
Part 4: Don't Stay Angry
TEACHING NOTES Introduction In this series, we are studying the Sermon on the Mount, which is Jesus’ teaching on how to live in God’s kingdom right now. If you compare the Sermon on the Mount to Exodus 19-40, it becomes obvious that Jesus is presenting a New Covenant from the mountain. Matt. 5:21-7:12 is the law section of this New Covenant. In Ex. 20:3-17, we find the 10 Commandments. These commands cover two main categories: (1) Our Relationship to God, (2) Our Relationship to Others. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is going to redefine the last six commandments by turning them from external to internal issues. But why did Jesus skip the first five commandments? In Matt. 19:18, when Jesus is talking to the rich young ruler, He gives the same list of commandments in the same order as in the Sermon on the Mount, but Jesus leaves out the first four commandments in both scenes. If we look closely, we find that Jesus is not skipping the first five commandments. The Beatitudes and the salt & light section seems to be Jesus’ way of explaining how we honor THE Father. In today’s passage, Jesus is going to talk about two categories: The person who stays angry at the one who wronged them. The person who has not reconciled with the one they wronged. Matthew 5:21 ESV 21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ You have heard that it was said = Jesus is going to use this phrase six times as He gives the new laws of the New Covenant. You shall not murder = Jesus is quoting the 6th commandment from Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17. Jesus is about to show that this commandment is dealing with the outcome of a much deeper issue in the heart. Murder is the external consequence of an internal problem. Matthew 5:22 ESV 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. But I say to you = This shows that Jesus is claiming authority to interpret and even redefine the Torah laws. This is exactly how the audience understood what Jesus was doing, because they were “astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority” (Matt. 7:28-29). Everyone who is angry with his brother = Some manuscripts say, “angry with his brother without cause” which indicates a kind of petty anger. The English translation here “everyone who IS angry” accurately conveys the present and active tense of the Greek phrase. Jesus is talking about people who are actively angry with another person, which implies that they are currently unwilling to forgive. Anger is an indication of unresolved issues and unforgiveness in the heart. Now Jesus is going to show a progression of consequences. Judgment = Local Judges/Elders Council = Sanhedrin Gehenna = Death Penalty Liable to judgment, the council = Jesus is referring to literal judges and the city council (Grk. synedrion - Sanhedrin), which could sentence you to fines, prison, or death. The language here implies that a person who refuses to forgive and remain angry is in danger of committing a crime against that person. Insults his brother = Grk. Raka - This word originates from Aramaic and was an expletive term meant to title a person as empty-headed, idiot, godless, or useless. You fool = Grk. moros - This word is the Greek version of Raka. This is an attack on the image of God because it implies that God made something useless. Useless garbage, animals, and criminals were burned in the city’s burn pit (Gehenna). Jesus is using irony here to say that those who treat others as useless, will be treated as useless themselves. Liable to the hell of fire = This translation is misleading because it uses a modern term “hell” that is loaded with modern tradition and refers to the eternal destination of God’s enemies. But Jesus was not talking about the “lake of fire” (Rev. 21:8). Jesus used the word “Gehenna” which was a literal valley outside Jerusalem where garbage, dead animals, and the bodies of criminals were burned. Jesus is not talking about what we commonly call “hell.” Jesus is merely saying that if His audience harbors anger it could lead to murder, which would lead to their executed body being thrown into Gehenna—the city dump. Note: While Jesus is talking about a literal place where murderers were burned, Jesus also taught that those who refuse to forgive others will not be forgiven by God (Matt. 6:14-15). Those who are not forgiven will not inherit the kingdom nor the new creation, but will be thrown into the lake of fire along with murderers. The point Jesus is making is that holding on to anger and unforgiveness will always lead you to destruction. 1 John 3:15 “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” James 1:19-20 “19 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; 20 for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” Now Jesus is going to compare our relationship with others to our relationship with God. Jesus taught that how we treat each other helps or hurts our relationship with God. Matthew 5:23–24 ESV 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. What Old Testament story does Jesus have in mind? In Gen. 4, Cain and Abel (brothers) are offering their gifts to God at the entrance to the Garden of Eden. Abel offered one of his treasured sheep, while Cain offered some fruit. Apparently, Cain seems to be offering the easiest and less costly offering, which may indicate an issue in Cain’s heart. God "looks with favor” on Abel’s offering, but not on Cain’s offering. This makes Cain angry and leads him to murder Abel. Anger and jealousy led to murder. This is the story that Jesus wants us to have in mind. Leave your gift, be reconciled, them come offer your gift = Notice the importance that Jesus is placing on reconciliation between humans. Jesus is clearly teaching that our relationships with others must be reconciled before we can offer anything to God. Loving your neighbor is connected to loving God. We cannot love God and hate someone He created. Matthew 5:25–26 ESV 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. Come to terms quickly = Grk. eimi eunoeo tachys - be reconciled, make friends, come to an agreement, consider favorably. With your accuser = Grk. antidikos - accuser, adversary, plaintiff, opponent. On the way to court = The word “court” is not in the original text, but just says “on the way.” However, since Jesus says they are on the way to the judge, it is clear that they are on the way to court. This connects back to verse 22, where Jesus mentions judgment and the council (Sanhedrin). Judge, guard, prison = Shows the progression of being found guilty and sentenced to punishment. This connects back to verse 22 where there is a progression of local judge, Sanhedrin, to being burned up in Gehenna. Jesus commands His followers to resolve conflict quickly. Conclusion Today we need to do an honest evaluation of our hearts. Are you holding on to anger toward another person—out there or in here? Is someone angry with you? Have done all you can to resolve it and seek reconciliation? If so, you need to confess that to the Father, leave communion on the table, and repent (seek reconciliation).