Anchor My Faith

Anger

Scripture: Matthew 5:22

We ended the previous lesson with Jesus preparing to speak about anger and its relationship to murder. He said: “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire” (Matthew 5:22). In connection with murder, Jesus speaks of three things: anger toward a brother, insulting your brother, and calling someone a fool. Each is liable to a form of judgment.

Anger is a feeling that occurs when we have been offended or threatened in some way, that prompts us to defend ourselves in some way. It may also occur as an expression of our disappointment in the face of evil conduct. Anger is not necessarily evil. “God is a just judge, And God is angry with the wicked every day” (Psalm 7:11 NKJV). “And [Jesus] looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored” (Mark 3:5 ESV). However, we must be careful, because it is said, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26 ESV).

This anger that Jesus is speaking about is that anger that is dangerous and destructive to others. “The terror of a king is like the growling of a lion; whoever provokes him to anger forfeits his life” (Proverbs 20:2 ESV). “A man of wrath stirs up strife, and one given to anger causes much transgression” (Proverbs 29:22 ESV). “The anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20 ESV). The anger spoken of in this lesson typically entails a desire to damage or destroy the other person in some way; which may be some personal way or in the act of murder as in James 4:1 – 2 (ESV): “What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.” The Pharisees have been shamed by Jesus and their anger burned against him and they made plans to kill him. Having those thoughts is the same as committing the act of murder according to Jesus.

To insult your brother is to demean your brother with words that destroy the character of your brother. The sinful nature of a person would continue the use of these destructive words to the point that if left unchecked, would lead to murder. Being liable to the council, probably meant being judged by the Jewish tribunal of that name, which was composed of 72 judges or chief priest and was probably instituted about 200 years before Christ.

Calling one a fool is closely related to anger in that it represents a destructive attack on one’s character. Any attempt to destroy a person’s character, if left to continue, may fester into the act of murder. Just the attitude of calling a person a fool is an act of slow murder and is liable to the hell of fire along with those who actually commit murder.

Prayer

Father, we may never commit the act of murder, but how hurtful are our words and our actions toward a person who has hurt us in some way. I think of the hurt Jesus endured on our behalf, yet in his dying breath he forgave them because they did not understand what they were doing. How strong is our need of justice and does that desire block our ability to love and forgive our offenders? Father, as you forgive us, we need to forgive them.