The Pharisees are preoccupied with adherence to the letter of the law, whereas Jesus goes more in-depth and delves into the kingdom of heaven's operational standards.

The law says, 'You shall not murder!'; and 'whoever murders shall be liable to judgement'; whereas Jesus asks us, 'Are you angry with a brother or sister?', 'Do you despise someone?', 'Have you trampled on someone's dignity by insulting him or her?' Furthermore, 'If you don't forgive or ask for forgiveness and be reconciled and make amends, you will be liable to judgement.'

Jesus is telling us that our righteousness must exceed that of the Pharisees and scribes, or we will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Most of us can boast of never having committed murder. Today Jesus asks us to reflect upon those times, those relationships in which something deadly has happened.

His challenge to us is that we not only avoid murder but that we commit ourselves to be reconcilers. No severe wound inflicting words. No dirty fighting. No manipulative, passive-aggressive, revengeful stuff. Perhaps no punishing silence.