What Does Jesus Say About Anger?

Jesus on Anger Matthew 5:21-5:26

After spending 3-1/2 hours enduring the long lines, surly clerks and insane regulations at the Department of Motor Vehicles, a man stopped at a toy store to pick up a gift for he son.he brought my selection - a baseball bat - to the cash register. "Cash or charge?" the clerk asked. "Cash," the man snapped. The man Then apologizing for his rudeness, he said, "I’ve spent the afternoon at the motor vehicle bureau." "Shall I gift-wrap the bat?" the clerk asked sweetly. "Or are you going back there?"

Today we are going to continue looking at Jesus Sermon on the Mount

Mathew 5:21-26

We can do some crazy things when we allow our anger to take hold of us.

• Have you done things while you were angry that you wish you could take back?

• Anger can be one of the most destructive things in our life.

• In verse 20, that we read last week

• Jesus tells us that unless our righteousness exceeded (Goes Beyond)

• that of the scribes and Pharisees, we will not enter the Kingdom of Heaven.

• When we look at the Old Testament Law,

• We see that the Law deals more with actions than the attitudes behind the actions.

• Today we are going to look at the effects that anger can have on ourselves, on our worship of God and on other people.

Mt 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’

Mt 5:22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

Mt 5:23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you,

Mt 5:24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

Mt 5:25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.

Mt 5:26 I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

Before we get into the effects of Anger,

• We need to look at what Jesus is trying to tell us in verse 21.

• In verse 21 Jesus points to the sixth commandment that in found in Exodus 20:13.

• That is Ex 20:13 “You shall not murder.

• He says that their ancestors were told were told this

• Jesus isn’t dealing with the current interpretation of the Law,

• He is not replacing it, as we learned last week He’s adding to it

The religious leaders thought they were in great shape if they did not kill a person.

• But Jesus tells us that if our righteousness is going to exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees,

• We are not to get angry to the point of sinning.

• Eph 4:26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry.

• This is great advice not only for our everyday encounters

• But advice that I give to every couple that is getting married

• If we are going to be citizens of the kingdom,

• Members of God’s family, not murdering a person

• Is not the correct standard that we are supposed to judge ourselves

• Today as we look at the effects of anger on our lives, in our lives and the lives of others,

• I hope that we will see why Jesus raised the bar.

THE FIRST EFFECT OF ANGER IS ON OURSELVES 21-22

A. The Progression of anger

• Jesus said that according to the Old Testament Law,

• if you murdered someone, you were sent before the court for judgment.

• To murder someone is to take a life with malice and aforethought.

• And The court could do one of three things with you.

1. Send Case to Sanhedrin.

2. Confine to city of refuge. If it was an accident

3. Or you could be Executed if you were found guilty.

In verse 22 we see the progression of anger that Jesus condemns.

• Anger without a just cause.

• We can be angry at sin,

• We see Jesus Himself demonstarated this in (John 2:14-16. Money changers)

• This is RIGHTEOUS ANGER