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Matthew 5:21-22
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.
Watch the Sermon
Summary: This week, we begin a new series called, "Hard Sayings of Jesus". We will be looking through the gospel of Matthew at some of the statements Jesus made that are difficult to understand and how they apply to us as His disciples. This week focuses on Jesus' statement in Matthew 5:21-22 regarding anger. What does Jesus mean that calling someone a "fool" is worthy of judgment? We will see that instead of commending merely external obedience to the law, Jesus addresses the matter of the heart in our anger. Certainly murder is wrong, but what about when we cut others down with our words? Our Savior is showing that curbing only the extreme outworking of anger (i.e. murder) is not enough, but our hearts and root desires themselves must be changed by His Spirit's work. Jesus is teaching His disciples what it means that their righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees; namely, that the law must be written on their hearts.
Review & Apply
Is Jesus condemning all anger in this passage, or a specific type of anger?
If Jesus says not to call people fools, how is it that He calls the Pharisees "fools" in Matthew 23:17?
What are ways that you have justified anger in the past?
Where do we find hope in the midst of our struggle with anger?
Does James 1:20 shed additional light on this passage for you?
What do you learn about reconciliation and the addressing of anger in Matthew 5:23-26?
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