“You heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder,’ and whoever murders shall be liable to judgment. But I say to you that whoever is wroth with his brother without a cause shall be liable to judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raka!’ shall be liable to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be liable to fire of GĕHinnom.” – Matthew 5:21-22

“We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brothers. The one not loving his brother stays in death. Everyone hating his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has everlasting life staying in him.” 1 John 3:14-15

It’s been often said that Yeshua didn’t come to destroy the Law, but instead He came to magnify it. In reading this week’s Torah portion “Judgements” I am reminded that He came to teach the Torah perfectly. Yeshua’s words in Matthew chapter 5 seem to reflect the statement made by the Apostle John: everyone even hating his brother in his heart is already a murderer.

This principle is exemplified in Exodus 21:12-27. Exodus 12:21: “He who strikes a man so that he dies shall certainly be put to death.”

Verses 22-27 describe acts of violence towards others that can lead to death: striking or cursing one’s father or mother, or killing an unborn child in the womb, for example. There are also laws for lesser punishments if the victim of violence doesn’t die, or if the harm is unintentional. There are accidents in life, and we often do things unintentionally. In the case of intentional violence: in order to commit a harmful or destructive act towards someone with the intention of hurting them, one must already have anger or hatred towards another embedded in their heart, much like Cain:

“And it came to be, in the course of time, that Qayin brought an offering of the fruit of the ground to יהוה. And Hebel also brought of the first-born of his flock and of their fat. And יהוה looked to Hebel and his offering, but He did not look to Qayin and his offering. And Qayin was very wroth, and his face fell. And יהוה said to Qayin, “Why is he wroth towards you? And why is your face fallen? Is it not if you do good, you are to be accepted? And if you do not do good, towards the door is a sin. He is lying and towards you is his desire, and you must rule over him.” (Genesis 4:3-7)

Cain became jealous, envious, and angry with his brother, which led to murder. He didn’t start murderous, but the seed of bitterness took root and grew until the death of his brother became a physical reality.

We are warned to stay away from committing murder in our heart, because what is in the heart often becomes reality. Matthew 15:11, Yeshua said, “Not that which goes into the mouth defiles the man, but that which comes out of the mouth, this defiles the man,” and verse 18, “But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and these defile the man.” Often these roots of bitterness begin with seeds of envy, slander, jealousy, and other emotions that are detrimental to our personal and spiritual growth. If allow we allow them to take root, they can cause us to become puffed-up in our own understanding.

“If anyone teaches differently and does not agree to the sound words, those of our Master יהושע Messiah, and to the teaching which is according to reverence, he is puffed up, understanding none at all, but is sick about questionings and verbal battles from which come envy, strife, slander, wicked suspicions, worthless disputes of men of corrupt minds and deprived of the truth, who think that reverence is a means of gain – withdraw from such.” 1 Timothy 6:3-5

Whoever hates his brother is a murderer, according to the Apostle John, and the Master Yeshua. How we treat our brothers and sisters applies to the words that we speak as well.

There is a principle called lashon hara, which means “the evil tongue”, and it is derived from Leviticus 19:16: “do not go slandering among your people.” To slander means to go about being a tale-bearer. The root verb means to be a merchant, or to travel for trading. To commit lashon hara is to distribute, or spread about through the spoken or written word, speech that damages the person who is being talked about. The damage can be emotional, financial, or even diminish their respectability in the eyes of others; it detracts from their public image or reputation in how they are perceived by others.

“Lashon hara” the phrase is not mentioned in the Torah, but is derived from the Psalms 34:13: “Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit.” So we are to stay away from the evil tongue, and speaking deceitfully. Yeshua said in Matthew chapter 5 that if our brother has something against us, then we are to go to him and be reconciled. If we secretly harbor something against someone, and don’t go to them to tell them and continue to act as if nothing is wrong, then we are speaking deceitfully, and run the risk of allowing a root of bitterness to be established in our heart. Additionally, Luke 17:3 says that if your brother sins against you, then you are to reprove him, and if he repents forgive him. However, Matthew 10:14 says that whoever does not receive you nor hear your words, then you should dust your feet of the situation. In the end, there are some people whom you just can’t reach Biblically.

Slandering is paired with bloodshed and hatred in Leviticus 19:16-17, which is why it is equated with murder. “You do not go slandering among your people. You do not rise-up against the blood (or the life) of your neighbor. I am YHWH. You do not hate your brother in your heart. Reprove your neighbor, for certain, and bear no sin because of him.”

Committing lashon hara leads to destroying someone else’s public imaged, finances, or emotional well-being, and is likened to murder. Having jealousy, envy, anger, strife, and contention in the heart leads to hatred which leads to physical violence or non-verbal violence. Both can lead to murder: either the death of a physical body, or the destruction of someone’s reputation.

“And the works of the flesh are well-known, which are these: adultery, whoring, uncleanness, indecency, idolatry, drug sorcery, hatred, quarrels, jealousies, fits of rage, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, murders, drunkenness, wild parties, and the like – of which I forewarn you, even as I also said before, that those who practice such as these shall not inherit the reign of Elohim. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, trustworthiness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no Torah. And those who are of Messiah have impaled the flesh with its passions and the desires. If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.” Galatians 5:19-26

“Beloved ones, let us love one another, because love is of Elohim, and everyone who loves has been born of Elohim, and knows Elohim. The one who does not love does not know Elohim, for Elohim is love. By this the love of Elohim was manifested in us, that Elohim has sent His only brought-forth Son into the world, in order that we might live through Him. In this is love, not that we loved Elohim, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be an atoning offering for our sins. Beloved ones, if Elohim so loved us, we also ought to love one another.” 1 John 4:7-11

Do you have bitterness, jealousy, envy, or murder in your heart? In order for you to be forgiven, you must forgive and seek forgiveness. Speaking about others behind their back causing others to think less of someone is unscriptural, and harms not only the person being spoken about, but also harms the people who hear the slander, and it harms the person making the slanderous accusations. Unfortunately, in today’s day and age, social media has removed much of the interpersonal skills needed to respectfully engage with others face-to-face in one-on-one or small group interactions.

Isaiah 1:18 says, “Come now, and let us reason together,” says יהוה. “Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall be as wool.” Yet, how can we expect to reason with our Elohim whom we can’t see, when we can’t even reason with each other, whom we can? “If someone says, “I love Elohim,” and hates his brother, he is a liar. For the one not loving his brother whom he has seen, how is he able to love Elohim whom he has not seen?” (1 John 4:20)

In the book of James, chapter 3 and verse 8: “But no man is able to tame the tongue. It is unruly, evil, filled with deadly poison. With it we bless our Elohim and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of Elohim. Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brothers, this should not be so.” Continuing in verse 13, “Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by his good behavior his works in meekness of wisdom. But if you have bitter jealousy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast against and lie against the truth. This is not the wisdom coming down from above, but it is earthly, unspiritual, demonic. For where jealousy and self-seeking are, there is confusion and every foul deed. But the wisdom from above is first clean, then peaceable, gentle, ready to obey, filled with compassion and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”

May the Body of Messiah learn these principles, and soon. Amen.