We all have times when we become angry.  At times, it is warranted.  Other times it is not.  A poll published in June 2019 on NPR.com (READ IT HERE), revealed that 84% of those surveyed feel the people in America are angrier now than a year ago.  And 42% feel that personally they are angrier than a year ago.

Fast forward to 2020, I imagine the statistics are much the same if not greater.  With the COVID-19 pandemic, an election year, and increasing social tensions in the U.S., it would lead one to conclude we are an angry culture.

I am grateful that the Bible is not silent on struggles that we face.  In Matthew 5:21-26, Jesus challenges our understanding on the sixth commandment – “You shall not murder.”

21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ 22 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.  23 So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 25 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. 26 Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

The Pharisees (religious leaders of the day) taught that the sixth commandment (Ex. 20:13) had only to do with the act of physical murder.  So if a person did not commit homicide, they had not violated sixth commandment.  Jesus did not agree with their interpretation.  Jesus reveals in verses 21-22 that the spirit of the sixth commandment was that we should not murder in thought, word, or actions.

So Jesus expands their understanding of this commandment.  The original word he uses in v 22 translated “angry” means to be furious.  It was used to described the anger of the older brother in Luke 15:28.  The word translated “insults” means don’t be empty-headed.  Do not murder with your words. This Aramaic word carries with it the idea of contempt.  It essentally means do not insult another person’s intelligence.  Then Jesus refers to calling someone a “fool.”  It would mean insulting a person’s character.

“Whatever is begun in anger, ends in shame.” – Benjamin Franklin

In Matthew 5:23-24, Jesus then uses the example of a person who is worshipping and they realize that they have hurt so-n-so. It is part of the Holy Spirit’s job to convict us of these things (John 16:8).  It is our job to respond to the promptings of God’s Spirit and go to that person to seek reconciliation with that person.

Ephesians 4:26-27 – “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.”

God places the burden of responsibility on His people to initiate reconciliation whether you were hurt or you did the hurting

 The danger of anger is not in getting angry.  The danger is that we allow it to go unaddressed.  We replay whatever scenario in our minds over and over and over.  The reality of rewind with anger is that even though we are replaying it over in our heads and hearts, we attempt to function normally.  So Jesus says, we come to worship and instead of listening to the prompting of God as we worship, we ignore it because of the anger that has taken root in our lives. So rather than be authentic in worship it becomes an outward behavior separated from what is taking place in our hearts.

 So how do we grow through these moments?  How do we prevent this from becoming a reality in our lives?

Pray First!

Lord Jesus, please guide me to the conversations You want me to have. I want the motivation of my heart to be reconciliation not just outward behavior.  I don’t want to look okay on outside and inside be withering spiritually.  I cannot do this on my own.  Lord, I need You!

This post is a part of a message (29:35) recently shared at Salem Baptist Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.