First Baptist Church Litchfield
April 21, 2024

      • Psalm 145:1–13ESV

  • Lord I Lift Your Name On High
  • Days Of Elijah

      • Revelation 22:12–13ESV

      • Revelation 22:17ESV

  • Lion Of Judah

      • Revelation 4:8–11ESV

  • Be Unto Your Name
  • All I Have Is Christ

  • I would go to his funeral just to be sure…

    I remember when my first murder. I was in ninth grade. An older kid made it his purpose in life to mess with me. He would say ridiculously mean things to me, intimidate me, and at times put hands on me. I was a source of entertainment for his friends. I was made to feel pathetic and without help.
    For a period of time, he consumed my thoughts. Whenever I had a spare moment, I would imagine what life would be like without him. Once I was confiding in a friend about my struggle and I told him, “You know, I would go to this guys funeral just to make sure he was dead.” I hated this kid. According to Jesus’ interpretation of the law, I murdered this kid in my heart.

    Jesus’s Understanding of Righteousness

    Jesus stated that he is the fulfillment of the Law and Prophets and that not one mark of the Law will pass away, but all will be fulfilled in him. He advocates that the commands be “done” and taught, for he says
    Matthew 5:19 (ESV)
    19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
    What does Jesus mean when he teaches about fulfilling the commands of the law and the prophets? According to Jesus, we do not simply follow the law as it was written in the Old Testament. He has a different approach, which aligns with his fulfillment of the law. Therefore, we should follow the commands as Jesus interprets them, as he explains in verses 20-48. This means that our actions should reflect Jesus' teachings, rather than just following the strict rules of the law as the Scribes and the Pharisees did.
    In verses 20-48, Jesus provides six topics that illustrate the concept of righteousness. He teaches us to live rightly in the kingdom by going beyond the legal correctness of the Scribes and Pharisees. He often says, “You’ve heard it said….but I say to you,” which helps us understand how we should live according to His teachings. In this section, Jesus first addresses anger, which begins in your heart.

    Anger flows from your sinful heart.(Mark 7:20-23; Luke 6:43-45)

    Jesus is clear about where your anger comes from. In
    Mark 7:20–23 (ESV)
    And he said, “What comes out of a person is what defiles him.
    For from within, out of the heart of man, come evil thoughts, sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery,
    coveting, wickedness, deceit, sensuality, envy, slander, pride, foolishness.
    All these evil things come from within, and they defile a person.”
    or in
    Luke 6:43–45 (ESV)
    “For no good tree bears bad fruit, nor again does a bad tree bear good fruit,
    for each tree is known by its own fruit. For figs are not gathered from thornbushes, nor are grapes picked from a bramble bush.
    The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
    The Bible teaches us to be careful and protect our hearts because it is the source of our thoughts, emotions, and beliefs. If our hearts are filled with malice, our actions and words will reflect that. On the other hand, if we have a kind and pure heart, we will produce good fruit, even the fruit of righteous anger.

    Righteous Anger

    There are times when your anger might be warranted. Moses demonstrated righteous anger when he came near the camp and saw that Israel had created an idol in the form of a golden calf (Exodus 32:19). He was angered by the faithlessness and wickedness of Israel toward God. When the people of Israel was threatened by the Ammonites, the Spirit of God rushed on Saul and he became hot with righteous anger (1 Samuel 11:6).
    Jesus was angered at the Pharisees hardness of heart (Mark 3:5). Jesus was also angered when the people turned the temple into a den of thieves (Matthew 21:12-13). Jesus had a righteous anger toward sin; the sin of unbelief and the sin that dishonored his Father’s house. Anything that defames God or violates his holy will, you have a good reason to be angered. There is such a thing as righteous anger.
    Righteous anger reacts rightly against actual sin that focuses on God’s concerns with a godly demeanor (Robert Jones). When Jesus expressed his anger it was toward actual sin. In the temple, Jesus was more concerned about His father’s house and his name, than he was about anything else. Jesus anger was grounded in truth and expressed with self-control. Daniel Dorani expresses this thought well. He says, “Mark the nature of Jesus’ anger. He was “slow to anger” (Ex. 34:6; James 1:19). His anger was mingled with grief over such sins as hypocrisy, willful misunderstanding, fruitlessness, and unbelief. Unlike us, he did not become angry at personal mistreatment. When arrested, mocked, beaten, and crucified, he was as quiet as a lamb led to the slaughter. He did not rebuke them or offer a self-defense. Jesus was silent, except to say, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
    The problem is most of our anger is unrighteous because it is self-centered. It is not upset so much that God was offended by sin, but that we were dishonored or disrespected. When our ego is assaulted our anger gets noticeable aroused. Jesus offers us five markers of unrighteous anger to pay attention to.

    Five marks of Unrighteous Anger (Matthew 5:21-22)

    Unrighteous anger is grossly intense.

