For I tell you,
unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will
never enter the kingdom of heaven. "You have heard that it was said to the
men of old, `You shall not kill; and whoever kills shall be liable to
judgment.' But I say to you that every one who is angry with his brother shall
be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother shall be liable to the council,
and whoever says, `You fool!' shall be liable to the hell of fire. So if
you are offering your gift at the altar, and there remember that your brother
has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go; first
be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift. Make
friends 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; truly, I say to you, you will never get out till you have
paid the last penny.
------------------------
Are you ever driven
by anger, rage, or revenge? The first person to hate his brother was Cain. God
warned Cain: ‘Why are you angry? ..Sin in couching at the door; it’s desire
is for you, but you must master it. Sin doesn’t just happen to us; it first
grows as a tiny seed in our heart. Unless it is uprooted, by God’s grace, it
grows like a weed and chokes the vine and all its fruit. Jesus addressed the
issue of keeping the commandments with his disciples. The scribes and Pharisees
equated righteousness with satisfying the outward observance of the law. Jesus
showed them how short they had come. Jesus points to the heart as the seat of
desire and choice. Unless evil and forbidden desires are eradicated, the heart
will be corrupted. Jesus points to forbidden anger with one's brother. This is
a selfish anger that broods and is long-lived, that nurses a grudge and keeps
wrath warm, and that refuses to die. Harboring anger in the heart as well as
anger in speech and action are equally forbidden by God.
What is the antidote
to anger and rage? Mercy, kindness, and forbearance spring from a heart full of
love and forgiveness. God has forgiven us and he calls us to extend mercy and
forgiveness towards those who cause us grief and harm. In the cross of
Jesus we see the supreme example of love and forgiveness and the power of
goodness for overcoming evil. Only God’s love and grace can set our hearts and
minds free from the tyranny of wounded pride and spiteful revenge. Do you
harbor any anger towards another person? And are you quick to be reconciled
when a rupture has been caused in your relationships? Ask God to set you free
and to fill your heart and mind with his love and goodness. Paul the Apostle
reminds us that "God's love has been poured into our hearts through the
Holy Spirit which has been given to us." Through the grace and help of the
Holy Spirit we can overcome malice with good, hatred with kindness, and injury
with pardon.
------------------------
“May I be no man’s
enemy, and may I be the friend of that which is eternal and abides. May I never
quarrel with those nearest me: and if I do, may I be reconciled quickly. May I
love, seek, and attain only that which is good. May I wish for all men’s
happiness and envy none. May I never rejoice in the ill-fortune of one who has
wronged me. When I have done or said what is wrong, may I never wait for the
rebuke of others, but always rebuke myself until I make amends. May I win no
victory that harms either me or my opponent. May I reconcile friends who are
angry with one another. May I never fail a friend who is in danger. When
visiting those in grief may I be able by gentle and healing words to soften
their pain. May I respect myself. May I always keep tame that which rages
within me. May I accustom myself to be gentle, and never be angry with people
because of circumstances. May I never discuss who is wicked and what wicked
things he has done, but know good men and follow in their footsteps.”
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