Question RE Matt 5:22

[jerreye]

Hi Group,

I have a question re Matt 5:22:

Mt 5:22
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment (NOT Gehenna-Fire): and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council (NOT Gehenna Fire): BUT whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of Gehenna-Fire.

Why is it that if someone calls another "Raca" (empty-headed), he is NOT liable to Gehenna-Fire (but only the "council"), while someone who calls another a FOOL, IS liable to Gehenna-Fire?

I understand from Ray's paper that this Gehenna-Fire is a symbol, meaning to burn up the chaff (i.e. calling someone a FOOL) in our lives. If "Raca" and "Fool" basically have the same "weight", wouldn't calling someone "Raca" make a person liable to have this sin burned up in Gehenna-Fire also (if indeed this Gehenna-Fire means to have our sins/chaff burned up)?

Ray says that this is "already answered" in his Hell papers somewhere (and it may well be), but I am unable to locate it ! Perhaps someone here can help me locate the answer in his paper?

Cheers!
Jeremy

[Robin]

He talks about this on the bottom of THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT Paper.

http://bible-truths.com/lake16-D3.htm

MAYBE THE MOST ENIGMATIC SCRIPTURE IN ALL THE BIBLE

Jesus told His disciples in this sermon that if they called a brother "fool" they would be in danger of "Gehenna fire." What kind of danger is that. How does this Gehenna fire actually judge us. Is there anywhere that we are told how Gehenna judges us to make us "righteous?" There is a verse that specifically addresses what Gehenna accomplishes, but it is one of the least understood verses in all Scripture:

"And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell [Gehenna fire]" (Matt. 10:28). 

The biggest problem in understanding this verse, is to understand who this verse is talking about. The Church will tell you that it is talking about those who will suffer loss of salvation in the eternal fires of hell. Yet nothing could be further from the truth. This verse was addressed directly to and about the 12 apostles, and is applied to all Christ's disciples throughout all generations.

Go back to the first verse of chapter 10 for the contextual proof that Jesus is instructing his Apostles only in this teaching: "These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them [no one else, just 'them,' just the twelve apostles], saying..." And Jesus continues speaking unbroken all the way to the eleventh chapter, to His twelve apostles only.

If it is the world of unrepentant sinners that are to "fear Him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell," then why oh why didn't Jesus make this clear to His apostles in these verses? But no, Jesus warned His apostles that they are to be the ones fearing. Notice:

"...He called unto Himself His twelve disciples... These twelve Jesus sent forth and commanded them saying... [Jesus continues speaking to His apostles only] ...And fear not them [their enemies and persecutors] which kill the body [their body; your body], but are not able to kill the soul [your soul]: but rather fear Him [you twelve apostles] which is able to destroy both soul and body [both YOUR soul and YOUR body] in hell [Gehenna fire]" (Matt. 10:1, 5, & 28).

Assuredly, Jesus was not warning the wicked to not fear the wicked who, when they kill the wicked cannot kill the soul... No, this instruction is for believers.

Gehenna is judgment. It is not torture in literal fire. It is judgment upon God's Elect to spiritually purify them; to make them holy and blameless; and to make them strong. Gehenna speaks of judgment, and Jesus taught that God is "able to destroy both soul and body in Gehenna." How are we (God's Elect) presently being destroyed in both body and soul? Notice what Jesus said a few verses after He made this statement:

"He that finds his life [Gk: 'psuche' - soul, not zoe which is life] shall lose it: and he that loses his life [soul] for My sake shall find it" (Matt. 10:39).

We must be spiritually baptized into Christ's death, and we must also LOSE OUR SOUL for Christ's sake.

Learn to read Scriptures accurately and precisely. Take note that Jesus did NOT say "And fear not them which KILL the body, but are not able to KILL the soul, but rather fear Him which is able to KILL both soul and body in hell [Gk: Gehenna]." No, Jesus did NOT say that, but it is assumed that He either said that or at least meant that. No, He did not. Jesus said: "And fear not them which KILL the body, but are not able to KILL the soul, but rather fear Him which is able to DESTROY both soul and body in hell [Gk: Gehenna]."

Why the switch? Jesus switches from "kill" to "destroy."

It is our "soul" that God is more interested in than our "life." An insane person may have a perfectly healthy life, but his soul is severely damaged. A comatose person may be in perfect physical health and be very much "alive," but possesses virtually no soul-conscious awareness, character, love, emotions, knowledge, hopes and dreams, memories, etc.

Now then, "destroy" in verse 28 is the Greek word 'appolumi' and it means: DESTROY, PARISH, LOSE. Wow! Are you seeing this? How much easier my job would be if only the translators had been consistent, but God didn't want them to be consistent. It's all part of the worldwide deception which is a necessary part of God's plan. In verse 18 Jesus says that God can "appolumi your body and soul." In verse 39 Jesus tells us that we must "appolumi our own soul." Either we 'appolumi' -destroy/lose our souls, or God will 'appolumi' our souls for us, and that is not the way we want to go, seeing that: "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God" (Heb. 10:31).

