Anger, Raca, Moreh, and Gehenna in Mt. 5:21-22

[Sherman Nobles]

A passage that has perplexed me since childhood is Mt. 5:21-22.  “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.”

 

It has perplexed me because there seems to be little or no difference between “Raca” and “fool”.  And why did Jesus use the various words “judgment”, “court”, and “fire of hell”.  I mean, to me “judgment” and “fire of hell” carried the same connotation; and there is little, if any, difference between calling someone “stupid, empty head” (Raca) and calling a person a “fool”.  And if Jesus was just restating the warning in different ways then why use the word “court”? 

 

Though this passage has perplexed me for many years, it raised no significant theological concerns for me so I had just shelved it.  Over the last couple of years though I have been studying about judgment, Hell, and “Gehenna” which is the word often translated as “Hell” in Mt. 5:22.  Of course, one of the first things I found in my research was that Gehenna was the valley or ravine of Hinnom just outside of Jerusalem which was used as a trash dump.  It was an actual place where there was a continuous fire and no shortage of maggots (worm dies not) which were always ready to consume the dead material cast there.  There is evidence that the Pharisees used Gehenna as a theological metaphor of punishment in the after-life, primarily remedial punishment, but also possibly annihilation or indefinitely long punishment for the especially wicked.  And thus Gehenna would likely be best either simply transliterated as Gehenna or translated as “the city trash dump”.  Either way, Hell, as in endless torment, is likely not a good translation of Gehenna.

 

In reviewing this passage while studying about Gehenna, I reviewed the words translated as “judgment” and “court” and found that krisis (judgment) not only speaks of judgment in general, but also was used to reference the local judicial system, a tribunal of seven men who would make judgments concerning local common disputes; and synedrion (court) spoke of the Sanhedrin, Israel’s Supreme Court.  The Sanhedrin judged the most serious and most important cases including cases where the death penalty was a possibility.  So there seems to be a progression of the seriousness of offence and potential penalty for crimes.  But how does Gehenna fit into this possible progression?

 

In this passage there also seems to be a progression in offences from simple anger, to name calling.  But here again there seems to be little difference, if any between “Raca” and “fool”.  Raca means basicly “empty head”; in today’s venacular it would be like calling someone “stupid”.  The word “fool” has the same basic connotation though some commentaries indicate that “fool” was somewhat more degrading.  As I was researching the meaning of “fool” though, I found that the Greek word “mora” (Vocative case of “moros”) translated as “fool” could also be a transliteration of the Aramaic word “Mora” and the Hebrew word “Moreh” which means “Rebel”.  And of course, both Raca and Gehenna are both transliterations, as well as “Synedrion”.  So understanding “Mora” as a transliteration instead of a translation fits well the immediate literary pattern. 

 

If Mora does mean Rebel, then this fits the apparent progression in the passage.  It also helps us understand what was meant by Gehenna for in Israel rebels were crucified by the Romans and often cast into Gehenna as a means of further humiliating the rebel.  To be not given a proper burial was very humiliating to the Jew.  And to be cast into Gehenna was especially vile because of it being such a spiritually unclean area which was associated with the severest judgment of God against Israel when Jerusalem was destroyed by the Babylonians.  In fact, the Law required that Isrealites not only bury their dead, but even the dead of their enemies.  So to be executed, not buried and cast into Gehenna was to not only suffer the ultimate humiliation personally, but was to bring humiliation and shame to all of Israel, especially one’s family and loved ones. 

 

In this passage there is a progression of offense from “anger”, to “verbal disdain of others”, and ultimately to “rebellion”.  And there is a progression in punishment from local civil judgment, to the Sanhedrin, and ultimately to being executed by the Romans and completely humiliated by having one’s corpse consumed in the city trash dump (Gehenna) by fire, maggots, and wild animals!  All this starts with anger.

 

And by the way, note that the NIV and other versions do not include the phrase “without cause” to modify being angry with one’s brother because many of the early manuscripts do not contain it.  I believe they are correct in leaving it out, for it really doesn’t matter whether one’s anger is justified or not, anger, even justified anger, often leads to irrational actions that can get us in terrible trouble.  And thus anger is an important emotion that one needs to control.  Think of all the proverbial statements in scripture concerning anger.  “Be slow to speak and slow to wrath.”  “The anger of man does not work the righteousness of God.”  “In your anger do not sin and don’t give place to your wrath, nor give room for the devil.” 

 

Anyhow, in short I believe that a good "amplified" translation of Mt. 5:21-22 would be, “You’re all familiar with the teachings of the Pharisees concerning murder which attempts to justify the evils of murder.  But I tell you that if you give in to anger, you’ll at the least be subject to local civil judgment.  And if you become verbally abusive because of anger, you run the risk of facing the Sanhedrin.  And if you become a rebel, you’ll face the shame of execution by the Romans and the humiliation of not being buried but cast into Jerusalem's trash dump and consumed by fire, maggots, and the dogs - humiliation for you, those you love, and even all of Israel!  All because of anger!”   

[Addai]

My understanding of the term "Raca" from Christian Assyrians (Those that still speak a modern dialect of Aramaic), the term means "I spit upon you" (because when you insult a person you spit in their face).

One Assyrian writer said that it doesn't relate to directly to fool as it is translated.   That interpretation was actually taken from a few Talmudic passages.   Anyway he said that it doesn't relate to fool directly because the Bible itself chastises people for being foolish, thoughtless, dull, etc.    The prohibition is a despising or disparaging something that is God handiwork, God's creation, God's redemption, that was made in God's image.   Which is of course the opposite of Grace and Christian charity (we are not suppose to judge et.)

