Scripture: “You have heard that it was said to those of old, You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 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. 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. 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. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
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Observation: Recapping yesterday’s Daily Focus, Jesus emphatically states that his incarnate life and message do not abolish the Law but fulfill it to the last detail. Moreover, those who uphold the Law will be honored in the kingdom of heaven, and conversely, those who minimize it will be dishonored. Lastly, Jesus sternly warns his disciples that their righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees if they want to enter the kingdom of heaven.
Today’s passage and the following five sections begin with the antitheses: “You have heard that it was said… But I say.” Here, Jesus does not disparage the Levitical law but strengthens it from merely an outward observance to the inward transformation of the heart. The mandate not to commit murder stems from the understanding that Yahweh is the author of life and alone reserves the right to execute the termination of human life. As his vessels of justice, God granted Israel the right to take the life of enemies when waging war and to uphold capital offenses. But that is not what is in view here. Christ exposes anger as the root of unlawful murder. Even if we do not take another’s life, if we harbor malice and speak ill of others without seeking reconciliation (remaining verses 23-26), we will face the judgment of our Creator: eternal hellfire (v.22).
Etymological note: The expression “fire of hell” (Greek geenna tou pyros, literally, “gehenna of fire”) comes from the Hebrew gê-hinnōm (translated “Valley of Hinnom”).
Historical note: Located in a ravine south of Jerusalem, Israel’s ancestors once worshipped the pagan god Moloch, offering their firstborn to him (see 2 Kings 23:10; 2 Chronicles 28:3; 33:6; Jeremiah 7:31; Ezekiel 16:20; 23:37). Yahweh prohibited such detestable practices (Leviticus 18:21; 20:2-5) that violated the first and sixth of the Ten Commandments. Thus, good King Josiah abolished this horrid pagan worship rite, converting the ravine into a garbage dump and burial site for criminals (2 Kings 23:10). In Jesus’ day, it still served as a trash heap that produced a smoldering fire.
Takeaway: While many Jewish maxims warned against anger, Jesus prophetically points to ungodly anger borne in hate as violating the sixth commandment (“Thou shall not kill”). Still, anger in itself is not sinful. Jesus expressed godly anger toward:
- Corruption and hypocrisy: He cleansed the temple’s outer court, driving out the money changers (Matthew 21:12-16). He also excoriated the religious leaders for leading the people astray, calling them blind fools (Matthew 23:17).
- Sin’s consequences: He grieved over the synagogue rulers’ hardness of heart toward the true intent of the Sabbath. So, filled with anger, he healed a man’s withered hand (Mark 3:1-5). Also, “deeply moved” by sin’s death sentence (Greek embrimōmenos means to “snort with anger”), he raised Lazarus from the grave (John 11:38-44).
Our takeaway? While Christ paid the penalty for ungodly anger at Calvary, its lingering and devastating effects have plagued the church through the centuries, masked by holy wars, inquisitions, and modern-day schisms. The early church was no exception. Paul addresses ungodly anger issues in his second letter to the Corinthians (12:20) as well as to the Galatians (5:20), Ephesians (4:31), and Colossians (3:8). James speaks to the issue and warns that it does not produce the “righteousness of God” (1:20).
In the remainder of this passage from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus commands us to reconcile with those we harbor hate. Indeed, he adds to make it a priority before engaging in worship or seeking justice (vv.23-25). Similarly, Paul warns the Ephesians not to let the sun set on their anger (4:26). That’s the goal, but left to our devices, we are helpless to prevent ungodly anger. Still, while no singular foolproof measure exists in our fallen world, we can redirect anger in a life-giving manner.
Our part? Paul’s epistle to the Ephesians and James’ letter to the Jewish converts provide preemptive tips. We submit to the Lord’s discipline and instruction through the Holy Spirit’s prompting to develop new life-giving habits that replace our undisciplined anger responses. Specifically:
- We submit to instruction from Scripture, extra-biblical resources, and counselors under the guidance of the Holy Spirit to gain knowledge and insight into what drives our anger responses.
- We learn to anticipate catalysts that provoke anger and rehearse how we will respond in a godly manner next time.
James shares one such constructive habit in his letter to the church: Be quick to listen and slow to speak (1:19). When we humbly and carefully listen to what’s driving others’ anger before we respond, we are more likely to de-escalate the conflict. But this process requires us to be in touch with our emotions and spend time with the Holy Spirit discovering the thread of fear and hurt that drives our anger.
As always, grace abounds through the process. We need not fear the “hell fire,” for Christ paid the price in full when he asked the Father to forgive us because we know not what we do (Luke 23:24). But, as the above text implies, we must forgive those who anger us. And sometimes, we must forgive ourselves. So, the goal isn’t to eliminate anger but to manage it by directing it toward life-giving outcomes. So, when we humble our hearts and submit to the lead of the Holy Spirit, we can rest assured that our godly, life-giving anger will not get the best of us but bring out the best in all of us.
Prayer: Father God, we thank you and your Son for expressing your righteous anger over the ravishes of sin and providing a costly solution that has reconciled us to you. So, please help us humbly submit to the sanctifying work of your Holy Spirit in addressing the roots of our anger so that we might direct it in a life-giving way that brings forgiveness, reconciliation, and glory to you. Amen.
Rev. Gordon Green, M.Div., M.A. Counseling
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