Teaching about Anger

Notes

1. Mat 5:22 ~ Believer’s Bible Commentary Notes:
1. The first is the case of a person who is angry with his brother without a cause. One accused of this crime would be in danger of the judgment—that is, he could be taken to court. Most people can find what they think is a valid cause for their anger, but anger is justified only when God’s honor is at stake or when someone else is being wronged. It is never right when expressed in retaliation for personal wrongs.
2. Even more serious is the sin of insulting a brother. In Jesus’ day, people used the word Raca (an Aramaic term meaning ”empty one”) as a word of contempt and abuse. Those who used this epithet were in danger of the council —that is, they were subject to trial before the Sanhedrin, the highest court in the land.
3. Finally, to call someone a fool is the third form of unrighteous anger that Jesus condemns. Here the word fool means more than just a dunce. It signifies a moral fool who ought to be dead and it expresses the wish that he were. Today it is common to hear a person cursing another with the words, ”God damn you!” He is calling on God to consign the victim to hell. Jesus says that the one who utters such a curse is in danger of hell fire. The bodies of executed criminals were often thrown into a burning dump outside Jerusalem known as the Valley of Hinnom or Gehenna. This was a figure of the fires of hell which shall never be quenched.
4. There is no mistaking the severity of the Savior’s words. He teaches that anger contains the seeds of murder, that abusive language contains the spirit of murder, and that cursing language implies the very desire to murder. The progressive heightening of the crimes demand three degrees of punishment: the judgment, the council, and hell fire. In the kingdom, Jesus will deal with sins according to severity. [←Back]
2. Mat 5:24 ~ Personal Note:
1. Repeatedly, over and over, we are told in the scriptures that religious duties are second to loving others.  Because ‘God is Love’ anytime we move towards the “Realm of Love” we are moving towards Him.  Or anytime we move away from the “Realm of Love’” we are moving away from Him.  A single loving act of kindness towards another impresses God more that all our religious duties combined.  We are ‘nothing’ without love. I truly believe, the christian who is abiding in His love, will every single day, either consciously or subconsciously ask themselves, ‘To whom can I show love and kindness to today?  How can I be more loving towards my family, friends and enemies today?” [←Back]