Let's all slow down for a moment. A title is a name by which someone is known, not a general description, or in this case it might be more aptly referred to as "an appellation of dignity, distinction or pre-eminence given to persons." For example, God is merciful; that's a description. However, if I call Him, The Merciful God, that is a title. I'm not saying it's wrong to discuss the details, but these are pretty basic things we all ought to know from our childhood.
When Jesus called men hypocrites, that was not a name, like when people call it "name-calling" to try and dilute the truth of His words. It's an apt description of the truth. One could say "Chris is a fool" if it is true, but to call me "Chris the Fool" is not a Biblical approach.
Thus, for another example, Kenneth is my brother in Christ, but he is not "Brother Kenneth." However, the problem is when we get into quoting a Scripture of a description and referencing that to titles, it starts to get confusing, especially when that is taken out of context.
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.
-Mat 5:22
I studied this for a long time because it confused me a lot when I was first reading it as a new Christian. I always thought it was dangerous to call someone a fool. However, today, I understand what this is saying, and I can confidently say that Steven Anderson is a fool.
A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil: but the fool rageth, and is confident.
-Pro 14:16
The judgment is referring to the judgment of God because to be angry with one's brother without a cause is the result of a murderer at heart.
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
-1Jo 3:15
(This would be hatred without a cause, and that we are not to let the sun go down on our anger; taking precept upon precept, here a little and there a little.)
However, the council is the judgment of men in the government. If you continue to read verses 23 and 24, you'll see that this is in reference to a man that has done wrong against his brother, which would be a neighbor in this instance since the Jews were all brethren in this sense.
So a man did his neighbor wrong, and then when he is brought before the council for judgment, he says "Raca" which is a Jewish name for a fool, to his accuser, the council will judge him harshly. However, if he says "thou fool" to the council, who are judging him in righteous judgment for his crimes, he's in danger of hellfire--why?
The reason is because he's such a reprobate, one who is given over to his sin, he would not repent brother to brother, he would not repent in a courtroom, and then further proceeds to accuse a judge in his own foolishness and wickedness; the man has his conscience seared with a hot iron, and thus, he is in danger of hellfire because without repentance, he cannot be saved.
So... the rest should now make more sense:
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing.
-Mat 5:23-26
That's fines and jail time for whatever the man did wrong. To commit a crime against others, to cause them grief and suffering, and then call the judge a fool; yeah, that man is in danger of hellfire because of the pride of his heart.
