancied offenses. Back of the murderer’s hand is the malicious mind and the wicked heart. So our Lord Jesus shows us that he who despises his neighbor, he who hates his brother, is a potential murderer and therefore under condemnation of the moral law. This is emphasized in Exodus 20:1313Thou shalt not kill. (Exodus 20:13) and 1 John 3:1515Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. (1 John 3:15). When the grace of God controls the inward being, hatred and all phases of disappear, and Jove, that doeth no ill to his neighbor, is manifested. Therefore in this, as in all else, love is the fulfilling of the law.
“Oh, that when Christians meet and part,
These words were graved on every heart—
They’re dear to God?
However willful and unwise,
We’ll look on them with loving eyes—
They’re dear to God!
When tempted to give pain for pain.
How would this thought our words restrain.
They’re dear to God?
When truth compels us to contend,
What love with all our strife should blend!
They’re dear to God!