July 10, 2005

DANGER OF HELL FIRE

Matthew 5:22

 

   The Lord first mentioned "the danger of hell fire (gehenna)" in His sermon on the mount. This Greek word was always translated "hell" and fire was associated with it. Eleven of its twelve uses are in the Lord's earthly ministry. James used it but once, in a figurative sense.

   Gehenna refers to the valley of Hinnom , a man about whom we know very little. Apparently his part in the land of Canaan and the tribe of Benjamin was this valley west by south west of Jerusalem . This valley has a sordid history in that it was the scene of much idolatry in Israel . Jeremiah wrote that Israel "built the high places of Baal, which are in the valley of the son of Hinnom, to cause their sons and their daughters to pass through fire unto Molech; which I commanded them not, neither came it into my mind, that they should do this abomination, to cause Judah to sin" (Jer. 32:35).

   King Josiah "defiled Topheth, which is in the valley of the children of Hinnom, that no man might make his son or his daughter to pass through the fire to Molech." To stop this idolatrous practice Josiah "broke in pieces the images, and cut down the groves, and filled their places with the bones of men" (2 Kg. 23:10,14). Thus this valley became Jerusalem 's city dump where refuse continually burned. It later became the place of disposal of the bodies of men who were put to death by Israel 's harshest judgments.

   The Lord warned, "whoever is angry with his brother...shall be in danger of the judgment: and whoever says to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever says, You fool, shall be in danger of hell fire "(gehenna). Worshipers were to "be reconciled ...and then...offer your gift. Agree with your adversary (the offended brother) quickly, while you are in the way with him; lest...the adversary deliver you to the judge, and the judge deliver you to the officer, and you be cast into prison" (Mt. 5:22-25). The crimes worsen, the court charges grow, and the punishments intensify! This "hell fire" punishment for failing to reconcile was the disposal of one's corpse in the city dump, gehenna, a shame casting a dark shadow over the family forever.

 

Ivan L. Burgener