Imagine sitting down with a friend, and they start talking to you about something that hits deep—a heart free from bitterness, anger, or resentment. A heart that truly understands what it means to love others, even those who have hurt us or we might consider enemies. That kind of heart reflects a life transformed by Jesus.
Think about it. A life where bitterness and pride don’t have a place. It sounds freeing, doesn’t it? Jesus wasn’t just giving us a set of rules to follow; He was showing us how life can be when we let Him change us from the inside out. When Jesus talked about the sixth commandment—“You shall not murder”—He wasn’t just talking about the act of taking a life. He was getting to the heart of what leads us there—bitterness, anger, and unresolved hurt.
In Matthew 5:25-26, Jesus gives us some powerful advice: “Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on your way to court, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”
What He’s saying here is about much more than legal disputes. It’s about reconciliation—making peace quickly, before things get out of control. Jesus is saying, don’t wait until the damage is done. If you’ve got something against someone, or if someone has something against you, go to them. Make it right. And not just with people you like or agree with—but even with your enemies.
Now, I get it—this is not easy. It’s not easy to go to someone who has hurt you or who you’ve wronged and seek peace. It’s hard to swallow your pride, to let go of your anger. But Jesus is showing us that if we don’t deal with it, it’s like we’re putting ourselves in a prison. That prison is bitterness, anger, and resentment. It will suffocate you.
Picture a life where you hold no grudges, where you seek peace, where your heart isn’t weighed down by what others have done to you or by your own mistakes. It’s a life of freedom, the kind of life Jesus wants for us. He’s urging us to live peaceably with everyone, even when it’s difficult, even when the person doesn’t deserve it, because that’s how He lived.
Jesus is not asking us to roll over and let people walk all over us. What He’s talking about is choosing not to carry around the poison of bitterness. Choosing to let God be the judge, to trust Him to handle the people who hurt us.
The truth is, this world is messy. People hurt each other. Sometimes it’s intentional, sometimes it’s just a misunderstanding. But as followers of Christ, we are called to be different. We are called to love, even when it’s hard. To seek peace, even when the world around us thrives on conflict.
Have you ever noticed how holding onto anger or bitterness never really makes you feel better? It eats away at you, slowly. It changes the way you see the world, the way you interact with people, the way you live. But when you let go, when you choose forgiveness and peace, you find freedom.
That’s what Jesus is offering us—a way out of that prison. When He talks about coming to terms with your accuser, He’s talking about letting go of the things that bind you. He’s talking about freedom from the things that keep your heart in chains.
And let’s be real—this isn’t just about the big things. It’s about the little things too. The petty arguments, the silent treatments, the grudges we hold over things that don’t even matter in the grand scheme of things. It’s all those little moments where we choose to hold on to our pride rather than seek peace.
Jesus calls us to something greater. He calls us to live in a way that promotes love, peace, and harmony. And when we do that, we not only reflect Him, but we experience the life He intended for us—a life of joy, of peace, of true freedom.
The sixth commandment isn’t just about murder—it’s about the quality of our relationships, the quality of our hearts. It’s about how we treat others, how we handle conflict, how we choose to either live in peace or stay stuck in anger.
So today, think about the people in your life. Is there someone you need to make peace with? Is there a relationship that’s been broken, a grudge that you’ve been holding onto? Maybe it’s time to let it go. Maybe it’s time to reach out and reconcile.
Jesus knows it’s hard, but He also knows that it’s worth it. And He’s with you every step of the way, guiding you toward the freedom that comes with a heart free from bitterness, a heart filled with love and grace.
In the end, the peace we offer others is the peace we give ourselves. And it’s the kind of peace that can only come from living the way Jesus taught us—loving, forgiving, and letting go of the things that weigh us down.
Devotion on Matthew 5:23-24 found here.
For Deeper Insights on the Sermon on the Mount: If you’re searching for an accessible, powerful commentary, I highly recommend The Sermon on the Mount: Matthew 5-7 by James Montgomery Boice. This book breaks down Jesus’ teachings with clarity and depth, guiding readers to not only understand but also live out these transformative truths. Explore more about this exceptional commentary here.
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