Sermon on the Mount: Dealing with Anger

Greater Righteousness

Matthew 5:20

Dealing with Anger: Matthew 5:21-26

Traditional Righteousness

Matthew 5:21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’”

Diagnosis of Vicious Cycle

Matthew 5:22 “But I tell you that 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 fire of hell.”

Anger left unchecked leads to destruction and murder
Cain & Abel
Genesis 4:6-7 “⁶Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? ⁷If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

We are never commanded to not be angry.

Mark 3:1-6 > Jesus was mad when no one would help the man with a withered hand in the synagogue on Sabbath
Mark 10:13-16 > Jesus was indignant with his disciples for rebuking the children trying to touch Jesus
Matthew 21:12-13 > Jesus was angered that money changers and those selling sacrificial animals were in the temple, he over-turned their tables and said they were robbers

We are commanded not to sin in our anger.

Ephesians 4:26-27 “²⁶‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, ²⁷ and do not give the devil a foothold.”

“Examining one’s attitudes and speech are just as important as refraining from homicidal violence.” -Joseph Pennington

Transforming Initiative

Matthew 5:23-26 “²³Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, ²⁴ leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. ²⁵ Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. ²⁶ Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.”

We hold SO TIGHTLY to our pride and our “righteous anger” for so long that we fail to realize that there is nothing inside that clinched fist of ours.

Be the first to recognize your error (Matthew 7:1-3)
Be merciful because your Father is merciful (Luke 6:36-38)
Participate in the reconciliation God began when He reconciled us to Him through Jesus (2 Corinthians 5:17-19)
As we continually give our anger over to God, He is transforming us to be more like Him: quick to listen, slow to anger (James 1:19-20)

Practical Steps

Recognize & Reflect: Take a moment to recognize the emotional response of your body. Then, reflect on your own heart. Are there unresolved feelings of anger or bitterness? Why are you angry? Acknowledge them and bring them before God in prayer.
Regulate: Employ appropriate strategies to calm yourself when your nervous system is in a heightened state of arousal.
Reconcile: If there are broken relationships in your life, take the initiative to reach out and seek reconciliation. Be humble and open to understanding the other person’s perspective.
Forgive: Embrace the power of forgiveness. Forgiveness is not condoning the wrong but releasing the hold it has on your heart. In forgiving, we reflect the grace we have received from God (Ephesians 4:32).

Life Group Questions

When is the last time you experienced anger, offense, bitterness, or resentment? Share if you are comfortable doing so. How did you respond in your anger?
Does a relationship require reconciliation and repair because of how you responded? How does the concept of reconciliation make you feel?
Of the four practical steps listed above, which do you believe you need to ask for God’s help with?