Contempt appears when homicide contemptuously steals its victim's time and potential. God sees murder as a grave transgression that reflects the murderer's condescending attitude toward his victim and God Himself. Jesus expands the commandment by warning that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment and that whoever says to his brother Raca shall be in danger of the council while whoever says You fool shall be in danger of hell fire. These forms of disrespect break the sixth commandment because they express that the speaker does not value the other person's life. The scenarios of broken relationships show that the offender has violated the spirit of the law against murder by showing contempt or sullying the relationship in a subtle form of selfishly devaluing the other person's worth. The commandment therefore requires followers to constrain human nature and value others at least as much as themselves.

Regarding a brother with contempt as being an empty, worthless fellow with shallow brains is a transgression of the spirit of the law. The word translated fool refers to a rebel against God and an apostate from all good. To condemn someone in such a way murders him in the heart and places one in danger of the Lake of Fire. Reconciling with a brother guards against the spirit of murder that contempt represents.

Cursed is the one who treats his father or his mother with contempt. This means to make fun of them or to make light of them. People are never at liberty to make light of their parents. The eye that mocks a father and scorns obedience to a mother will be picked out by the ravens of the valley and eaten by the young eagles. A generation curses its father and does not bless its mother. Such people are pure in their own eyes yet not washed from their filthiness. Their eyes are lofty and their eyelids are lifted up. Their teeth are like swords and their fangs like knives to devour the poor from off the earth and the needy from among men. Disobedient to parents stands among unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness, envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness, whispering, backbiting, hatred of God, violence, pride, boasting, invention of evil things, lack of discernment, untrustworthiness, lack of love, lack of forgiveness, and lack of mercy. Those who practice such things know the righteous judgment of God declares them worthy of death. In the last days perilous times feature men who are lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, and lovers of pleasures rather than lovers of God. From such people one must turn away.