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.
But I'm telling you, anyone who holds onto anger against someone else is headed for judgment. If you call someone worthless, you're risking serious consequences. And if you straight-up call someone a fool, you're playing with hell itself.
Your anger and the words you use to tear people down have real consequences, choose them carefully.
📚 Historical Context
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is delivering a profound teaching to his disciples and the crowds, expanding on the Old Testament laws to reveal their deeper spiritual intent. He specifically addresses the commandment against murder, showing that not just the act but even inner anger and derogatory words like "Raca", an Aramaic insult meaning "empty-headed", could incur divine judgment, reflecting the Jewish cultural context where verbal abuse was a serious social issue. This underscores Jesus' mission to usher in a higher ethical standard for God's kingdom.
Explore Similar Verses
Ask the AI Assistant
Have a question about this chapter or verse? Ask below for a clear explanation.