The Dangers Of Anger Series

Sermon on the Mount - Matthew 5:21-26 (Anger)

Jesus advises us on how to deal with anger.

The Dangers of Anger

Matthew 5:21-26

Introduction

Many years ago, a member of the Missouri State Legislature accepted a $25,000 bribe for his vote regarding a specific bill. Sometime later, he received a $50,000 bribe from the opposing side, so he returned the original $25,000. Eventually, the corruption was discovered, and the legislator, who had turned the state's evidence, related the story on the stand. The examining attorney asked him, "Why was it that you returned the $25,000?" The legislator drew himself up to his full height and, in a voice that showed his scorn of the lawyer for such a question, answered, "I would have you know that I am too conscientious about taking money from both sides!"

Human nature is such that even when caught in a sinful practice, people are very good at quickly justifying themselves as being righteous. This has been true throughout history, and it is still true today, as evidenced by the culture of corruption that extends through every level of government and has increasingly become standard business practice.

The Scribes devoted their lives to studying the Scriptures, yet long before Jesus walked the earth, they had departed from the meaning of the Mosaic Law. Much like our own Supreme Court, they were so immersed in the minor details of interpretation of law according to the precedents set by those that preceded them that they neglected the plain reading of the law and the intent of its author. Their interpretations of the law had, for all practical purposes, replaced God's doctrines with the precepts of men.

The Pharisees claimed they carried out every nuance of practice demanded by the Mosaic Law, but they had departed from that long before Jesus became a man. The Pharisees had made out long lists of "do's and don'ts" by which they sought to live righteously. However, like any time man attempts to "improve" on God's words, they lowered the standards God had set to something they thought they could keep. The result was self-righteousness, yet, like the Missouri legislator caught red-handed, they still claimed to be good.

The Sermon on the Mount is Jesus' great exposition of the nature of true righteousness. (See: Introduction to the Sermon on the Mount). Jesus describes the characteristics of true righteousness in the Beatitudes in Matthew 5:3-16. The righteous are poor in spirit, mournful, meek, hungering and thirsting after righteousness, merciful, pure in heart, and peacemakers. (See: Blessed are the Poor in Spirit). Because they are righteous, the unrighteous world will react to them with insult, slander, and persecution. (See: Blessed are the Persecuted). The righteous are the salt of the earth and the light of the world, and they do their good works in such a way as to bring glory to God. (See: Being Salt & Light).

Jesus makes it plain in Matthew 5:17-20 that what He is teaching is in complete harmony with all of the Old Testament. He is not abolishing even the smallest part of it but fulfilling it. This contrasts with the scribes and Pharisees, who perverted the law's meaning and practice. In verse 20, Jesus issues a condemnation and a warning to the multitude that had gathered to hear Him teach, "Unless your righteousness surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven." Neither the scribes, Pharisees, or anyone else would be part of the kingdom of heaven unless they possessed true righteousness. (See: The Law, Righteousness & the Kingdom). The Beatitudes described its characteristics. The rest of the sermon contrasts these self-righteous religious leaders' false teaching and erroneous practices with true righteousness.

True Righteousness Illustrated

In the rest of Matthew 5, Jesus presents and then refutes the six teachings of the Scribes by explaining the correct teaching of the law as interpreted by true righteousness. The six topics covered are murder (vs. 21), adultery (vs. 27), divorce (vs. 31), vows (vs. 33), revenge (vs. 38), and loving your neighbor (vs. 43). Jesus introduces each of these teachings with the phrase, "you have heard," or "it was said."

In Matthew 6, Jesus condemns certain practices of the Pharisees and then explains how the righteous are to practice those things. Jesus' message is essential, "do not be like the hypocrites, do it this way instead." each section in this chapter begins with an introduction of the topic, followed by a description of the Pharisees' unfair practices and an explanation of how the righteous should do these things. The practices examined include giving alms (vs. 2), praying (vs. 5), and fasting (vs. 16).

Jesus continues this theme in the rest of chapter 6 and the first part of chapter 7, but Jesus becomes more direct by giving commands instead of contrasts. Jesus gives three prohibitions that contradicted the practice of the Jewish religious leaders: do not lay up treasures on earth (6:19), do not be judgmental (7:1), and do not give what is holy to dogs (7:6).