One of the easiest verses to keep, at least on the surface, comes from Matthew 5 where Jesus says:
“But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘Raca’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”
— Matthew 5:22
Now, I don’t know about you, but I’ve never walked around calling people “Raca.” Honestly, the only time that word has left my lips was during Bible study or while reading Scripture out loud. So if Christianity were just a checklist religion, I could happily tick that box and move on.
But—word to the wise—that’s not what Jesus is asking from us.
I’ll confess something: my calendar is almost OCD-level organized. Thanks to Apple reminders, I rarely miss an appointment. Between work, college, being a dad, a partner, a friend, serving in church, helping a nonprofit, and yes, squeezing in this blog (written on Saturday, published on Tuesday), my week is full. And yet… with all that structure, the first domino that usually drops is my “Jesus time.”
Here’s the kicker: “Raca” isn’t about a funny-sounding insult. It’s about being furious, livid, having thoughts dark enough to make a Dexter episode look like a children’s cartoon. Jesus is saying the real measure isn’t what slips from your lips—it’s what brews in your heart. His call is to forgive before we come to worship.
Raca is also quite the insult, you are stating something that God created in “His image” is worthless, devoid of worth, useless, foolish or empty headed. As insults go you are calling him the Scarecrow in the Wizard of Oz.
And if I’m honest, I’ve stumbled there more than once. Forgiveness hasn’t always been my way, but it is His way.
So, how are you doing on the “Raca stakes”? Is your heart clear before your worship, or are there a few grudges still squatting in the corner?
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