    The term "anger" implies the feeling of being filled with wrath, nursing anger, or being furious. This type of anger is commonly seen when we feel disrespected or dishonored. Referee Todd Maxwell is familiar with this kind of anger as he officiates on the basketball court. We also witness this anger in political discussions on social media or on the road when someone cuts us off in traffic. A mother who has reached her limit with her young boys may also display this type of anger.
    When your anger becomes incredibly strong, you usually recognize it, or at least most people do. You might say things such as, "I need to take a break" or "I need to step back and calm down." You may urge everyone to stay calm or for cooler heads to prevail. You realize your anger is grossly intense and not honoring to God.

    Unrighteous anger is exhaustively lingering.

    Jesus is not speaking of a one and done event. The kind of anger Jesus is referring to is a heart attitude toward someone. Your anger continues to linger over time. You anger is nursed with every word and deed to the point you only feel contempt toward that person.
    I had a young man as a student in my junior high school class. At the begining of the year another student offended him by making fun of his clothes. I was not made aware of the offense until seven months later when the two boys fought at recess. When I asked the young man why he punched the kid out of no where, he said he was angry over the boy making fun of his clothes at the begining of the school year. His anger lingered for seven months until he couldn’t take it any more.

    Unrighteous anger is foolishly unreasonable.

    In Matthew 5:22
    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.
    The greek literally says, “Whoever says to his brothers ‘Racca’ will be liable to the council, and whoever says to his brothers ‘mōre’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” Jesus is address the mind and heart. Racca is a reference to contempt for someones intellect. it is equivalent to calling someone an idiot or moron. More, expresses contempt for ones heart, or character. It means to call one an unscrupulous person or a bad example. When you put them together you are saying the person if worthless. A worthless person has no reason for existence.
    This kind of anger is what motivated Hitler to massacre the Jews in World War II. When you judge someone or a people group as worthless, you have no convictions about sustaining their life. This is how you justify abortion and ethnic cleansing. This is foolishly unreasonable. Its insane and down right ludicrous.

    Unrighteous anger dangerously escalating.

    Have you ever experienced anger to the degree that everyone involved had to have drank a fat glass of stupidity? John Calvin wisely notes,
    Intemperate anger deprives men of their senses.
    John Calvin
    In the heat of anger, things can get stupid real fast. Emotions turn into words. Words turn into arguments. Arguments turn into name-calling. Name calling turns into fists. Fists turn into fighting, and fighting turns into the police and ambulance being called. And you wonder, “How did we get here so fast?” Anger dangerously escalates.
    Jesus says this kind of anger is the motive for murder. Murder does not happen in a vacuum. Murder is the fruit of unrighteous anger in the heart.
    Consider Cain for a moment. In Genesis 4, Cain and Able offer God a sacrifice. God accepts Able’s sacrifice, but rejects Cain’s offering. It says in Genesis 4:5
    Genesis 4:5 CSB
    5 but he did not have regard for Cain and his offering. Cain was furious, and he looked despondent.
    Cain was furious with God in his heart. Cain furry could not be contained to his heart, though. God knew this and warned him,
    Genesis 4:7 ESV
    7 If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.”
    Cain’s furry endured and escalated to murder Genesis 4:8
    Genesis 4:8 ESV
    8 Cain spoke to Abel his brother. And when they were in the field, Cain rose up against his brother Abel and killed him.
    Cains anger was grossly intense, lingered to long, and was foolishly unreasonable reasonable. It built up like a dam, escalating until the pressure was too much, the dam broke, and Cain picked up a rick and brutally murdered his brother. Moreover, the absurdity is, Able did not deserve to receive Cain’s wrath.

    Unrighteous anger is inappropriately directed at a brother and sister.

    Jesus says
    Matthew 5:21–22 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.’ 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.
    The word brother in this context has levels to it. The first level is likely the disciples relationship with each other. It does move out to us, and from us, like concentric rings to include other people like your friends, families, neighbors and even your enemies.
    God”s judgement on your Anger
    Jesus mentions two forms of judgment. The first is likely a court of law. The council refers to the Sandherin-the highest Jewish court. You have heard it said that if you murder someone, you are liable to judgement. The judgement here is likely man’s judgement. You will be held accountable to a court of law. Its not that God’s judgment is absent. Jesus is making a contrast between the difference of accountability. If you murder someone, mankind can see the murder and bring justice. But mankind cannot know the grievance of sin behind the murder. The court of law cannot examine the heart of the matter. Man judges the external, God judges the internal.
    So Jesus says, but I tell you your anger can be seen by God for what it is, and he will judge every form of unrighteous anger as murder in your heart. That is the judgment you should be worried about. Why? Because you are liable to God’s judgment in “hell of fire. (v22)”
    When considering your brothers and sisters in the church, your anger can leave a deep impression. It has the potential to kill relationships and sow strife in the community. Jesus says, seek peace immediately.

