Almost daily we are treated to some kind of news about violence in our streets. The news media is quick to inform us about how divided our nation is. Depending on how many news outlets you turn to, you will find a variety of opinions as to what should be done. I use this article to say what is needed is to trace the source of the anger. In one way that may have many different sources. What I am speaking of, however, is to say to the world and to us, let us look to the source and then we can find solutions.
In Matthew 5 Jesus begins to teach about the difference of the Old Law of Moses and the way things will be once His kingdom comes into effect. Part of His teaching centered around anger. First of all He goes back to the law of Moses (Matt. 5:21). He showed that under the law of Moses that if one committed murder they could face the judgment. On one hand the judgment would be some civil authority enacting justice to protect society from a murderer. It would like carry the idea of a person dying in such a state and having to face God with such a sin against their soul.
In the next verse Jesus speaks about anger under His coming law. Two sides are presented about anger. On one hand is anger with a cause and on the other hand, anger without a cause (verse 22). There were two occasions when Jesus cleansed the temple, at the start of His ministry and then again at the end of His ministry. Look at what Matthew tells us about the second time He cleansed the temple. He ran people out of the temple area, overthrew tables and scattered everything (Matt. 21:12). What is this? It is anger with a cause. In the next verse He reminds those still standing there that God’s house would be called a house of prayer and not merchandise (verse 13).
Samuel tells us about at least two incidents when Saul threw a spear at David to kill him (I Sam. 18:11). Why was Saul so angry at his son-in-law? In simple terms, Saul was jealous of David. This is anger without a cause for David in no way was a threat to Saul.
Back to Matthew 5, Jesus states this in verse 22. If one is angry with his brother without a cause, he would be in danger of the judgment. It is the same word used back in verse 21. However, this kind of judgment could be the kind administered by men in some sort of judicial authority. Your anger had spilled over into life and others sought to punish you for it. The second kind cited here is the council, that is some kind of judicial body that would punish your outbreak of anger.
The third kind stated by Jesus was that if you said someone was a fool, that is worthless person you would be in danger of hell fire. The implication being that one would not repent of the anger in their heart and thereby meet God unprepared. This kind of anger would be not only the immediate action but refers more to the content of one’s heart. More knowledge of the kingdom type living is presented in Eph. 4:26. There the Christian is taught to not allow the sun to go down on one’s wrath. Sudden anger can occur with any of us. The difference is the Christian resolves the cause of the anger and thereby keeps his heart clear and clean (James 4:8). Christian husbands are taught by the Lord to not be bitter against their wives (Col. 3:19). I bring this up to show that yes we can be bitter over words or actions but we do not allow the bitterness to stay and grow in our hearts. This is the same way with anger.
What is evident when we see masked thugs burning buildings, destroying property or attacking people, is anger in the heart. What is also evident is how much this country and the world needs Jesus. The real Jesus in the Bible who helped the fallen, condemned the wicked and challenged the righteous. May His influence ever grow in our world.