eone is to call them a nitwit or imbecile. It destroys their self-esteem. It belittles them. The abuser must now face a trial before the Sanhredin, the highest judicial body. Finally, Jesus warns that calling someone a fool is even worse. No longer an “imbecile,” the person under attack is “worthless” (the direct meaning of the Greek word). The Jews understood the word to be filled with contempt. To hate someone so much as to see no value in them is to condemn oneself to Gehenna. Gehenna was a name given to a nearby valley that was the center of a cult that killed children by fire as a sacrifice to the gods. The Jews used the name to illustrated the concept of punishment by fire; today we call it “hell.” This theme of anger being equal to murder is easier to understand in light of 1 John 4:7-21, which says that God is love, and when we have anger, we have hatred, we don’t have love, so we don’t have God, and we therefore don’t have eternal life. The rest of this passage is God’s remedy for the times we feel anger. In essence, Jesus says: Go and do whatever is necessary to be reconciled with the one who’s made you angry. This, He points out, is even more important than worshiping God. How genuine can your worship really be if anger has replaced love in your heart, since God is love. Questions for Reflection and Discussion 1. Jesus used name-calling as an example of how we treat others unlovingly. What are some other ways that we belittle people or kill their self-esteem? Why is that harmful to them? 2. Can you recall an incident in which someone treated you unfairly, but you responded with an act of love? How difficult was it to give that love? What were the results? 3. Anger is a normal human feeling. In itself, it is neither right nor wrong. Jesus even felt angry. At what point does anger become sinful? Why does expressing anger hurt the people who experience our anger? ...
