Mt 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
Mt 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
Mt 5:26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
In the sermon on the mount Jesus illustrates that Hell can be used as a disciplinary tool (just as we use the prison system), Matt 5:17-26.
To understand this refer to the Scripture that says that sin is a violation of the Laws of God, 1 Jn 3:4.
1Jo 3:4 ¶ Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
(KJV)
When a Christian is judged and found to have broken the Law of God (as is seen in Matt 5:17-19) they are in danger of God's judgment upon their sinfulness. If a Christian refuses to fulfill the Law's of God and act in a loving manner towards their fellow Christians God can deliver that person to the influences of Hell to modify the Christians behavior so that they are not condemned with worldly people, 1 Cor 11:32. This discipline ultimately has the effect of teaching the Christian to Love their neighbor.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Now Jesus has said in in Matt 10:28 that the body and soul can be destroyed in Hell.
Mt 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
If a follower of Christ is judged by God and found guilty of breaking God's Law (of not Loving God and neighbor), they can be made subject to the influences of Hell. In this case they would be disciplined for not loving their brother, as is seen in Matt 5:22.
Matt 5:24 and 25 show us that after being found guilty of breaking God's law the lawbreaker (sinner) must remedy the situation with the person who is accusing Him. In order to avoid the judgment the Christian must be reconciled to their brother whom they had refused to Love.
If the Christian refuses to act in a loving manner (act in a patient and kind manner, 1 Cor 13:4) towards their brother they can be given over to the influences of Hell.
As Matt 5:26 shows the follower of Christ will not be released from the prison (or hell) until they have resolved their indebtedness to their brother (in Christ). The Christian will not be released from the influences of Hell until they have decided to act in a loving manner towards their brother in Christ.
In other words the Christian will not be delivered from the influences of Hell until they learn to Love and forgive their brother.
It is useful here to remember that non Christians do not have this luxury. They cannot escape the influences of hell.
Brian
Mt 5:25 Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison.
Mt 5:26 Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
In the sermon on the mount Jesus illustrates that Hell can be used as a disciplinary tool (just as we use the prison system), Matt 5:17-26.
To understand this refer to the Scripture that says that sin is a violation of the Laws of God, 1 Jn 3:4.
1Jo 3:4 ¶ Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law.
(KJV)
When a Christian is judged and found to have broken the Law of God (as is seen in Matt 5:17-19) they are in danger of God's judgment upon their sinfulness. If a Christian refuses to fulfill the Law's of God and act in a loving manner towards their fellow Christians God can deliver that person to the influences of Hell to modify the Christians behavior so that they are not condemned with worldly people, 1 Cor 11:32. This discipline ultimately has the effect of teaching the Christian to Love their neighbor.
1Co 11:32 But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
Now Jesus has said in in Matt 10:28 that the body and soul can be destroyed in Hell.
Mt 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.
If a follower of Christ is judged by God and found guilty of breaking God's Law (of not Loving God and neighbor), they can be made subject to the influences of Hell. In this case they would be disciplined for not loving their brother, as is seen in Matt 5:22.
Matt 5:24 and 25 show us that after being found guilty of breaking God's law the lawbreaker (sinner) must remedy the situation with the person who is accusing Him. In order to avoid the judgment the Christian must be reconciled to their brother whom they had refused to Love.
If the Christian refuses to act in a loving manner (act in a patient and kind manner, 1 Cor 13:4) towards their brother they can be given over to the influences of Hell.
As Matt 5:26 shows the follower of Christ will not be released from the prison (or hell) until they have resolved their indebtedness to their brother (in Christ). The Christian will not be released from the influences of Hell until they have decided to act in a loving manner towards their brother in Christ.
In other words the Christian will not be delivered from the influences of Hell until they learn to Love and forgive their brother.
It is useful here to remember that non Christians do not have this luxury. They cannot escape the influences of hell.
Brian