Matthew 5:22 teaching

[nfinke]

Is there a Catholic teaching on this passage? I understand the warning against harboring anger, but to say “Whoever says “you fool!” Will be liable to the hell of fire” seems strange to me. I mean I could think of a thousand worse things to call someone than a fool, and I think Jesus calls some people fools or foolish in the gospels. Is this some Greek insult that was translated poorly?

 

[Bithynian]

Yes, Jesus does call others ‘fools’ at certain times: Matt 23:17 and (indirectly) Matt 7:26.

The Greek word is μωρός moros, whence comes our English ‘moron’. They are, in fact, used in both languages quite similarly: a general, low-level contemptuous remark to indicate someone’s low intelligence.

In Classical Greek there is a well known saying from Menander (3rd century BC playwright):

γελᾷ δ’ ὁ μωρός, κἄν τι μὴ γέλοιον ᾖ
gelai d’ ho moros, kan ti me geloion ei
‘The idiot laughs even when nothing is funny’

It’s very much an everyday sort of word, and Jesus uses it alongside other everyday scenes of brothers and sisters being angry at one another and insulting each other, and contrasts it with the very stark imagery of hellfire.

 

[Stephen_says]

There are several different commentaries, I think it should be viewed as one of the “hard” teachings of Christ “For human beings this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”

 

[Vico]

Is there a Catholic teaching on this passage? I understand the warning against harboring anger, but to say “Whoever says “you fool!” Will be liable to the hell of fire” seems strange to me. I mean I could think of a thousand worse things to call someone than a fool, and I think Jesus calls some people fools or foolish in the gospels. Is this some Greek insult that was translated poorly?

Catechism of the Catholic Church

1861 Mortal sin is a radical possibility of human freedom, as is love itself. It results in the loss of charity and the privation of sanctifying grace, that is, of the state of grace. If it is not redeemed by repentance and God’s forgiveness, it causes exclusion from Christ’s kingdom and the eternal death of hell, for our freedom has the power to make choices for ever, with no turning back. However, although we can judge that an act is in itself a grave offense, we must entrust judgment of persons to the justice and mercy of God.

2262 In the Sermon on the Mount, the Lord recalls the commandment, "You shall not kill,"62 and adds to it the proscription of anger, hatred, and vengeance. Going further, Christ asks his disciples to turn the other cheek, to love their enemies.63 He did not defend himself and told Peter to leave his sword in its sheath.64

62 Mt 5:21.
63 Cf. Mt 5:22-39; 5:44.

 

[BartholomewB]

It’s certainly a difficult saying, but the translation and footnotes in the Jerusalem Bible may help to shed a little light in the darkness:

But I say this to you: anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court; if a man calls his brother “Fool” he will answer for it before the Sanhedrin;[j] and if a man calls him “Renegade”[k] he will answer for it in hell fire.

The Aramaic word raqa, transliterated in Mt, translated here, means: empty-head, nitwit.
[j] Here the Great Sanhedrin which met in Jerusalem, as opposed to the minor courts (vv. 21-22) of the country districts.
[k] To the first meaning (“fool”) of the Greek word, Jewish usage added the much more insulting one of “impious”.

 

[1Lord1Faith]

I mean I could think of a thousand worse things to call someone than a fool,

It’s really not about name calling. That would be missing the point. The point of the “You have heard it said, but…” discourses is to get to the heart of the original teaching.

Jesus is saying that the primary root of murder is anger. Although it could also be jealousy or something else, anger is the angle that Jesus is using here. The point is that as one person progresses in an attitude of contempt for another person, the closer they get to a worse punishment.

but to say “Whoever says “you fool!” Will be liable to the hell of fire” seems strange to me.

The gospels aren’t written in a way that is easy to understand. We’re fairly removed from the culture, religion, writing style, etc. of that time.

 

[Dan_Defender]

In the context, Jesus uses language that escalates the punishment, going from judgment, to council, to hell. It is more illustrative than literal IMO. Remember he starts with the ‘thou shall not kill’ commandment and sets a higher standard, saying that even holding deep anger can get you severe punishment.

 

[DeniseKYGirl]

Matthew 5:22
But I say unto you egoo de legoo humin. Jesus thus assumes a tone of superiority over the Mosaic regulations and proves it in each of the six examples. He goes further than the Law into the very heart. “Raca” Raka and “Thou fool” Moore. The first is probably an Aramaic word meaning “Empty,” a frequent word for contempt. The second word is Greek (dull, stupid) and is a fair equivalent of “raca.” It is urged by some that moore is a Hebrew word, but Field (Otium Norvicense) objects to that idea. “Raca expresses contempt for a man’s head = you stupid! Moore
expresses contempt for his heart and character = you scoundrel”
(from Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament)

Matthew 5:22
Insults: the term Raca (see RSV footnote) is generally assumed to be of Aramaic origin, with the root meaning “empty.” Several scholars indicate that it may have meant something like “good-for-nothing” (so TEV) or “fool.” Some translations have followed the RSV fairly closely when translating insults, and said “whoever says insults (or, bad things) to his brother” or “whoever calls his brother bad names.” Others have chosen to use direct speech as TEV does, and say something like “whoever calls his brother, ‘You worthless person’ or ‘You no-good.’” This can also be in indirect speech, as in “whoever calls his brother a worthless person (or, a no-good).” Most languages have an insulting expression from their language which they can use. The important consideration is to be sure a term with a strong emotive force is used.
(from the UBS New Testament Handbook Series. Copyright © 1961-1997, by United Bible Societies.)

 

[DeniseKYGirl]

Matthew 5:22

The council was the supreme judicial body of the Jews. In cultures where it is the elders who judge violations of tradition or religion, this can be translated as “the elders of the Jews” or “the Council of our elders.” Other translations may say “the highest court of our people” or “the most senior judges in our land.” Thus be liable to the council means “will be taken to be judged by the council” or “they will carry that person before our senior elders so they can judge him.”

Fool (TEV “worthless fool”), in addition to the usual meaning of “senseless,” would probably have suggested “religious impiety” as well. Several scholars interpret it to mean “one who rebels against God.” Fool is used in the Old Testament primarily of the godless (Ps 14:1; 94:8; Isa 32:6; Deut 32:6; Jer 5:21).
In translation, both “Raca” and fool should be given the component of “foolishness,” with the second term somewhat stronger, possibly implying impiety as well. Elsewhere in the Gospel of Matthew, the word is used in Matt 7:26; 23:17,19; 25:2-3,8. No other Gospel writer uses it, though it is found four times in (1 Cor 1:25,27; 3:18; 4:10), and once each in (2 Tim 2:23) and (Titus 3:9). Fool has sometimes been translated as “godless,” “you don’t know God at all,” or “you are a wicked fool.”
(from the UBS New Testament Handbook Series)