ANGER AND HURT

GRACIOUS JESUS1. The King is Born

2. John the Baptist

3. The Baptism of Jesus

4. Temptations of Jesus

5. Start of Jesus’ Ministry

6. Beatitudes – Part 1

7. Beatitudes – Part 2

8. Beatitudes – Part 3

GRACIOUS JESUS9. Salt and Light

10. Fulfilling the Law

11. Anger and Hurt 12. Purity

13. Integrity

14. The Extra Mile

15. Love your Enemies

16. In Secret

17. The Lord’s Prayer

ANGER AND HURTPRESENTATION OVERVIEW

• Ref: Matt 5:21-26, • Cross ref: Matt 18:15-17,

Luke 12:58, John 17:20-23;Matt 5:33-37

• Traditional perspective• Christ’s perspective• Reconciling perspectives• Implications today

OBJECTIVESTo understand the true meaning of the sixth commandmentTo apply it to our marred perspectives in today’s context

INTRODUCTIONStraight off the back of the announcement of “fulfilling the law”, Christ’s first example is anger vs. murder (the sixth commandment). He then goes on to explain the true meaning of the sixth commandment, which had been seriously misinterpreted till His time.

ANGER AND HURTPassage: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. Matt 5

ANGER AND HURT“Anger is a natural passion; there are cases in which it is lawful and laudable; but it is then sinful, when we are angry without cause. The word is eike, which signifies, sine causâ, sine effectu, et sine modo—without cause, without any good effect, without moderation; so that the anger is then sinful” [1]

TRADITIONAL PERSPECTIVEThe act (murder, adultery, etc) is the sin, not the thought, feeling or words.The act is to be condemned and liable to capital punishment (ex 20:13)People who perform the act eg. murder are socially blacklisted and spiritually marred.

TRADITIONAL PUNISHMENTSThe Jews had three capital punishments, each worse than the other: beheading, which was

inflicted by the judgment stoning, by the council or

chief Sanhedrim burning in the valley of

the son of Hinnom, which was used only in extraordinary cases [1]

CHRIST’S PERSPECTIVE The thought, feeling or words (eg. anger) is as sinful as

the act eg. murder The thought is to be condemned and liable to capital

punishment to various degrees. People who perform the thought are equally guilty as

those performing the act. Spiritually, those who feel angry, therefore, are not

spiritually higher than those who murder and cannot judge them. (Matt 7:1)

UNDERSTANDING CONTEXTPRIDE AND HATREDAnger, pride, hatred – all deserving capital punishment are placed at three separate levels corresponding to the Jewish levels.Pride: Raca is a scornful word, and comes from pride, “You empty fellow;”Hatred: You fool, is a spiteful word, and comes from hatred;  [1]

RECONCILING PERSPECTIVESIf you are the hurt party: Do not wait another minute ForgiveIf you have caused hurt:• Do not wait another day• Seek forgiveness from God• And the people you hurtDon’t wait for anger or bitterness to set in.

We are all guilty. Only Christ can absolve our punishment

MINISTRY OF RECONCILIATIONWithout reconciling with others, we cannot reconcile to God.2 Cor 518 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation;

IMPLICATIONS TODAYThough anger and murder are spiritually equivalent, socially and legally, murder has greater consequencesBefore feeling self righteous and mentally condemning others, introspect and realize our own unworthinessEmpathize with the murderers, adulterers, etc. realizing we are in the same league spiritually and help them return to Christ in the same way we are doing so.

RECAPTraditional perspectiveChrist’s perspectiveReconciling perspectivesImplications today

DISCUSSION1. In what ways do we risk being like

Pharisees?2. How does this enable us to minister

better to murderers and sexual offenders, etc.?

3. How can we lead by example to repent, return and meet Christ’s high standards?

REFERENCES1. Matthew Henry’s Commentary