In Defense of Anger

“No, no, no! It is not a sin to be angry!”

And yet...

Jesus made a rather startling statement regarding anger. He was responding to the way the Jewish teachers had instructed the people concerning murder. Jesus emphasized the seriousness of anger toward another person:

You have been taught that you will bear the judgment of the court for murder. I am telling you that you will bear the judgment of the court for your anger. 

Matthew 5:21-22 (paraphrased)

To ‘bear the judgment of the court’ meant that a person was accountable to the local Jewish court. Jesus did not picture a court proceeding to determine whether a person was guilty, but rather, to hand down a sentence because of guilt. So, Jesus told the people that anger should be dealt with in the same way as a convicted murderer.

Consider what it would mean if the teaching of Jesus became a reality in our day.
If you became angry with your spouse or your parents; off to court to receive a sentence for your anger.

• If you did not get that promotion;
• A careless driver cut you off in traffic;
• Your in-laws said _________;
• The car broke down…again;
• The preacher, the song leader, the elders did (or did not do) something…

...and you are angry...Off to court.

By nature anger devalues another person. It belittles them by justifying one’s own perceived superiority. Anger judges!

In addition, everyone who calls his fellow man Raca will bear the judgment of the supreme court; and whoever says to his fellow man, “You Fool!” will bear the judgment of God. 

--Matthew 5:22 (Paraphrased)

‘Raca’ was an Aramaic word meaning: empty. In our day it would be equivalent to calling someone empty-headed or idiot.

‘Fool’ comes from the Greek word ‘moros’ (the source of our English word ‘moron’). To call someone ‘moros’ was not mere silliness like moron might be today. It was a humiliating reference that meant worthless. It was an expression coming from an attitude that looked on another person as having no value as a human being. They could justifiably be treated like household garbage, worthless. (That’s how you justify murder.)

The attitude behind anger, raca, and moros devalues people. Such an attitude is a slap in the face of God. By devaluing others it minimizes God’s sacrifice of his Son as something done in vain. 

The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God. 

(James 1:20)

Jesus was teaching us that murder ultimately begins with the attitude of anger. It comes from anger that is left unchecked and allowed to fester. 

The Bible never applauds the anger of man. 

Why...

             do...

                       we?!

STOP excusing the attitude of anger!

STOP defending the attitude of anger!

Anger is not the fruit of the Spirit, but the fruit of something else!

Mark Stinnett

September 15, 2024