Matthew 5, specifically verses 21 and 22 asked about in the original post are part of the Sermon on the Mount. The section containing these verses is often given the heading “Teaching about the Law” in some Bibles and that is an important clue as to what Jesus was teaching.
Jesus is using a rabinnical teaching technique in these passages. The formula for this technique is “
You have heard that it was said (about the mosaic law)… But I say to you (about my new law).”
You have heard that it was said to your ancestors, “You shall not kill; and whoever kills will be liable to judgment.” But I say to you, whoever is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment, and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raqa,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin, and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ will be liable to fiery Gehenna. (Matthew 5:21-22)
Jesus is effectively replacing the Jewish code of conduct under the mosaic law with a radical new code of conduct. The old “Holiness code” of Leviticus defined holiness as what you did in terms of food, clothing, and most importantly, seperation of yourself from sinners and non Jews. The old holiness code of the mosaic law defined holiness as seperation. Jesus radical new holiness code however, redefines holiness as how you treat other people.
You have heard that it was said, “You shall not commit adultery.” But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. (Matthew 5:27-28)
It was also said, "Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery. (Matthew 5:31-32)
You have heard that it was said, “An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.” But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on (your) right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. (Matthew 5:38-39)
You have heard that it was said, “You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.” But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you, (Matthew 5:43-44)
It’s a new holiness code. Holiness is no longer defined as how you act in terms of food and clothing, but in terms of how human beings treat each other. That’s the general gist of what Jesus is teaching in these passages.
And the king will say to them in reply, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.” (Matthew 25:40)
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Regarding “Judgement”, “The Sanhedrin” and “the Hell of fire” we notice what appears to be a relative gradation or relative severity of sin.
Judgment probably refers to the civil judges who sat at the gate of the city. This is where you brought civil cases against your neighbor and where you could be thrown into debtor’s prison if you owed money and could not pay. These judges were raised up from the prominent citizenry and effectively judged small claims cases, civil law suits, minor non-capital infractions of the mosaic law and such.
The Sanhedrin was the supreme court - the crimminal court - of the city. A Sanhedrin made up or rabbis and experts in the mosaic law sat in each city and passed judgment on people who were charged with wrongdoing under the mosaic law. The sanhedrin had the judicial/legislative authority to bind and loose (sound familiar) under the mosaic law and hence, to render a death sentance.
Note that the first two types or severities of sin leave one open to judgement - one to temporal punishment, the other to possible death. The third type of sin however, leaves one immediately liable to Hell - spiritual death. Matthew 5:21-22 is actually one of the passages in the Bible where Catholics get the doctrine of mortal and venial sin. Some sins are severe enough to leave you open to God’s judgment but some are so severe that they demand punishment in Hell.
This passage is also key to understanding the Catholic doctine of Purgatory. If some sins don’t deserve death, but you have to be perfectly clean and sinless to enter heaven, then there must be a place or process whereby “The spirits of the just [are] made perfect” (Hebrews 12:23)
I did a blog post which explains Matthew 5:21-22 in terms of the Catholic doctrine of Puragatory
here.
-Tim-
(liable to) subject by law to.