Today’s Reading: Matthew Ch. 5, John 2:13-17
Optional Readings: Luke 6:17-36
The Sermon on the Mount
There is so much in the Sermon on the Mount that I will certainly not do it justice. The depths of these next three chapters deserve our attention again and again. So while I may pick out just one piece on which to focus, I invite you to soak in other parts of the the text for a while also.
For years, I have asked my children to do their chores and follow the rules. Let’s say my son has been asked to collect the eggs, sweep the mudroom, and gather the trash. Most kids probably go through the same stages regarding chores: eager when they’re very young, compliant when they’re elementary age, resentful when they’re teens, and, the hope is, generous and genuine when they’re young adults.
The actions of a compliant child say “I obey you,” “I respect you,” or possibly “I fear you,” but they don’t necessarily say, “I love you.” Watching your teenager do a chore for you, not because you asked, but because he knows it would help you, is such a meaningful gesture. His heart motivates him to do the things that he knows would please his mom. That is a far cry from obedience to avoid punishment.
Jesus essentially says to the disciples that while obeying the “rules” is right, it’s the heart that is motivated to please the Father that should be our standard. He wants our hearts, not just our compliance.
Jesus wasn’t softening the law; He was raising the standard! He was showing us that there is much more to it.
He teaches through several examples of how our hearts should take us above and beyond minimal compliance. For our purposes, and for the sake of time, here’s just one that I want to focus on today: anger.
We all know we shouldn’t murder, but Jesus adds
“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 fires of hell” (vs 22-23).
Anger is so commonplace that we barely notice it anymore. Everyone is angry at someone it seems.
We are angry at the people who’ve wronged us.
…angry at the girl who got our McDonalds order wrong.
…angry at the child (who, unbeknownst to you, is being abused and neglected) who is mean to our daughter at school.
…angry about that Facebook post.
…I could go on and on…
You may be thinking, “Even Jesus got angry when he cleared the temple.” Let’s look at that for a moment. There are a few details worth noting.
After seeing the merchants buying and selling, vs 15 says he “made a whip out of cords” before driving anyone out. Don’t skip over that. Making a whip would have taken at least some amount of time. Whether he was braiding something more intricate or simply gathering cords in his hand, it took time. He had a moment before he responded. This implies that his response was intentional and measured, not reactive and hasty.
The original Koine Greek and the translations never actually use the word “anger.” They use the word “zeal.” Zeal denotes intensity, but not necessarily anger. Perhaps a characterization of anger wouldn’t be inappropriate, but it should at least be noted that it’s not explicitly in the text.
His zeal was not for his own sake. He was zealous for the sanctity of the temple, the reverence of the Father, the intention of sacrifices, and the protection of the impoverished. Our anger, contrarily, is usually somehow rooted in self.
His emotion was controlled and restorative, whereas our anger is usually uncontrolled and destructive.
Seeing anger come across the face of a Christian or come out of the mouth of a Christian is unsettling. An angry spirit is not becoming and is dangerous. Paul instructs, “Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice (or hate)” (Eph 4:31).
Jesus, your words here scare me a little, and I’m grateful. I am realizing that I have made excuses for my anger. I think of it as less of a sin than You do. Forgive me, and give me Your spirit of love and compassion. Amen.