I Murdered Someone This Week (And Jesus Said You Might Have Too)

I murdered someone this week. And I got away with it.

Well… sort of.

I am a follower of Jesus, so I want to do my best to follow his teachings. I want to love people the way He loves me. I do my best not to hold grudges, withhold forgiveness, or judge others, though I’ll admit that’s easier said than done.

Still, I see myself as a moral person. So, when I realized I’m a serial killer, it was a shock.

And maybe you are too.

Let me explain.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks to a crowd full of devout Jews—many of whom prided themselves in how well they followed the Mosaic Law. Pharisees, scribes, and religious leaders kept the Law down to the letter. They were so serious about not breaking it that they’d create extra rules just to avoid getting close to the edge. If the Law allowed 20 miles of travel on the Sabbath, they’d cap it at 15—just to be safe.

But Jesus wasn’t impressed by how good people looked on paper. He was always after something deeper: the heart behind the behavior.

“You have heard that it was said… ‘You shall not murder.’ But I tell you, anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment...”
— Matthew 5:21-22

Jesus wasn’t rewriting the Law—He was revealing its true intent. God isn’t just concerned with the act of murder. He’s just as grieved by what leads to it: unresolved anger, contempt, slander, bitterness. In God’s eyes, those things are just as deadly.

If you’ve ever been enraged with someone, wished them harm, torn them down behind their back, or felt morally superior because they sinned differently than you—you’ve committed spiritual murder.

Yeah. Me too.

We’re all guilty. And that’s the point. Jesus wasn’t raising the bar to make us feel hopeless. He was exposing our need for grace. He was saying: You can’t fix your heart on your own. You need Me to change it.

Jesus takes our relationships seriously—because God does. That’s why He said if you’re in the middle of worship, ready to offer something to God, but remember someone has something against you—pause. Leave your gift. Go make it right first. Then come back.

I can’t help but wonder… what if a pastor actually stopped the service mid-song and told everyone, “We’re not going any further until you make peace with the person you’ve hurt—or the one who’s hurt you”? Would we see revival break out… or would half the church walk out mad and start looking for somewhere new to attend?

You see, reconciliation is an act of worship.

None of us are perfect. None of us are better than anyone else. We're all made in God’s image, and we’ve all sinned. But Jesus didn’t come to rub our sin in—He came to lift us out.

So yes, I’m a serial killer. But Jesus is the one who gives life back to the dead.

And He’s still working on me.

Who do you need to reconcile with today?
Don’t let another moment pass harboring anger, contempt, or bitterness. Jesus invites us to go make it right—because healing begins with honesty. Take a step. Make the call. Send the message. Pray for the courage to forgive or ask for forgiveness.