The Saviour's words revealed to His hearers the fact that, while they were condemning others as 56 transgressors, they were themselves equally guilty; for they were cherishing malice and hatred. Across the sea from the place where they were assembled was the country of Bashan, a lonely region, whose wild gorges and wooded hills had long been a favorite lurking ground for criminals of all descriptions. Reports of robbery and murder committed there were fresh in the minds of the people, and many were zealous in denouncing these evildoers. At the same time they were themselves passionate and contentious; they cherished the most bitter hatred of their Roman oppressors and felt themselves at liberty to hate and despise all other peoples, and even their own countrymen who did not in all things conform to their ideas. In all this they were violating the law which declares, "Thou shalt not kill."

»Den, som siger til sin broder: Raka! skal være skyldig for rådet.« Ved at give sin søn som en gave for vor genløsning har Gud vist, hvilken stor værdi han tillægger en menneskesjæl, og han giver intet menneske rettighed til at tale hånligt om en anden. Vi kommer til at se fejl og svagheder hos dem, vi færdes iblandt, men Gud betragter hver sjæl som sin ejendom som i sin kraft af skabelsen og i dobbelt forstand som den, der er købt med Kristi dyrebare blod. Alle blev skabt i hans billede, og selv de dybest faldne skal behandles med agtelse og ømhed. Gud vil holde os ansvarlige for endog blot et hånligt ord om en eneste sjæl, for hvem Kristus gav sit liv.