Anger – Matthew 5:21-26 Senior Pastor Alex Kennedy If we do not deal with our anger properly, it will end up leading to broken relationships and a lack of community. While it is obvious that we should not murder someone (6th commandment), all kinds of relationships get murdered without anyone ever dying (marriages, friends, small groups, parents and children, etc…) Jesus takes this much further to teach us a better way to live with our God-given emotion of anger. Remember, Jesus had just said “that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.” Without Jesus’ help, this is an impossible task due to all the rules that the Scribes and Pharisees added to the law. Jesus says “You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.” Premeditated murder is prohibited by the 6th commandment (Ex 20:13) and under OT law carried the death penalty (Num 35:31). This is grounded in the fact that humans are created in the image of God. (Gen 1:26-27). Jesus shows us that obeying God’s commandments is not just a matter of our actions but our heart attitude. “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgement.” We must discern where our anger comes from because there is a difference between righteous anger and rage. Righteous anger is slow to build, agrees with the things that anger God, and is restorative. Rage is quick, agrees with things that annoy man, and is destructive. “Again, whoever says to his brother an insult is answerable to the Sanhedrin, but whoever says ‘you fool’ is in danger of the fire of hell.” This insult comes from the Aramaic word “raca”, which means “airhead”, but “fool” means “moron”. Jesus is showing the progression from insulting a person’s mind to insulting their heart and character. Jesus is saying self-righteousness is one of sin’s most effective ways to wreck relationships. Angry thoughts and insulting words may never lead to the ultimate act of murder, yet they are equal to murder in God’s eyes. Truths about anger in the Bible: James 1:19-20; Ephesians 4:26-27; 31-32; Jesus then gives the first example when He says, “So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” Notice that it references someone having something against you. Jesus wants His followers to live ridiculously reconciled lives. In context, Jesus isn’t talking about theological differences or petty human disagreements, but the kind of anger that leads to murder. This interruption was significant since Jesus’ audience (located miles away from Jerusalem) would have to abandon their gift, travel for days to reach Galilee and seek reconciliation, and then return to Judea to complete the sacrifice. The second example begins “Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are going with him to court, lest your accuser hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you be put in prison.” The lesson again is that if someone has something against you, work to reconcile it quickly! Paul would say (Eph 4) that you have a 24-hour period to clear your accounts with other people. Questions to Consider When it comes to anger, are you more of an “exploder” (blurt it out), or “imploder” (hold it all in)? What is a healthier way to deal with your anger? We are living in a very angry culture where ideology has replaced theology. Where do you see this play out, and how can you put up safeguards to keep the right attitude? How has “cancel culture” impacted the people and places where you spend your time? Is there someone you need to reconcile with? Pray that God would give you the courage to go to them and do your part in the reconciliation. This often starts with laying down pride.