I am a murderer despite not having taken a life, according to Jesus.

How does that even make sense?

I am a murderer. (according to Jesus)

I’ve hated evil people in the past. Haven’t we all?

But Jesus taught that hate is murder. His words expose my heart and strip away any illusion of self‑righteousness. Before God’s holiness, I stand guilty of murder in the heart, even if not in deed.

He wasn’t being figurative. Hatred and anger are morally equivalent to murder in God’s eyes, making me guilty even without taking a life.

When Jesus said, “You have heard that it was said… but I say to you,” He referred to the Mosaic Law as people commonly interpreted it and revealed its deeper meaning. The Law wasn’t the problem; people had reduced it to outward acts.

People believed they were innocent as long as they refrained from physically committing murder or adultery, yet Jesus revealed that God’s standard is far higher. The same applies to adultery; we see lust as a wee sin, but God sees it as if you slept with another woman.

If we misunderstand Jesus, we think we’re fine for not being “like that guy,” yet ignore the murder in our hearts.

He wasn’t condemning us but calling us to repentance, and if we miss this truth, repentance itself is left out. That’s the point,

This is why I can’t look down on someone on death row, because judging them for murder while guilty of it in my heart would be hypocrisy. That’s a dangerous route as it replaces humility with self‑righteousness.

Perhaps a good way to mitigate this, although it can be extremely difficult, is to become a pen pal for someone on death row, sharing the gospel with them.