    Make Peace with your anger (Matthew 5:25-26)

    We have reached the climax of Jesus’ teaching on anger. Keeping with the law, he forbids murder. Then he addresses the marks of your unrighteous anger and forbids the attitudes that lead to murder. He addresses who you are not to be angry with, your brothers and sisters in Christ, and your neighbors which include your friends, family, community, and even your enemies. Jesus finishes his teaching with how to remove your anger toward someone. Make peace with it.
    Jesus says,
    Matthew 5:23–26 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. 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.
    There are two kinds of people Jesus is dealing with in the text. When says, “leave your gift art the alter, the context of worship points you to a brother or sister in Christ.
    Notice the emphasis is on you, not the one who is offended. If it comes to your mind that someone might be offended by something you said or did, Jesus says you must make the first move for reconciliation. If you find out from someone else that someone has an issue with you, you are required to go to that brother or sister, or of you get a feeling that something is not right between you and someone, you are to go to them and make peace.
    Think of it this way. Verse 23 uses the word "therefore" to show that it concludes from verses 21-22. The argument is that if it is good for us to avoid murder and violent thoughts, then it is also good to prevent violent thoughts in others if we can. In other words, we should care enough about our fellow brothers and sisters in Christ to take action to eliminate their violent tendencies towards us (Doraini).
    Making peace is so important in the church that Jesus said you need to interrupt your worship of the one true God. Leave our gift at the alter. Immediately seek reconciliation. You cannot have murder in your heart while you worship the Lord. You cannot say you love Jesus while you hate your brother or sister.
    Also, notice how Jesus does not stipulate whether you should go or not with whether you are innocent or not. He says go. But what if the other person’s anger is unreasonable? What if they are being immature or irrational? Jesus says, humble yourself and make peace. Jesus highly values peace in his church. Remember, Jesus said blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called the sons of God (Matthew 5:9).
    The second person is an adversary. In verse 25, Jesus says to come to terms with your accuser. This is someone outside the church. You know this because the accuser has the potential to take you to court. Believers are not to settle church matters in the court system (1 Cor 6:1-11).
    In this passage, Jesus speaks of a situation where one person takes another to court over a monetary dispute, with one party believing that an unpaid debt is owed. Despite the anger and frustration that is often present in such a situation, Jesus urges his disciples to make every effort to reconcile and find peace, even if it is at the courthouse steps just before the trial begins (Doriani). Jesus says, make peace with your angry neighbor unless more grief come to you.
    In our day and age, this is a message our society needs to hear and embrace. We are so quick to demand our rights and bring litigation against each other over trivial things. We hold grudges and plot revenge against one another. We are bold keyboard warriors on Facebook who express criticism of anyone who leads or makes a hard decision for our community. I can understand Paul when he says,
    Romans 12:18 ESV
    18 If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.
    Paul recognizes peace may not be possible with everyone. But Jesus reminds us that does not mean we are not to pursue it. As Christians, we have a responsibility to set the standard for peaceful relationships with our neighbors. We understand that we are not perfect and that we may be at fault in certain situations. Therefore, we must be willing to take responsibility for our mistakes and work towards making amends. Even if we believe that we are right in a particular situation, we are willing to concede for the sake of peace. Ultimately, we trust in the Lord to guide us towards the right path and to ensure that everything is made right in due time.

    I am a peacemaker

    When I was 22 years old, I met Jesus. He exposed the unrighteous anger in my heart. He showed me my capacity for murder. I remember reading this text for the first time and thinking back to what I said to my friend. At that moment, I realized I was a murder, and that I have murderous anger inside of me. Jesus did not leave me as a murderer. Because I was at peace with God, I could make peace with my anger, and with my past anger, and my present neighbors. Because I was forgiven of great sin, I could forgive the sins of others, even those who made life miserable for me. Martyn Lloyd Jones wisely said,
    Man was made by God in such a way that he can only be at peace within himself when he is at peace with God.
    David Martyn Lloyd-Jones
    If you want to lead a good life that pleases God and use your anger righteously, you must first find peace with God. Are you at peace with God?
    Only after achieving peace with God can you make peace with your neighbor. As a church, we should be slow to anger and quick to listen. We must learn to distinguish between righteous and unrighteous anger. Often, our anger is unrighteous and even murderous. Therefore, we should humble ourselves and seek peace regarding our ego and principles.‌ When we do this often we will experience peace in our church, community, and home. We will live the good life.
    ​
    ​
    ​
    Doriani, Daniel M. 2006. The Sermon on the Mount: The Character of a Disciple. Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R Publishing.

      • Matthew 5:21–26ESV

      • Matthew 5:22ESV

      • Genesis 4:5ESV

      • Genesis 4:7ESV

      • Genesis 4:8ESV

      • Matthew 5:21–22ESV

      • Matthew 5:23–26ESV

      • Romans 12:18ESV

  • Shout To The Lord
First Baptist Church Litchfield
pastorjason.fbcl@gmail.com
217-324-4232
http://www.firstbaptistlitchfield.org/
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