[Addai]

PS - FYI my online name actually comes that background

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Addai

[Sherman Nobles]

Thanks Addai for the further explanation of "Raca".  It is much more than just calling someone stupid; it speaks of contempt for the person.  I'm curious, what are the further connotations of "Mora" in Aramaic from Christian Assyrians.

[Addai]

I don't know that specifically....

 

Well one web site I use to talk online at was

 

http://www.peshitta.org/

 

This web site was done for years and I lost interest (the person running it got sick and had other problems).   Since then it looks like it has become active again.   You could post your question there or I suppose I could ask for you.

 

The source of the Raca as contempt was George Lamsa.  I think it is in both he Aramaic Bible and book of idioms.   (He is a somewhat controversial figure.   He was raised in the Assyrian Church of the East.   But it looks like later on after coming to this country his thinking may have been colored by some more liberal elements, like Unitarians.   Unfortunately until message boards became big, he was really the only widely published source if were an English speaking person interested in Biblical Aramaic)

 

http://www.amazon.com/Holy-Bible-Ancient-Translation-Peshitta/dp/00...

 

http://www.amazon.com/Idioms-Bible-Explained-Original-Gospels/dp/00...

[Sherman Nobles]

Thanks for the info Addai.  I'm familiar with Lamsa's work.

 

It's also interesting that the next verses speak specifically of civil judgment.  

²³ “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

   ²⁵ “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

The more I study this passage, the more it seems clear to me that Jesus is warning of a progression of civil punishments, with the ultimate civil earthly punishment being execution by the Romans and complete humiliation and shame for one's self, one's family, and even the whole nation of Israel by being not buried but cast by the Romans into Gehenna where one's body is consumed by animals, maggots, and burnt!  

Jesus then goes on to say:

²⁹ If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your b

[Addai]

Good stuff Sherman!   It does remind me of something my priest preached on a few months , when covering the a gospel passage.    He spoke about the affects of Sin in terms of disease, as having levels of progression.   And how that can also be seen as allegorical of the affects of sin upon our life (If the sin isn't dealt with).

 

The levels ranged were something like this...

 

1) Invisible (known only to the person.

2) visible but with no serious symptoms (The character sees that they have a spot on their skin that is leprosy but do not experience any other symptoms)

3) visible with symptoms

4) the person dies of the Illness.   They can only be healed by being resurrected like Lazarus or us being "Dead in our sins" prior to hearing the Gospel etc.

[Sherman Nobles]

Oops, my last reply got cut off.  It was:

Jesus then goes on to say:

²⁷ “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ ²⁸ But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. ²⁹ If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into Gehenna. ³⁰ And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into Gehenna.

   The more I look at the context of this passage, the more evident it seems to me that Gehenna is meant to be understood as execution (crucifiction) by the Romans with one's corpse being further defiled by not be buried but cast into the trash dump where it is consumed by animals, maggots, and the continuous fire.  It's not warning of punishment of sin in the afterlife, but of the destruction of sin in this life.

[Addai]

quote

²⁰ For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.

quote

 

I like the general way you look at things (your kind of like a Protestant St. Isaac the Syrian), but disagree on this one.     The above passage I believe sets the context.   That verse is the kicker for the first half of the chapter talking about the beatitudes etc. which shows the way of heaven, having God's word in your heart and actions.

[Sherman Nobles]

I agree that vs. 20 is a key verse in the Sermon on the Mount; it is a pivotal verse.  After that verse most of Jesus' comments have to do with countering the doctrine, attitudes, and practices of the Pharisees.  In fact, the phrase that is repeated often,  "you've heard it said" was a way of referencing the Oral Law, the Traditions of the fathers, of the Pharisees.  They believed that their Oral Traditions were as authoritative as the Written Law, that one could not understand the Written Law apart from their Oral Traditions.  When the Romans destroyed Jerusalem and started trying to wipe out the Judaism by getting rid of the Jewish Rabbis who were predominantly Pharisees by this time, they decided to write down the Oral Traditions resulting in the Mishnah first around 200 C.E. and the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmuds around 400 C.E.

      Anyhow, concerning the verse at hand, Jesus is specifically countering the teachings of the Pharisees on murder like if one kills a non-Jew one is NOT breaking the Law and sinning against God.  Or if one participates in a gang that murders someone, even another Jew, the individual is not quilty of breaking the Law and sinning against God because their individual blow did not kill the person.  It's no wonder Jesus so strongly opposed their teachings, attitudes, and practices.

     In Mt.5:21-22 thus Jesus is opposing these teachings on murder and pointing out that murder starts with being angry, and that murder is rightly so a civil offense and will be punished accordingly.  Moses not only set up religious order, but he also set up Civil order and murder fell under civil authority.  The Pharisees though had a tendency to reject any authority except their own thinking that they were the law and above the law.  And thus elsewhere Jesus notes that his followers should obey the Pharisees because they sit in the "seat of Moses" as civil authorities, but don't follow thie

[Addai]

quote

Anyhow, concerning the verse at hand, Jesus is specifically countering the teachings of the Pharisees on murder like if one kills a non-Jew one is NOT breaking the Law and sinning against God.  Or if one participates in a gang that murders someone, even another Jew, the individual is not quilty of breaking the Law and sinning against God because their individual blow did not kill the person.

quote

 

I've brought that up in some conversations with Messianics.   Who want to blame the decline of the Jewish Christians solely on anti-Semitism, but neglect to even mention:

1) anti-Gentilism that was present at the time.   2) The persecution of Jewish believers by Bar Kochba, the later Sannhedrin (that rewrote the Synagogal prayer so that anyone that prays it asks for their own damnation etc.). 3) The existence of Jewish believers like Hegessipius who enthusiastically embraced belonging to a body like the Catholic church, and 4) Christian Churches who were Jewish or otherwise Semitic and retain the language and many of the Customs of their ancestors.

 

But I digress.....