Anger

Where Murder Begins You have heard that the ancients were told, You shall not commit murder and Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court. But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, You good-for-nothing, shall be guilty before the supreme court; and whoever says, You fool, shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.

So Cain became very angry and his countenance fell. Then the Lord said to Cain, Why are you angry? And why has your countenance fallen? If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door; and its desire is for you, but you must master it. Cain told Abel his brother. And it came about when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him You shall not hate your fellow countryman in your heart… nor bear any grudge against the sons of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself… Cease from anger… it leads only to evildoing. Do not be eager in your heart to be angry, For anger resides in the bosom of fools. But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and when sin is accomplished, it brings forth death.

Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer. The Catena: Matthew 5:21–22 Genesis 4:5–8 Leviticus 19:17–18 Psalm 37:8 Ecclesiastes 7:9 James 1:14–15 1 John 3:15