Hard sayings of Jesus: Whoever is angry with another is liable to judgment

Hard sayings of Jesus: Whoever is angry with another is liable to judgment

There is a modern expectation that our thoughts, feelings, and unstated opinions are private and of no one’s concern. But Jesus is clear that God is very concerned with our interior life. “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment” (Matthew 5:21-22). 

In saying this, Jesus was not superseding the Mosaic Law but clarifying its true meaning, its deeper intention. God has always been, Jesus explains, interested in more than just the proscription of the sixth commandment, “Thou shall not murder.” He is interested in our thoughts which lead us to murder others long before we act. 

This is different from most modern legal codes. While the emotional state may be considered in the trial of a crime, rarely is the emotional state itself subject to criminal penalty. Not so in the Kingdom of God, says Jesus. This is different, also from the view that some have of Christianity. Some see Christianity as a moralistic system concerned primarily with avoiding a list of readily identifiable sins—adultery, murder, and stealing—topping the list. Certainly, God is concerned with these. But Jesus is saying that even the anger in our hearts serves as grounds for judgment in the Kingdom of God. 

This tells us something important about Christianity: God is very concerned about what is going on in our heads and hearts. Before Cain killed his brother Abel, God warned him about what was in his heart. “Why are you angry . . . . sin is crouching at the door.” (Genesis 4:6-7). Cain’s anger was sin crouching at his door, leading him down the wrong path. 

The problem for us, however, is that we are used to giving ourselves a pass on what is in our hearts. We might say to ourselves, “Sure I was angry with her, but I did not insult her.” But Jesus is saying that God’s desire for us, his commandment, is much deeper than just the physical act. He wants our hearts to be changed so that they align more closely with his heart. 

This makes the expectations of Christianity strikingly difficult. It as is as if we stand before a high-jump pit with the bar set at 50 feet and Jesus says, “Ok, clear it.” More readily we might clear the bar than rid our hearts of anger. 

Here, however, is precisely where Christ helps us. He does not expect us to change our angry hearts—or prideful hearts, or lustful hearts—by our own power. No, this is a hard saying intentionally. Christ sets the bar impossibly high in order to make us realize that we are powerless to clear it, so that we will turn to him for help. As the Apostle Paul lamented: “I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out” (Romans 7:18). 

Christ, by faith in him, gives us the ability, a new heart, energized by a new spirit. “And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you” (Ezekiel 36:26). It is Christ at work in our new heart who replaces anger with gentleness, pride with humility, lust with faithfulness. 

In effect, Jesus sets the bar higher, then lifts us over the bar, transforming our stubborn hearts into new ones that delight to do his will. As Augustine prayed, “God command what you will and grant what you command.” In other words, whatever you want from us, grant to us, by your power. 

Do you desire to no longer be ruled by anger? Then turn to Christ to work his transformation. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come” (2 Corinthians 5:17). With Christ at work within us, our old anger slowly melts away and we find, new forgiveness, even love, flowing from our hearts.