Title: Get Rid of that Anger! Script: Mt. 5:21ff
Type: Expos. Series. Where: GNBC 2-22-26
Intro: Have you noticed recently how incredibly angry people are today? Highways, parking lots, stores, classroom, politicians, public discourse, sporting events… “I hate you!” “I wish you were dead!” “You’re stupid!” “You’re worthless!” “I want a divorce!” “I wish we never had you!” “I wish you weren’t my parents!” Have you ever uttered any of these statements? If we’re honest, at one moment or another we have all spoken hurtful and hateful words. Yet, typically, most of us dismiss such comments by saying, “You really made me angry.” “I lost my temper.” “I didn’t really mean it.” While it is tempting to minimize our angry words, thoughts, and attitudes, the truth is there is danger in anger. Earlier this week several of you posted pictures of Wednesday’s massive grassfire. This is fitting since anger is only one letter away from danger.
Prop: In Mt. 5:21ff Jesus challenges us to reconsider our concept of anger.
BG: 1.IN the SOM Matthew introduces a theme: “Kingdom of God” to his reader.
2. Jesus doesn’t want His followers to be angry people. Not to be angry with one another. Not to avoid conflict respectfully, addressing it and reconciling.
Prop: Follow with me as we reconsider three aspects of anger.
I. Jesus States that Unresolved Anger is a Sin. Vv. 21-22
A. Are you carrying unresolved anger?
1. If you claim to be a Christian you must make the effort to resolve anger.
a. The first section of this verse is from the OT, the Decalogue, Ex. 20:13. The 10 Commandments – Thou Shall Not Commit Murder. The second section of this verse was a reference to the teaching of the rabbis – “courts” – krisis in Greek, was a term for a decision or a tribunal. (Usually has been a “crisis” if find self in court!)
b. The Pharisees and the scribes were always guilty of reducing the meaning and even the demands of the Law. Here again we see evidence of this. The Pharisees had made this a matter purely of committing murder. By adding this second injunction to the 1st, they had weakened the entire meaning of the passage.
2. Secondly, the Pharisees had reduced the confines and sanction to which the command was associated.
a. “Whoever shall kill shall be in danger of judgment by the civil court.” The Pharisees took this commandment and emptied it of so much of its meaning and importance. Essentially they read this to mean: “You may fear punishment by the court if you break the law.” i.e,: “If you murder someone, you will have to face the courts.” Illust: Sadly in past couple of weeks seen where both US and Canada experienced mass shootings. Commonplace to see judges release some animal onto the streets after 20-30-40 felonies only to kill and maim another. We are living in an age where there is no fear of God, no fear of the law, and no fear of punishment!
b. I am convinced Jesus addresses this passage specifically because He knew that the rabbis had completely missed the original intent of the law. The law said not to commit murder, however, it was saying so much more. It was saying not to commit murder because murder, like all other sin is ultimately a sin against God! All sin, be it murder or any other sin, will be judged by God. We should never separate the moral law from the Personal God Who will one day judge all sin. (Illust- The sinner King David recognized this. He had committed adultery with Bathsheba and had her husband. Uriah the Hittite, as well as others killed. Yet, in his prayer of confession to God in Psalm51, the penitent prince declares: “Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight.”
B. Now, Jesus ups the ante and states that Anger towards our brother can constitute a heinous sin.
1. Anger can become sin and therefore incurs God’s judgment.
a. Illust: Let me make a couple of points clear 1st of all. This verse is not saying that anger is the same as murder. All too many well-intentioned Christians say the really silly statement today that: “All sins are the same before God.” Not true. Any one sin will send you and me to hell. True. However, being angry with someone is NOT the same as killing that person. “Just ask yourself. Would you prefer me to be angry with you or pick up a claw hammer and beat you to death?” I think we all agree the difference. This passage isn’t even saying that all anger is always sin. We know from various accounts in the Bible that Jesus was angry, even to the point of running people out of temple and overturning tables (Jn. 2:15ff). How do we understand this?
b. Anger is often initially an emotional response, not a choice. However, some people allow it to become a pattern of choice. Is anger always a sin? God is perfectly holy and sometimes responds in the Bible in anger. An emotional response, however, is very different from a choice of the will wherein I knowingly directly disobey God.
