Jesus Speaks on Anger II

Matthew 5: 23-26

“So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. 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. Truly, I say to you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.

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Introduction

My daughter came home one day and said someone insulted her.
I asked her “who” and “how”. She did not reply immediately. Finally she said: “They insulted me because they said I look like you!” When people say to teenagers that they look like parents, it is a great insult! BUT when people say that you remind me of God, it is a great compliment. Israel, was supposed to “bear” the likeness of God.  But Jew after Jew, you could see no resemblance or likeness to God.

Main Points

One of the most recurring words in Matthew 7 is “father”.  The heart of Jesus’ mission was to “Regain God’s glory in His people”.

In the 6 areas of the Law, instead of bearing God’s image and giving Him glory, there was no glory at all. On Jesus’ teaching on anger, he gave two examples:
1. Jewish worshippers came to perform their religious duties. God should be pleased. But, Jesus said: No, no! With the upsized holiness or glory that has come crashing in with the KOH. It is far more important to be reconciled in his heart than worship God in the temple. It’s all about the heart.

2. The second example is about owing money, in debt; he can take you to court, and put you in prison. What will happen then? You cannot earn and you will never repay. It will therefore bring about a vicious cycle of debt.

For us, a debt is something we owe the bank for taking a loan; it’s monetary.
Debt in Jewish is something we owe God and neighbour for sinning against them. It’s spiritual. And whatever we cannot agree, we will keep chalking up. Debtor is then thrown in prison, resulting in endless vicious cycles. Judgement is looming and justice will be done. Thus, keep clear of all malice and offense to others.

Lesson 1

Kingdom people must take sin seriously because our King takes it seriously. A friend’s daughter-in-law who was expecting her first child has suddenly become very ill. She finally fell into a coma. But miraculously, she finally awoke from coma. She cried and cried. Why? She was totally overwhelmed that she almost or nearly died giving life to another. She shaken, shivered, nausea….  However, Jesus did not almost or nearly die for us. He truly, lovingly, sacrificially, painfully died for us, for our sin against God and neighbour.

This is one of the greatest weaknesses of the Christians and church. Why life is so defeated and witness anaemic? Once we belittle sin, we belittle our need of saviour. How do we know we love God?  Our love for God can be measured by how much we hate sin. You love God, how much do you hate the sin of anger?

Lesson 2

Our hatred for anger is shown in our willingness and quickness of dealing with anger. The louder the denial, the deeper the sin is. Are we dragging feet, giving all sorts of excuses, or rationalising anger? Or, are we admitting it and dealing with it quickly?

Lesson 3

We don’t deal with sin of anger by suppression but by surrender to God.
By listening to king Jesus speak the Gospel into our lives: Heart anger = physical murder. Anger management by way of suppression is idolatrous self-love.
Choose an occasion to be angry to look good. Don’t agree with God that anger is sin. Suppression is idolatrous. It focuses on us. But, surrender focuses on God, pleasing Him and loving neighbour.

Summary

Do you show any family likeness to God in this area of your life? Our love for God can be measured by how much we hate sin. You love God, how much do you hate the sin of anger? Our hatred for anger is shown in our willingness and quickness of dealing with anger. Are you dragging feet, giving all sorts of excuses, rationalising anger? Or, are you admitting it and dealing with it quickly? We don’t deal with sin of anger by suppression but by surrender to God. By listening to king Jesus speak the Gospel into our lives: Heart anger = physical murder. May we surrender ourselves to God and focus on Him, pleasing Him and loving our neighbour. Amen!