The context of this setting of Scripture deals with being angry with your brother without a cause (verse 22). The anger being addressed was to cause Jesus’ audience to understand what causes murder. The law of Moses stated that one was not to kill (Deuteronomy 5:17). Since God commanded that anyone who kills their fellow man should face the death sentence, the idea of not killing here must be the idea of murder. In times of war God send His people out to kill other people. Jesus addresses the problem within the heart of the individual. Yes, the law said do not kill but then Jesus adds the word “but” in verse 22.
What if you are angry without a cause? Whoever continues to hate his brother is a“murderer”. His mind is so against a person that evil fills his heart. That evil will not allow any good to come and hence a relationship so destroyed cannot be built back unless there is a change (I John 3:15). How does one keep his heart from reaching that point? In one sense we are commanded to pray for those who despitefully would use us (Matthew 5:44). The context here, however, deals with the person who had injured someone else. It is words that deal with the responsibility of the one who did the injuring.
What is he to do? We understand that we do not offer animal sacrifices. Those sacrifices under the law of Moses were acts of worship. How would we worship God knowing we had injured someone’s spirit? Jesus taught to go and make things right. The problem today, because of pride, is that some men will not admit they have done wrong. They wait for vindication and while they are waiting bitterness grows in their heart. In an indirect way this takes us back to the idea earlier in the chapter about being “poor in spirit” (Matthew 5:3). If we are guilty, then do not justify but rather go and clarify to make one’s worship toward God, acceptable.