It is every cartoon movie villain’s favorite word: fool. Many Christians claim that the word itself is synonymous with condemning oneself because of what Jesus said in Matthew 5:22: “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.”
But is that what He is really saying? Is the word “fool” a no-no word? Is any word really meant to be taboo? In Luke 12:20, God Himself uses the word: “But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’”
So which example do we follow? Jesus tells us not to say, “fool” but we have Jesus telling us of an example of the Father calling someone a “fool”. Looking at the Greek word in Matthew, we see the word moros which means “stupid” in an insulting way, while the Father’s use in Luke is the word aphron which means “stupid” but in an ignorant, egotistical, or unwise way. It is a small distinction, but one which gives us a clue as to Jesus’ meaning.
The rest of Matthew 5:22 and its context gives us more clues. Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount tells His listeners about certain moral requirements to have a pure soul beyond what the Law of Moses reveals. In 5:21-26, Jesus is focusing in on anger. The Law forbade anyone from executing individuals without certain processes of the Law in effect. Jesus said He wanted His followers to take it another step telling them to quell their anger. He is telling them to stop escalating so that murder is something which would not even come to mind. Avoid the anger, and by doing that avoid the insults, and avoid outbursts which would antagonize an already tense situation. Jesus goes on telling everyone to reconcile with one another. Not to be in debt, which, in context, refers not just to monetary debt, but also to spiritual debt; forgiving one another.
The term “fool” is used as an example. For more clarification, we can go to a similar passage in Ephesians 4:29: “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Paul gives us an elaboration on Jesus’ sermon topic. He does not use the example, “fool” but is more direct to the same point Jesus is making about corrupt speech. Any speech spoken in anger, is meant to tear another person down, is meant to mislead or lie, or is meant to blaspheme God is corrupt. Jesus told us to, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person” (Matthew 15:10).
Language is a fruit of the tree which is our soul, and whether the tree is good or bad is made known by the fruit (Matthew 12:33-36). Our heart is reflected in the speech which we utter and that is what may condemn us. To call someone a fool when they are being a fool is something we must do at times to combat unrighteousness. To call them a fool as an act of trying to harm, or to inflict some sort of satisfaction on our part is that reflection of darkness in our heart; the sin buried inside. “My brothers, these things ought not to be so [that] from the same mouth come blessing and cursing” (James 3:10). “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37).
Lance Byers