Comment: These verses are the natural outgrowth of the comparison between the “of old” prohibition against murder and Jesus’ injunction against anger. Jesus understood that anger was a natural emotion, and his command was not to never become angry, but rather to manage anger. After the contextually striking comparison of the evil and anger to that of murder, Jesus shows them how this is to play out in their lives. They might become angry, but they had to expunge that anger. Significantly, the imagery creates a picture of directionality. The person desires to approach, but may not do so without dealing with the anger within. This echoes the “pure in heart” who may enter into the temple. It is the same direction, the same principle. In the Matthean redaction, the image is even more closely tied as it specifically mentions going to the altar, which was in the temple.
The imagery is that of approaching God. We may not do so unless we are pure in heart. Therefore, before we approach the temple in the Biblical imagery, or before we approach the Atoning Messiah in the New World language, we must first purge the impure from our heart. This interpretation hinges on understanding that having “aught… with thy brother” is a reference to a condition of anger, or incipient anger. There is no degree involved. It is not a certain type of anger. It is anything, “aught.” Whatever puts us on the wrong path will not lead us toward the Messiah or the temple.
Textual: The 3 Nephi text has several changes: