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Jesus said to his disciples: “I tell you, unless your righteousness
surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will not enter
into the Kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:20
Imagine a wife asked her husband to go to the supermarket and pick
up a pound of potatoes. Being literal, he went to the store, found
a pound of potatoes, picked them up, set them back down, and
returned home. When his wife asks where the potatoes are, he
explains that they’re still at the store. Confused, she asks why he
didn’t bring them home, and he responds, “You only asked me to
‘pick them up.’”
While this example might be humorous, it illustrates an essential
truth about following instructions. The husband might have
technically fulfilled the request but missed the deeper meaning. In
much the same way, the scribes and Pharisees in Jesus’ time
scrupulously followed the letter of God’s Law but often failed to
grasp the spirit behind it.
Jesus addresses this issue directly in today’s Gospel. The Law, as
given by God through Moses, was summed up in the Ten Commandments.
But Jesus came to reveal the deeper meaning behind those commands.
For example, He explains the true meaning of the commandment, “You
shall not kill.”
On the surface, one might think that as long as you don’t
physically murder someone, you are free from guilt. But Jesus shows
that this commandment goes far beyond the act of murder. He reveals
that the commandment also forbids less serious internal and
external sins.
Jesus identifies three levels of sin related to this commandment.
First is anger. Anger is an interior disposition; of the three
sins, it is the least severe. It begins with a judgmental thought
or condemnation and often results in feelings of anger. Though
feelings are not sinful, allowing anger to take root due to rash
judgment or contempt is a sin, even if no further action is taken.
Jesus warns that harboring anger makes a person “liable to
judgment.”
The second level of sin is verbal, specifically calling someone
Raqa. This Aramaic term is a derogatory insult, meaning
someone is empty-headed or worthless. Such an insult externalizes
anger and reveals a more profound disdain for the person and a
failure to recognize the person’s worth in God’s eyes. Speaking
this way to someone shows a lack of respect for his or her dignity
as a child of God. Jesus warns that those who commit this sin will
be “answerable to the Sanhedrin.” In other words, not only will God
hold them accountable, but they may also need fraternal correction
from family, friends, or the Church if they fail to repent.
The most serious offense Jesus mentions is calling someone, “You
fool!” In biblical terms, calling someone a fool is more than just
an insult; it is a condemnation of the person’s character. In
Scripture, a fool is someone who rejects God and lives in moral
corruption, as in Psalm 14:1, “The fool says in his heart, ‘There
is no God.’” To call someone a fool, therefore, is to cast judgment
on the person’s soul, associating that individual with someone who
is cut off from God’s grace. Jesus is stern in His warning: those
who condemn others this way will be “liable to fiery
Gehenna.”
Reflect today on Jesus’ teaching about the deeper meaning of this
and other commandments. Lent is a time of turning away from sin and
returning to God. If you struggle with anger, examine its roots. If
rash judgment is at the heart of it, seek God’s mercy and repent to
find peace. If you’ve hurt others with critical or condemning
words, especially if you’ve judged their moral character, confess
this grave sin and remember that God alone is the Judge. Strive to
fulfill not only the letter of God’s Law but also its spirit, and
your life will bear abundant fruit.
My meek and humble Lord, though You are merciful, You are also
just. I turn to Your mercy today, seeking forgiveness and grace to
overcome the sin of anger and all that comes with it. Free me from
judgmental thoughts, and help me love others with Your merciful
Heart. Jesus, I trust in You.
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