What we think is a small thing, Jesus counts as a big thing. Being angry with a person puts us in a position where Jesus says we are in danger of judgment that will take us to hell. he keeps reading..
OUR TEXT
Matthew 5:21-22 (New King James Version)
21 “You have heard that it was said to the ancients, ‘You shall not kill, and whoever kills will be guilty of judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother without cause will be guilty of judgment. He will be in danger of advice. But whoever says, ‘Fool!’ he will be in danger of hellfire.
In fact, this is a scary passage for a person who has anger issues.
Do you know what it says in the Sermon on the Mount later on that if you don’t forgive your brother, neither will the Lord Jesus forgive you? Do you know that people who don’t forgive in their heart can go to hell? It’s very scary that you might end up there.
Sometimes life and a brother can make you very angry. It’s better to avoid some people than to get mad at them when you’re together. A person who has anger issues needs to work with good prayer counselors.
You see here that calling a person a fool can get you into deep water with Jesus. A statement to a person, “Don’t worry about him, he’s an idiot,” can get you in trouble with Jesus.
Many people would say that this does not align with grace. Yet here they are, these are the very words of Jesus. It is He who speaks, not me. He is the one who will judge on the great day when we are judged.
One day, Jesus told me: “There is a day of judgment, Matthew, until then do not judge people.”
They are sobering words.
Over the years I have improved, but I must admit I have a way to go.
I had a guy in my life tell me he was sorry for the times he was mad at me. He told me that all the frustrations of the week are piling up on him, and then I say something that makes him angry and he blows all his anger out on me.
I thought of myself. That’s not a guy I should mix with.
Jesus is talking about life like this.
Do we have people with whom we often get angry over something insignificant? We should cure all that and stop it.
be blessed
Matthew Robert Payne