And notice this is precisely what we read in Matt. 5:29- "If your right eye offend you [then YOU] pluck it out... And if your right hand offend you [then YOU] cut it off... and not that your whole body should be cast [by GOD, 'fear HIM'] into Gehenna" (Matt. 5:28-30).

We must pluck out and cut off those members of the body which are used to sin against God:

"Mortify therefore your members [Gk: 'melos' -'parts of the BODY' -Dr. Strong] which are upon the earth; fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence, and covetousness, which is idolatry: For which things' sake the wrath of God comes ['fear HIM'] on the children of disobedience: In the which ye also walked some time, when ye lived in them. But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds; And have put on the new man, which is renewed in knowledge after the Image of Him that created him [it]" (Col. 3:5-10).

But hopefully by now, we all know that the different "members" of our body [pluck out your eye; cut off your hand; cut off your foot] do not actually sin, but it is the heart and carnal mind of man that uses the members of his body to commit sin: "Neither yield you your members as instruments of unrighteousness unto sin..." (Rom. 6:13).

So then God teaches us to "fear HIM" and in so doing, destroy [Gk: 'apollumi' -destroy, perish, lose] our soul by "plucking out and cutting off" these members of our body so as to stop using them as "instruments of unrighteousness unto sin" so that God will not have to "destroy both our body and our soul in Gehenna" by "CASTING us into Gehenna." Are you beginning to understand the judgment of "Gehenna fire" and how it works?

FOUR JUDGMENTS OF JESUS

"...but I say unto you That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment" (Matt. 5:22).

Without a CAUSE?

How and when, pray tell, has anyone been "angry with his brother," but there was absolutely no cause for the anger. There has been a great debate for centuries as to whether the phrase "without a cause" should be in this verse.

I agree with those who do not put this in their translation. I believe some editor who just could not stop hating a brother, and saw his dilemma according to Jesus' teaching, inserted this phrase into some manuscript to allow for his hatred and still be in God's good graces.

This reminds me of the parody on "Little Bo Peep." It goes something like this:

"It says here, Little Bo Peep who was a little girl, 'has lost her sheep, and doesn't know where to find them.' Now think for a moment think, if the sheep were lost it's only natural that you wouldn't know WHERE TO FIND THEM! But 'leave them alone-leave them alone...' Now that overwhelms me, completely overwhelms me! If the sheep where lost and you couldn't find them, YOU'D HAVE TO 'LEAVE THEM ALONE,' wouldn't you?" Etc.

But doesn't Eph. 4:26 tell us to: "Be ye angry, and sin not; let not the sun go down upon your wrath."

Any number of translators tried to interpret this verse better than the King James, but most failed:

"IF angry, beware of sinning..." (Weymouth ).

"IF you get angry, you must stop sinning in your anger..." (Williams Trans.)

"Do not let resentment lead you into sin..." (Knox Trans.)

"IF you are angry, don't sin by nursing your grudge..." (Kenneth Taylor)

That last one is really funny. So if you just have a grudge against a brother, but you don't "nurse it," then you will be okay? Is that something like: "If you are going to keep looking at pornography, don't LUST." Or: "If you continue drinking way too much, don't GET DRUNK."

They try every means to justify BEING ANGRY, but not yet, not quite, actually "SINNING." And just where is that fine line between being angry with a brother, but not yet sinning? There IS NO FINE LINE.

The only translation that seems to make sense out of this verse is the following:

"ARE you indignant, and NOT SINNING?" (Concordant Literal New Testament). 

Now that translation makes sense and is Scriptural. It needs to be stated as a question.

"Indignation, anger, and wrath" are almost synonymous, and are often used interchangeably by many translations.

And so the question is, "Can one be angry, wrathful, or indignant toward a brother without actually sinning?" The answer is NO. Notice how this verse continues:

"Are you indignant, and not sinning? Do not let the sun be sinking on your vexation [wrath], NOR [ah, yes, let's not neglect this final part...] ...nor yet be giving place to the Adversary [devil]" (Eph. 4:26-27).

Jesus himself showed anger toward the hypocrites, but not toward His brothers. "...whosoever is angry with his BROTHER." Jesus got angry, "And when He [Jesus] had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts" (Mark 3:5). Remember that Jesus, "the LAMB of God" will return to this earth in WRATH (Rev. 6:16), but... ...BUT, "God has not appointed US [His Elect] to wrath" (I Thes. 5:9). 

Jesus is NOT angry with His brothers. Neither can we be angry with our brothers. But just who are Jesus' brothers and our brothers? Answer:

"For whosoever shall do the will of God, the same is My brother, and My sister, and mother" (Mark 3:35).

