Insults Redeemed – Brad Jersak

Jesus and Insults: “You have heard it said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder,...” But I tell you that … 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.”(Jesus, Matthew 5:21-22) “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites!... Woe to you, blind guides!... Woe to you, fools!... You snakes! You brood of vipers!” (Jesus, Matthew 23:15-17, 33)   I’ve long wondered about the apparent discrepancy between Jesus’ dire warnings against the use of insults—a sin worthy of judgment—and ...