2. Unresolved anger often leads to sinful thoughts, words, and actions.
a. Jesus uses the term “Raca” – almost sounds like a llama spitting! “Raca” was the Aramaic word for “empty-headed” or “good for nothing”. Jesus says if you call someone “Good for nothing…” you and I would be guilty before the “supreme court”. Offences of this kind are placed by our Lord on the same level as those which came before the great court of the Sanhedrim. That word, a transliterated form of the Greek word for council. The court consisted of seventy or seventy-two members, with a president and vice-president, and was made up of the heads of the twenty-four courses of the priests, with forty-six or forty-eight from the “elders” and “scribes.” What was Jesus saying: “Making derogatory remarks about someone is a BIG DEAL and we should refrain from it.” But then, Jesus goes on and says that if you call someone a “Fool” or “moron”, BEWARE, we are guilty of hell itself. The first word carried the idea of contempt. This expression came from a settled hatred.
b. You see, our natural, sinful response is to say something nasty about someone when someone does or says something nasty about us. Illust: Why is it that couples, in love with each other one moment can say all sorts of hateful things towards their partner the next moment? How is that we can look at another individual made in the image of God and say horrible things? How can we be separated from other brothers or sister in Christ and not attempt to clear our conscience and seek reconciliation? Because we are sinful!
C. Applic: Why is making such a response sin? Because when we respond angrily we lose site of the person and how God values him/her. Ask yourself if you are an angry person. Ask best friend, but don’t get angry with them if he/she tells you the truth!
II. Jesus Emphasizes the Importance of Reconciliation in Relationships. Vv23-24
A. Next, Jesus demonstrates the need to be reconciled after an offense occurs.
1. Jesus says that Reconciliations is Important Enough to Address before I worship.
a. Why does Jesus make this such a priority? Unresolved conflict absolutely interferes with our ability to worship God. If you or I have a personal offense against a brother or sister we commit sin by NOT attempting to address the issue. Avoidance is not a godly response. Silent treatment. Or leaves and goes to another church. That is a SINFUL response to a personal offense. You know what happens? That person lives to him or herself’s own accountability so he can continue to pretend to be ok with God. Nope. Bitterness sets in. Troubles multiply. God’s blessing is removed.
b. Notice here that Jesus states that the initiative should be with the one who has caused the offense. I find this interesting, because it is probably the other person who is in fact angry! Jesus is saying: Do not even stop to worship if you know your brother is angry with you. Seek him/her out. Ask forgiveness! (Not: “I am sorry.”). What does Matthew 18:15-17 (Read) tell us to do? Hide out? Leave and go to another church because I am embarrassed about my behavior? No! Be reconciled! Illust: do you know that most of the offense people carry are perceived and not in fact real? Usually a misunderstanding. Misread of body language or words spoken. Nowadays, misconstrued texts! God’s grace is available but our pride lies lurking to be satisfied too.
2. Christ’s substitution made the way for our reconciliation.
a. The lamb in the Old Testament was a picture of substitution. The people symbolically received the sinless life of the lamb, and the lamb bore the sins of the people and died for them. This symbolized the perfect lamb that would die for the sins of the entire world: Jesus Christ. What happened with Jesus, however, was not a symbol; it was the reality. The symbol looked forward w/expectation to the cross. Jesus literally took the sins of man and bore the wrath of God. Those who accept Christ as their Lord and Savior will have his work on the cross applied to their account. He bore our sin and the just wrath of God and we took on his perfect righteousness. II Corinthians 5:21 says, “God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of Christ.” Illust: My wife recently telling a person how could be saved. “I can’t possibly believe in a God Who says that Christ is the only way.” “I know plenty of really “good” people who don’t believe in Christ. God’ wouldn’t send them to hell.” (Illust: If there is one thing the JE files have proven, there are a lot of supposedly really good people who are in fact really nasty people. Don’t stake eternity on supposed behavior of others.
