Where does the outward act of murder begin? The answer to this question is important because it can help us avoid the path that can lead to murder. According to Leviticus 19:17, the outward act of murder begins in the heart. Jesus affirmed this in the Sermon on the Mount (read Matt. 5:21-22). Jesus helped people understand that wrong attitudes of the heart lead to wrong actions. Anger can and sometimes does lead to the physical act of murder, as in the case of Cain (Gen. 4:6). Anger and hatred also can lead to the character assassination prohibited in Leviticus 19:16. The Mosaic law warned against harboring hate, nursing grudges, and seeking revenge because these attitudes almost inevitably lead to violence.
When was the last time you took careful inventory of the attitudes in your heart (read Ps. 139:23-24)? Does hate for another reside in your heart (Lev. 19:17a)? Hate is one of the worst tenants you can allow to live in your heart. Hate is an insomniac who will make noise at night and rob you of sleep. Hate is a trouble-maker (see Prov. 10:12) who will try to talk you out of settling differences in a responsible way (Lev. 19:17b). Hate is a pushy tenant who will try to run your life. Hate will not hesitate to bad-mouth some of your best tenants, like love and forgiveness, and insist that you evict them. Can you really afford to make room in your heart for hate?
Hate does not enjoy living alone (Lev. 19:18a). If you allow hate to have room in your heart it is only a matter of time before the relatives move in. Grudge is among the first to arrive. Interestingly, Grudge has never been allowed to have a room in anyone’s heart without a reference from Hate. Grudge is a bookkeeper who records wrongs and demands payment in full at any cost (read Mark 6:18-28). Can you afford to bear a grudge in your heart?
Hate and Grudge come from a close-knit family. Wherever they set up house it is only a matter of time before Revenge moves in. Revenge is the most dangerous member of the family. Revenge lives by the simple motto, “I don’t get mad — I get even.” Revenge always returns evil for evil and insult for insult (Rom. 12:17-18). Revenge will pressure you to take matters into your own hands and seek your own form of justice (Rom. 12:19). Revenge will look for opportunities and devise ways for you to injure others. Can you afford to make room in your heart for revenge?
As long as we live and work with other people there exists the potential for conflicts and disagreements. We must resolve to settle such differences in a timely (Eph. 4:26) and responsible manner (Matt. 18:15). We must take practical steps to insure that wrong attitudes do not take up residence in our hearts. One of the most practical steps we can take is to allow forgiveness to answer the door when hate comes looking for lodging. Forgiveness will tell hate that there is no vacancy. Forgiveness will tell grudge that there is nothing to enter into the account books. And forgiveness will tell revenge that there is no cause for retaliation.
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Please take a moment to read Life’s Value | 1, Life’s Value | 2, and Life’s Value | 4.
Go Beyond 
You are right on target, and I believe these “guys” move in where they will find the
least resistance … but no one is always “immune”. Perhaps the more we fill up our hearts with good things, the less room there will be for “pushy boarders”.
By: Barbara Gilcrease on August 30, 2009
at 4:35 PM
Barbara…
Amen to your comment. We should indeed be more discriminating about who and what we let into our hearts. After all, every tenant comes with their respective baggage and is always eager to invite their relatives to move in.
Blessings,
Omar~
By: Omar C. Garcia on August 30, 2009
at 5:48 PM