Put Away Anger and Contempt
You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, 'You shall not murder,' and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment, and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council, and if you say, 'You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire.
Matthew 5:21-22
The first of six times in the sermon Jesus says you have heard it said, but I say to you, moving the commandment from the courtroom to the heart.
Murder is the fruit; anger and contempt are the root, and Jesus legislates at the root. Calling a brother fool, treating a person as worthless, is the seed of every violence. The commandment was never only about hands. It was always about hearts.
Track your contempt today, the eye rolls, the internal nicknames, the whole categories of people you have dismissed. Confess it as the serious thing Jesus says it is, and replace one contempt with one prayer.