Jesus on Anger

"You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to his brother, ‘Raca' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who says, ‘You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.

"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and offer your gift.

"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny" (Matthew 5:21-26).

Jesus begins a series of statements that address the contrast between how the Pharisees and Scribes taught the law and what the real meaning, the principal of the law, was.

To the Pharisee the act of murder was the issue. To Jesus, it was the heart and what the condition of the heart was that would lead a person to commit murder. So Jesus addresses the cause of anger.

What is the cause of anger? First, let's understand that anger is a valid human emotion. Jesus displayed anger when He cleared the temple.

More than once He displayed anger in His encounter with the hardheartedness of the Scribes and Pharisees as they sought ways to challenge His intentions and His teaching.

In fact, in Matthew 23, in an angry encounter with the Pharisees, Jesus calls them a "brood of vipers" (v. 33) and "whitewashed tombstones" (v. 27). The Old Testament tells us that God became angry with the children of Israel, more than once, several times threatening to "divorce" them (Jeremiah 3:8). So, we must understand that anger is not a sin. Uncontrolled anger, malicious anger, unrestrained anger is a sin.

Where does anger come from? Anger is a result of trying to preserve personal worth, basic needs and deeply held convictions.

It is ignited when a person feels rejection or invalidation. So that person seeks to do one or more of the following: Preserve self-worth; preserve basic needs; and preserve deeply held convictions.

How do we deal with anger? Some people suppress it by holding it inside themselves in unhealthy ways. Others express it by sarcasm, griping, rage, intimidation or blame. Still others become passive with anger. Passively angry people have a need to control without being transparent or open. There are those who are assertive with anger.

Failure to share feelings in a constructive way may produce assertive anger.

Everyone needs to deal with anger. The most difficult choice is letting go.

Don't hold it in, don't let it out, don't be passive or assertive.

Pastor Ron Barker can be reached at (661) 822-3138 or go to www.fbctehachapi.org.