Being angry with a true brother or sister who is doing the will of God, is little different than being angry with God Himself. And if we do it, we will be in danger of the Judgment. Or as some render it, "the Judge or Judges." Jesus is our singular Judge, and we will be the multiple judges that "judge the world & angels" (I Cor. 6:2-3), by these very same principles.

The first four judgments of Jesus in His Sermon revolve around "brothers" in Christ who "do the will of God." And even calling a brother "you fool," will bring judgment of Jesus on your life. But what about the last one-"prison?" Does Jesus put us in prison? Yes, He certainly does. I can personally vouch for this one, and maybe you can too. Sometimes we are put into a position where we just can't get out. There IS NO WAY OUT. We will physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually struggle for a way out, but there is no way out. You are in spiritual prison! And Jesus ONLY has the keys.

[jerreye]

Thanks M.G...I've actually read this a couple of times now:) However, I still have a couple of issues...

I understand that Ray states that Jesus uses all of these judgments (council, sanhedrin, gehenna, prison) as he sees fit, which I believe. But, in saying that, it seems that calling a brother "WORTHLESS" IS actually worse than saying "Raca/IDIOT". I think there might be a progression in the passage (Ray states in his paper that there is NOT a progression at all):

FIRST: Being angry with a brother but yet not opening your MOUTH to him...
SECOND: Not only being ANGRY, but then opening your mouth and calling your brother an IDIOT (Raca), which may mean mean you were angry to begin with....
THIRD: Not only being angry and calling your brother an IDIOT, but then saying the ultimate insult by calling him WORTHLESS!

Perhaps Jesus is saying that being angry with a brother is the first step towards greater sins and that this can be corrected with the FIRST of the three judgments, "the judgment/people's court if you will". If this doesn't correct you, and you then, on top of your anger, call your brother an IDIOT, then this can be corrected by a HIGHER judgment (sanhedrin/supreme court if you will), but if this does not correct you - and you then top off your anger by calling a brother completely WORTHLESS, then you have come full circle and the only thing that can correct this is the FIRE. See my point? I could be wrong in all of this and I'm certainly not being dogmatic about it. 

I just don't understand how Ray can say that calling a bro a FOOL is NOT worse than calling him RACA, yet at the same time calling a bro a FOOL deserves Gehenna Fire and the other does NOT deserve Gehenna Fire. IF they are both identical sins, then they would BOTH deserve the exact same judgment. I am asking God to give me insight in the matter! Thanks for the reply!

Cheers,
Jeremy

[Kat]

Hi jerreye,

In your first post where did you get the scripture with the (NOT Gehenna Fire)?  I think that is the whole point of the paper, that it is Gehenna fire that the elect should be concerned about now.
I'm thinking you are just looking at this from a different perspective. 
The thing is all of what Jesus was saying was directed towards the disciples/elect and concerned their additude towards other brothers/elect.  The way we deal with a brother, who has the Holy Spirit indwelling, is much more significant than our dealings with the world.  What Jesus in saying is the elect can receive all of these judgments now, in this life, He is not talking about the Lake of fire, but the fire of chastisment now. 

This is excerpt taken from Ray's paper 'The Sermon on the Mount..."

http://bible-truths.com/lake16-D3.htm -----------------------

Only the living experience "Gehenna fire." And during this life, It is rather the living chosen elect of Jesus Christ who go through "Gehenna fire."

THE TIME HAS ALREADY COME FOR OUR JUDGMENT

"For the time is come that judgment must begin [this began two thousand years ago] at the House of God..." (I Pet. 4:17).

The JUDGMENT, COUNCIL, GEHENNA, AND PRISON (Matt. 5) of Christ's Sermon on the Mount are for US; Christ's disciples; those chosen; the faithful; the overcomers; the few; the elect. And these judgments are NOW in each generation of the chosen few throughout this Church age.

The Gospels were written for us. The judgments they contain are for us. Jesus says unto us, that we are in danger of judgment, council, gehenna fire, and prison, if WE do not spiritually obey from the heart even the least of Christ's commandments. Jesus will not judge us for being angry with a brother, in Israel's judgment. Jesus will not judge us for cursing a brother (Raca), in the Jewish Sanhedrin. Jesus will not judge us for calling a brother fool, in man's valley of Hinnom. Jesus will not punish us for failing to be reconciled with a brother, in man's jail houses. Jesus will not punish us for lusting after a woman by throwing our physical body into a literal Gehenna in the valley of Hinnom. [In this paragraph Ray is saying that this scripture is not literal, it's just using figures of speech they can understand, but is talking about judgment(Gehenna fire)]

Jesus likens His judgments to the judgments of men with which His disciples were familiar, but these are Jesus' judgments, not men's judgments. However, let me say that sometimes God does judge us by bringing us into subjection to "the higher powers ordained of God" (Rom. 13:1). It is still God behind the judgment even though it appears that it is solely being carried out by the civil power of our state or community.
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I hope I understood what you were questioning here, I don't always see it the way it's ask 

mercy, peace, and love
Kat