April 15 - Slander Equals Murder

“‘Whoever says to his brother, “You good-for-nothing,” shall be guilty before the supreme court’” (Matthew 5:22).

The word (raca) translated by the New American Standard Bible “good-for-nothing” has been variously rendered elsewhere as “brainless idiot,” “worthless fellow,” “blockhead,” and the like. It was a term of malicious abuse and slander that really has no precise modern translation. David graphically described persons who used such slander as those who “sharpen their tongues as a serpent; poison of a viper is under their lips” (Ps. 140:3). The Roman soldiers who tortured and crucified Jesus could well have used the term to mock and disrespect Him (cf. Matt. 27:29–31).

According to Jewish legend, a young rabbi had just come from a session with his famous teacher. He felt especially proud of how he had handled himself before the teacher. As he basked in those feelings of superiority, he passed an especially unattractive man who greeted him. The young rabbi responded, “You Raca! How ugly you are. Are all men of your town as ugly as you?”

“That I do not know,” the man replied, “but go and tell the Maker who created me how ugly is the creature He has made.”

To slander someone made in God’s image is to slander God Himself and is the same as murdering that person. Jesus called such harsh contempt murder of the heart. The contemptuous person was as much as “guilty before the supreme court” (the Jewish Sanhedrin, which tried the most serious cases and pronounced the ultimate penalty—death). We dare not trifle with any kind of contemptuous language toward others.

Remember, this is not just an injunction against speaking unkind, judgmental words, but also of thinking them in our minds. When God has led you to seasons of victory in your thought life, how has He accomplished it? What stopped evil thoughts from ever coming up?

Slander is a lie about someone else that is intended to cause harm.

The young underling who slandered me just wanted me out of the business, I presume. (A small harm.) That was his short-term goal. He probably didn’t think about the long term nor about unintended consequences.

This is where it gets into murder or at least, attempted murder. In the long term, it could happen that I came out of this better than ever — more pay, better people to work with, more respect, more happiness — or, it could happen that I would end up sleeping under a bridge the rest of my life.

I was fired. I left about a million on the table. I got a much better job at much lower pay but with unbounded joy and happiness. I wouldn’t trade it for anything. The Lord had blessed me and prepared me for the moment so all is well.

A Law of Life is that “Everyone is coping as well as they can.” This young fellow was coping as well as he could; perhaps, he thought he was doing God’s work; (my former job was within the context of a religious entity.) My wish for him was that Life would knock a few rough edges off and that he would never do that again.

I even had an incident with a preacher who didn’t slander but did move some pieces around the chess board so I was eased out of minor situation. I had the opportunity later on to talk with him and say, “Don’t ever do that to a brother.” He hasn’t.

Never judge, never compare, never ask the reason why.
Three secrets of happiness.

Judge yourself.
Judging others may destroy others and to some extent yourself..
When we judge others we stop being a student.
Failing to learn, we cease to grow. (Spiritual suicide, huh?)

1 John — Love one another; Love one another; Love one another...

Supreme Court - was there such a thing?

The Greek is apparently: συνέδριον (synedrion).

Was this the Sanhedrin?

They had a legislative function as well, no?

Another possible definition: a smaller tribunal or council which every Jewish town had for the decision of less important cases.

I guess that wouldn’t be Supreme Court, so I guess it was the Sanhedrin.

Right - it wasn’t your point.

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