The Inescapable Truth About Hate: Matthew 5:21-26

Matthew 5:21–22 (CSB) — 21 “You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. 22 But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults his brother or sister, will be subject to the court. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to hellfire.

We are witnessing these inescapable truths unfold before our very eyes and I believe that it is incumbent upon us all to examine the content of our hearts knowing that we will all be held accountable by God for whether or not our hearts were filled with the darkness of human outrage or the light of Christ’s love.

People are trying to solve yesterday’s injustices with injustices today that will be called into account tomorrow.

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We would be foolish if we did not recognize that the hate and bitterness in people’s hearts that is driving them to loot, vandalize, and kill innocent police officers, business owners, and protestors is not the solution to the injustices that we claim to oppose. We stand at a crossroads where we can either choose the path of hate being relentlessly pushed by the prevailing narrative of our day, or choose the path of love whereby we all forgive the wrongs that we have suffered from others so that healing and reconciliation can occur.

Jesus’ words scare us because we do not like to entertain the idea that the outrage and hatred that we harbor in our hearts will face a day of reckoning, but the truth of his words are inexcusable at this point because what started out in our hearts as outrage has manifested in our society as violence and murder. We need to pay attention as data from early June demonstrates that the riots have already cost more lives than the total number of unarmed black people that were killed in 2019.

No matter where you are along the political spectrum, we should all agree that our outrage is not the answer to the injustice that we all agree must be corrected. We will not correct injustice with the kind of hatred that produces looting, vandalism, violence, and murder. These will only incur greater guilt and condemnation upon us all.

My voice doesn’t mean much in this world, but my prayers do; I am broken for what is happening right now, but even so, I have not given up. I will intercede in the presence of my King for all people.