“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.
I would like to stick to the interesting things, such as calling someone a name of contempt was answerable to the Sanhedrin. There were limitations to free speech and some words could get you in trouble legally with the local Jewish ruling council.
I would like to focus on things like that, but then I would miss the point. The point being that anger could lead someone to hell. Anger. And/or calling someone a name of contempt.
When I was younger this was easier. And for most of my life it was a humbling set of verses, but didn’t give me too much pause. But the last decade or so is a different story.
Sometimes it feels like you can go your whole life and the Christian life isn’t so challenging. But then in the blink of an eye it all changes.
What Jesus says is mind boggling. Who hasn’t been angry with their brother/sister? Who hasn’t called someone a name of contempt if not out loud then in their heart? That would make everyone in danger of the fire of hell.
This is where people wrestle with how to interpret the Sermon on the Mount. Is it a writing to show us how utterly sinful we are and in need of Savior? Yes. Does God really have these high of demands? Yes. Are these demands impossible for the average human to keep? Yes.
First and foremost such words draw us to our need for Christ. Without Christ, we are in serious trouble.
But secondly, we cannot take lightly anger towards someone. Easier said than done in some seasons of the soul.
How do “be angry and do not sin” as the Scriptures say?
It isn’t that all anger is wrong. God gets angry. We ready about it on several occasions. There is a righteous anger. The problem with man is that everyone thinks their own anger is justified.
