Understanding The 6th Commandment

Jesus here corrects the teaching about murder which the people had received from the scribes and Pharisees. They had heard that the sixth commandment only forbade the actual act, but that all other attitudes - including the most derogatory and hateful speech - were somehow acceptable. Jesus corrects this misunderstanding, to show that the standard of righteousness far exceeds what had been taught in His day by the Pharisees. God's righteousness forbids deprecating the image of God which is in all men via creation. To despise another is to despise the image of God, which in turn means to hate God. All who do so are in danger of eternal judgment.