The Heart of the Matter – Anger/Murder

1. Read: Matthew 5:21-26

2. About the Text:

1) This text is part of Jesus sermon on the mount.

2) This sermon focuses on the character of the citizens of the kingdom of God.

3) This section compares the rabbis’ teaching with Jesus’ teaching.

4) Jesus is reorienting the focus from externals to internals.

5) He wants the citizens of His kingdom to orient their hearts to His will.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. The Rabbis interpreted the sixth commandment very rigidly.

1) “Thou shalt not murder” (Exodus 20:13).

2) Their punishment was to face the judgment of the local courts.

3) If a person was found guilty, under the Law of Moses, they were put to death.

4) “He who strikes a man so that he dies shall surely be put to death” (Exodus 21:12).

2. Jesus is looking not only at the sixth commandment itself, but at its motives.

1) He did not come to destroy the law, but to fulfill it.

2) To fulfill the law, one must not just avoid the physical act of murder, but the spiritual attitudes that go with it also.

3) What precipitates murder? Anger and cursing one’s brother.

4) What were the Pharisees, lawyers, scribes, and Sadducees doing about this?

3. What did Jesus teach that was different?

1) The law was about punishing the guilty.

2) “Anyone who has rejected Moses’ law dies without mercy on the testimony of two or three witnesses” (Hebrews 10:28).

3) Jesus’ teaching is about reforming the heart.

1. The danger of violating the law was physical death.

1) This is what is meant by “in danger of the judgment.”

2) “Whoever kills a person, the murderer shall be put to death on the testimony of witnesses; but one witness is not sufficient testimony against a person for the death penalty” (Numbers 35:30).

3) This was a consequence intended to prevent murder.

4) In Jesus’ day, this would have been enforced by the Romans.

5) “Then Pilate said to them, ‘You take Him and judge Him according to your law.’ Therefore the Jews said to him, ‘It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death’” (John 18:31).

2. The Old Testament warned against anger:

1) “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm” (Psalm 37:8).

2) But what were the Jewish leaders of Jesus’ day doing about it?

3. The danger of a corrupt heart is spiritual death.

1) Anger was frequently associated with murder in the Bible.

a. Cain was angry with Abel (Genesis 4:6).

b. Simeon and Levi killed in anger (Genesis 49:6).

c. Joseph’s brothers conspired to kill him due to anger and hatred (Genesis 37:18).

d. Saul sought to kill David in anger (1 Samuel 18:8, 20:7).

e. Herod was angry and sought to kill Jesus (Matthew 2:16).

2) Jesus takes the issue further than physical death.

a. Danger of the judgment referred to lower courts.

b. Danger of the council referred to higher courts.

c. Danger of hell fire meant eternal judgment and condemnation.

d. This is the same progression about which James speaks in James 1:14-15, “But each one is tempted when he is drawn away by his own desires and enticed. Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.”

3) Anger leads to verbal outbursts and abuses.

a. The words “raca” and “fool” were curses used against men.

b. James says that such cursing is wrong because men were made in the likeness of God (James 3:9).

4. Spiritual death is infinitely worse than physical death.

1) Spiritual corruption has always been the bigger threat. “And He said, ‘What comes out of a man, that defiles a man. For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lewdness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness. All these evil things come from within and defile a man.’” (Mark 7:20-23).

2) Jesus came to save us from spiritual death (Romans 6:23).

1. Two examples of dealing with anger and hatred toward others.

1) When we have something against another.

a. The example of worshipping without a heart burdened with anger.

b. Don’t pretend to worship God with anger and hatred in your heart.

c. Would God really cut us off for failing to make things right with another?

d. Is it that serious?

2) When someone has something against us.

a. The example of paying our debts.

b. What happens if we do not do that?

c. In Jesus’ day, people were put into debtor’s prisons.

d. How about today? Do money problems create anger and hatred?

2. Jesus’ point is that we must work things out with others instead of harboring anger and hatred toward them.

1) Anger and hatred lead to very bad things.

2) They are the root emotions that cause murder.

3) It is not enough to simply forbid murder.

4) We must address the underlying emotions also.

5) How? We must talk to each other about these matters.

3. How do we do that as Christians?

1) “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness” (1 John 1:9).

2) “Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much” (James 5:16).

1. To get to the heart of the matter, we must heed Jesus’ . . .

1) Differences

2) Dangers

3) Directives

2. Invitation