b.Illust: There is an expression in Ireland: “To chance your arm.” Maybe haven’t heard it. Maybe have. Comes from a very interesting story. In 1492 two Irish families, the Butlers and the FitzGeralds, were involved in a bitter feud. This disagreement centred around the position of Lord Deputy. Each family wanted own. In 1492 this tension broke into outright warfare! The Butlers, realizing the fighting was out of control, took refuge in Saint Patrick’s Cathedral. The FitzGeralds followed them into the Cathedral and asked them to come out and make peace. The Butlers, afraid that if they did so they would be slaughtered, refused. As a gesture of good faith the head of the Kildare family, Gerald FitzGerald, ordered that a hole be cut in the door. He then thrust his arm through the door and offered his hand in peace to those on the other side. Upon seeing that FitzGerald was willing to risk his arm by putting it through the door the Butlers reasoned that he was serious in his intention. The two families shook hands and made peace. (What have you risked for reconciliation?)
B. Both Parties Must Come Together in an Attempt so as to Reconcile in Christ.
1. Christ commands us to be reconciled with others to the degree possible with us.
a. v.24 “be reconciled” – dialiasso – applies to a quarrel where the fault may be two sided or one sided. I have been in quarrels where I have meant to be and I have been in quarrels that I had no idea I was involved in! Illust: What is traditionally seen as most dangerous situation police officers respond to? Domestic disturbance. Why? Couple who are killing each other will turn on those coming to offer help. Have been that pitied police officer in counseling over the years!
b. Who are we to be reconciled with? Look what Jesus calls that person who you are offended with: “Your brother.” We have downplayed the importance of being brothers or sisters in Christ. We used to call Christians “Brother this or Sister ”. Verbally demonstrated a spiritual truth. Your spiritual “brother or sister” may in fact be son or daughter or parent or uncle or aunt or grandparent.
2.
a. Broken relationships are a part of the broken world that we live in. Whether a romance that fell apart, friendships that ended in a fight, or rumors that destroyed our place of community, most of us have gotten beaten up by it, some worse than others. And in the Church, that knife can drive even deeper.
b. Illust: You must be rooted in your identity in Jesus Christ. If you don’t start with a firm grasp on your identity in Christ. Finding reconciliation is like finding your way home with a compass that always points back at you. You have to know that God is our Father. That He has been in love with every part of us since the beginning of time. That He paid in blood, sweat, and tears so that He could get His family back from the murderer who stole us away. You have to understand that our Father has already won the fight. But you’re still pretty messed up, and your brothers and sisters are still pretty messed up, too. But you’re back In Christ now. You don’t have to live like you’re still out in the cold. You don’t have to live alienated.
C. Applic: Be reconciled to one another…QUICKLY! Do it today!
III. Jesus States that We Must Reconcile Quickly Because of Consequences if Don’t.
A. In this last section Jesus uses a parable to teach us the urgency of Reconciliation.
1. There is an urgency attached to reconciliation.
a. Illust: Anyone that knows me pretty well knows that I can get angry very quickly. You mistreat my loved ones, my family, my church family, we will have a problem. It’s interesting, my parents weren’t believers when growing up, but taught us a lot of good qualities, one of those being loyalty. Loyalty means you don’t write people off.
b. vv.25-26. Jesus offers excellent legal advice here. “Settle matters quickly”. Settle out of court! Don’t go to court! Less expensive and less negative results. Plus, get to keep or make a friend. Go to court and win or lose, you usually make an enemy. Illust: Dicken’s Bleak House there is a court case always going on in the background of the story: “Jarndice vs Jarndice” – time, fortunes, relationships, lives are all eaten up by this insipid court case that took years to settle.
