The disciples' work for Christ and their battle against evil would expose them to Satan's counterattacks (Matthew 10:16-25). Their real battle was not with human opposition but with Satan's forces. Yet God's servants had no need to fear because the Holy Spirit and God the Father empowered and sustained them (Matthew 10:20, 29-31), just as He does with His faithful servants today. The victory has always required that God's people remain faithful to the Word of Christ, preaching openly, directly and courageously. 

This passage challenges us to consider our motives for doing what is right. 

1. If we do good things simply to gain the approval or admiration of others, then we lose our reward and honor from God. People who seek honor for themselves under the pretense of giving glory to God will be exposed as hypocrites (phony, lacking a true heart). 
2. Jesus speaks specifically about our actions in three areas: Giving (Matthew 6:2-4), Prayer (Matthew 6:5-8; Matthew 6:6) and Fasting (going without food for a limited time to give greater attention to spiritual matters Matthew 6:16-18). His harsh criticism of untrue or insincere behavior challenges many contemporary Christian efforts and motives, including competing for recognition, boasting of one's own success, performing and entertaining in the name of worship and the driving desire to be first (1 Corinthians 3:13-15; 4:5). 

Jesus is not speaking of a justified anger at those who are wicked and cruel (John 2:13-17). Rather, He is condemning the act of judging another out of anger and with the desire to harm or kill another person. "Raca" is a term of hatred and is much like calling a person an "emptyheaded fool." Calling a person, a "godless fool" in anger may indicate a heart attitude that places one "in danger of the fire of hell."
let us be alert

The Pharisees and teachers lived by the law and still were not right with God because their "righteousness" was external only. They kept many rules, prayed, praised, fasted, read God's Word and attended worship services. However, they substituted the outward actions for the correct inner attitudes and true devotion to God. We must have both. Jesus said that in order to truly be right with God, one's heart and spirit - no just outward actions - must conform to God's standards and purposes because we love and trust Him (Mark 7:6). 

The open invitation to spiritual salvation (the opportunity of forgiveness of sin and a personal relationship with God through the sacrifice of His Son, Jesus Christ) goes out to everyone - the "many." However, relatively few respond to that invitation, turn from their own way and follow Christ. Those who do are "chosen" to inherit the kingdom. Responding to God's gracious invitation by the exercise of our will makes us part of God's chosen people. 

The word here translated "hell" (Greek gehenna; Jeremiah 7:31) refers to a place of eternal torment and punishment, originally prepared for the devil and his demonic followers (Matthew 25:41). But hell is also reserved for the ungodly (Mark 9:43, 48) - those who do not accept Christ's forgiveness and entrust their lives to Him. (The term for hell should not be confused with the Greek hades, which is the general name for the place of the dead or the temporary place of punishment - prior to final judgment - for the unrighteous, Luke 16:19-31.) The word for hell originated with the name of a valley on the southern perimeter of Jerusalem: The Valley of Hinnon (Hebrew ge'hinnom). The valley served as the city's garbage dump and was strongly associated with smoldering fire. Because some people in the Old Testament had sacrificed their children there to the false god, Molech, King Josiah had declared it to be unclean. Here Jesus uses it as a name for the place of eternal punishment, and He makes it a name equal with the final judgment of "the lake of fire" (Revelation 20:11-15; Revelation 20:12). The Bible teaches that one's existence does not end at death but continues on forever, either in the presence of God or in a place of eternal punishment. Note the following about the condition of those who are spiritually lost and bound for hell:

1. Jesus teaches that there is a place of eternal punishment for those who reject God and are condemned to spend eternity separated from Him (Matthew 5:22, 29-30; 18:9; 23:15, 33; Mark 9:43, 45, 47; Luke 10:15; 12:5). This place is characterized by the terrifying reality of continuous punishment. It is described in terms of a "fire that never goes out" (Mark 9:43); "eternal fire, prepared for the devil and his angels" (Matthew 25:41); "weeping and gnashing of teeth" (Matthew 13:42, 50); captivity and darkness (Matthew 22:13); and torment, agony and separation from heaven (Luke 16:23).
2. The teaching of the New Testament letters ("books," messages to various New Testament churches that apply to Christ's church in general) is essentially the same. The early church pioneers and New Testament writers speak of a coming judgment by which God will take vengeance on those who reject and disobey His message (2 Thessalonians 1:5-9). They also speak of separation from the presence of the Lord (2 Thessalonians 1:9) and the destruction of God's enemies (Philippians 3:18-19; Romans 9:22; 1 Corinthians 16:22; Galatians 1:9; 2 Timothy 2:12; Hebrews 10:27; 2 Peter 2:4; Jude 1:7; Revelation 14:10; 19:20; 20:10,14; Revelation 19:20; Revelation 20:10).
3. The Bible teaches that judgment on the wicked is certain. Hell is associated with rejection, condemnation, suffering and separation from God forever. This doctrine (teaching, basis of belief) is hard for some - even Christians - to understand or accept. Yet, God's Word is the final authority on the end times. We must trust God's justice. 
4. We must always keep in mind that God sent His Son to die so that no one would perish spiritually and be lost forever (John 3:16). It is not God's desire to send anyone to hell (2 Peter 3:9). Those who enter hell do so of their own choosing by resisting the opportunity for salvation provided by God Romans 1-16-2:10). The fact and reality of hell should cause all of God's people to hate sin intensely, to work continually for the salvation of people who do not yet know Christ and to warn everyone of God's future judgment on those who reject and rebel against Him (Revelation 20:14).

Jesus was baptized by John for the following reasons:

1. "To fulfill all righteousness" (Matthew 3:15; Leviticus 16:4; Galatians 4:4-5). Christ, through water baptism, made a public statement that He was set apart for God's purposes and was prepared to fulfill all of God's requirements. 
2. To identify Himself with sinners - although Jesus Himself never sinned and did not need to repent or make a change in His life (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 2:24). 
3. To associate Himself with the new movement of God that was calling everyone to repent - to turn from their own ways, accept Christ and follow God - if they wanted to be part of God's spiritual kingdom. (John 1:23, 32-33; John 1:33). 

1. NIV Bible
2. KJV Reference Bible
3. Bible Gateway 
4. Bible Hub 
5. Blue Letter Bible

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