Jesus is describing and teaching what true righteousness is. Now, true righteousness has been fulfilled and expanded to the higher form which comes directly from the heart. So, whilst perviously righteousness meant, “not murdering," now it means “not being angry."

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It’s very important to keep in mind the thought that Jesus is giving a progressive teaching regarding the transformation of the heart. Anger and its deeper cousin “contempt” are first off the rack to be dealt with. Contempt is really what Jesus is referring to when he says that calling someone a fool is far worse than just being angry. He’s honing in on that insidious habit us humans have of storing away our anger for a rainy day.

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Do you struggle with holding people in contempt? I guess this could be a form of passive aggression but it is by no means confined to this. Jesus is teaching that true righteous heart living does not have a box of contempt into which people are intermittently placed. Contempt for people is exacerbated by rumination and internal rehearsal of what you might say to such a person if given the chance.

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Have you ever had the experience of finally being presented with the opportunity of letting someone ‘have it’ and surprising yourself with the ferocity with which you gave it to them. Chances are you’ve held them in your box of contempt for some while and have rehearsed “said unleashing of judgement” many times over. This is not smart living in the way of the master.