2. What is the broader Principle of Christ’s teaching?
a. Continuing to hold anger in your heart or refusing to attempt to reconcile with your brother or your sister is simply “asking for it” from the Lord.
b. There are consequences for leaving broken relationships unresolved. Illust: The four sons of Fred Koch, co-founder of energy conglomerate Koch Industries, spent nearly twenty years feuding with one another over whether two brothers, Charles and David, cheated the other two, William and Frederick, out of $2.3 billion when they sold their shares in 1983 for around $1 billion. For years, the billionaires reportedly communicated only through lawyers, occasionally making efforts to publicly humiliate and discredit one another. After years of fighting and millions of dollars spent on legal fees, the brothers reconciled in 2001. Think of the lost time, energy and resources.
B. Seek out positive consequences of reconciliation or else God may allow you to have negative consequences.
1. Remember that your present enemy may just in fact become your friend if you attempt to reconcile.
a. When Christ died on the cross, He satisfied God’s judgment and made it possible for God’s enemies, us, to find peace with Him. Our “reconciliation” to God, then, involves the exercise of His grace and the forgiveness of our sin. The result of Jesus’ sacrifice is that our relationship has changed from enmity to friendship. “I no longer call you servants … Instead, I have called you friends” (John 15:15). Christian reconciliation is a glorious truth! We were God’s enemies, but are now His friends. We were in a state of condemnation because of our sins, but we are now forgiven. We were at war with God, but now have the peace that transcends all understanding (Philippians 4:7).
b. Illust: rarely have there ever been two more unlikely individuals to become friends than the late Rev. Ian Paisley and Martin McGuinness. Paisley was an Irish Protestant Fundamentalist Preacher who became leader of the most rabidly loyalist political party seeking to keep Northern Ireland in the United Kingdom. Martin McGuinness a former gunman and leader in Sinn Fein, the Irish Republican party attempting to reunify Northern Ireland with Southern Ireland. For over fifty years each man carried the banner of his cause. Paisley as a vociferous and raucous speaker and protest organizer, McGuiness 1st as an IRA terrorist and killer and later as a politician. However, a strange thing happened: over time these two men became, well…friends. Their bizarre friendship was referred to as “The Chuckle Brothers” because in their last years they changed their tiny portion of the world by working together to form a new government and lasting peace. Diametrically opposed enemies became friends.
2. Jesus’ parable paints a negative picture about our lack of forgiveness. Vv.25-26
a. This illustration assumes that you owe your accuser a debt of some kind, and to collect on it he is taking you to court. Jesus is saying: Don’t wait until you get to court to work out some kind of deal; settle out of court. Beware of Judge Judy! Because if the court has to decide the matter, you will be thrown into debtor’s prison and won’t get out until every last cent34 is paid. Remaining imprisoned until a debt is repaid down to the last penny elicits a sense of impossibility (cf. Matt 18:34), since the debtor had no chance to work to create funds.
b. If you have offended someone, it’s your responsibility to quickly do what you can to make it right. That means you approach that person and say, “I was rude to you, and I was wrong, would you please forgive me? I took advantage of your kindness, would you please forgive me? I got angry at you. Would you please forgive me? I borrowed money and didn’t pay it back, but here’s a small payment and I’ll pay the rest when I can. I was wrong, please forgive me.” If there are people out there whom you have sinned against, it is your job to reconcile. It is interesting that Jesus stated a practical reason to reconcile with those who are offended—to avoid being thrown into prison. In other words, don’t wait until it’s too late—
C. Applic: 32 yrs ago this past December was one of saddest experiences in being a pastor. My 50 yrs old friend had just thrown a blood clot and subsequent heart attack was devastating. Hospital was keeping on life support until the kids came in to say their goodbyes. The oldest son had taken up an offense a year or two previously and was alienated from his dad.. Coming into ICU seeing father on the table he broke into tears: “I am so sorry, Dad.” “Do you think he can hear me?” Don’t wait. Reconcile today.
