Anger: Matt. 5:21-26

Context

This is the beginning of a number of illustrations that are reflections of the heart that Jesus wants us to have, not actions that will lead the heart that Jesus wants.

To have an angry, lustful, or deceitful heart, for example, is the root of the issue, not the actions themselves.

Notice Jesus using the words, “but I say to you...” This would have been a radical way of teaching in his day because a teacher would never base his claim on his own authority, but rather would quote earlier rabbis or teachers.

This emphasizes Matthew’s common point of this book: Jesus is the Chosen king that the OT pointed to, Matthew 2:3–6 “When King Herod heard this, he was deeply disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. So he assembled all the chief priests and scribes of the people and asked them where the Messiah would be born. “In Bethlehem of Judea,” they told him, “because this is what was written by the prophet: And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah: Because out of you will come a ruler who will shepherd my people Israel.””

Matthew 5:21–26 CSB

“You have heard that it was said to our ancestors, Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Whoever insults his brother or sister, will be subject to the court. Whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be subject to hellfire. So if you are offering your gift on the altar, and there you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled with your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. Reach a settlement quickly with your adversary while you’re on the way with him to the court, or your adversary will hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will be thrown into prison. Truly I tell you, you will never get out of there until you have paid the last penny.

V.21: What Jesus’ Audience Believed

Jesus lived in a Jewish context, and most of the tradition of people’s everyday worship of YHWH was given by the rabbis, who by this point had led the “most faithful” Jews, the Pharisees, into a life a rule following to keep themselves outwardly clean and righteousness.

Jesus knows this, and gives them the common teaching of the time, “ Do not murder, and whoever murders will be subject to judgment.”

This emphasized the punishment for murder in the Old Testament, which was death. (Deut. 19:21)

v.22: Sinful Anger Begins in the Heart

Jesus wishes to bring the fullness of the law to light (see v.17.) He does so in this case by getting to the root of what causes murder: an unrighteously angry heart.

(1 Samuel 16:7 “But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look at his appearance or his stature because I have rejected him. Humans do not see what the Lord sees, for humans see what is visible, but the Lord sees the heart.”” )

We have all been guilty of being angry for the wrong reasons: something didn’t go our way, someone wronged us or called us a name. This is not exactly the same as physically murdering someone, but it is sinful, which means we are liable to judgement from God.

Spurgeon says it like this, “every thought, feeling, and word which would tend to injure a brother, or annihilate him by contempt.” is on the table.

So wait, what about Jesus being angry himself with other people? In Matt. 21, we see Jesus clearing out the temple in Jerusalem because merchants had turned the “house of Prayer” into a “den of thieves.” What do we make of this?

Christ was angry about the worship of God being profaned by how business was being conducted in the temple. He was angry about the right thing, at the right time, around the right people. In John 2:17, Jesus’ disciples remember this being written in Psalm 69:9 “because zeal for your house has consumed me, and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.”

Navigating when is an appropriate time to be angry about the things that anger God is not easy. However, we have the Holy Spirit who can help us.

v.23-24: Seek Peace Quickly!

We are now given a striking image: someone actively worshipping God through their sacrifice, then taking off to go see a wounded friend or the one who wounded.

One of your questions in small group is going to ask if you currently have someone that you have not tried to make peace with. Begin thinking of this, because Jesus is saying that all action in our faith, even worship itself, should be paused until we go to make amends with those who we are in conflict with.

Spurgeon again says “ The rule is— first peace with man, and then acceptance with God.”

This is the way of life that Jesus models for us. You might then ask, “How is it that Jesus lived this way when he had enemies left and right! The Pharisees, the Romans, and yet Jesus was able to give God pleasing worship?”

Romans 12:18–19 “If possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.”

We see a lifestyle where we make any and every attempt to make peace, and if others simply do not wish to live in that peace, then we have done all we can do and are able to love them still.

Matthew 18:15–20 ““If your brother sins against you, go tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he won’t listen, take one or two others with you, so that by the testimony of two or three witnesses every fact may be established. If he doesn’t pay attention to them, tell the church. If he doesn’t pay attention even to the church, let him be like a Gentile and a tax collector to you. Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will have been loosed in heaven. Again, truly I tell you, if two of you on earth agree about any matter that you pray for, it will be done for you by my Father in heaven. For where two or three are gathered together in my name, I am there among them.””

V.25-26: Even if it costs you.

in v.25, we see and extension of the same teaching.

Jesus brings this principle of seeking peace quickly to an event that hopefully none of you have to go through: a lengthy court battle or legal dispute. Jesus gives practical advice that both normally helps the case of the one being charged as well as showing the biblical virtue of seeking peace as much as it depends on you, even if you have to put others above yourself.

Now, if you are rightfully charged of a crime, Jesus does not intend for you to try and bribe the police (very clearly wrong in many passages of Scripture.) But if someone is looking to get payment because of something you did, it seems better to give and risk being shorted than to fight it out at the court and create further conflict. If you are not able to reconcile, and are found guilty, you will reap the consequences.

NOW what if I were to tell you that this also shows us our relationship with God? Because we are in this life, we are on the way to judgement before our accuser, and we will be found guilty. By having an angry heart at any moment, we have shown ourselves to be unrighteous. There is nothing that we can do in our own power to please God, who stands in the place of judgement in the court of Heaven.

If we are not able to do enough in our own power, then what’s the other option? Trust in Jesus himself, who would say that he is the Son who the Father sent out of his great love to pay the penalty that we deserve at judgement so that we could be seen as righteous and spotless before God.

Only with the power of Christ’s Spirit within us will we be able to have the kind of heart that can seek to love instead of hate. To be the type of person that seeks peace as much as we can. Do you have that heart? If not, you can receive the gift of salvation tonight.