But I Tell You...

Matthew 5 lists a few things “you have heard” before, under the law of sin and death.  But because of Jesus, he invites us to hear the new message:

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.’  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.

Under the law, if someone killed another, the murderer suffered judgment. 

Under the blood of Jesus, we are called to stay away from getting so angry that murder is even a thought!

In other words, murder is the result of ill will towards someone else.  And if we murder, we will be punished.

But Jesus says the ill will itself, the anger, and the attitude has got to go.

Yes, we are not supposed to murder anyone, by action, or even by our words or hatred in our hearts.  But before we get that far, Jesus requires that we come to him and let our anger go, to release our “brother” or our “sister” from our wrath.

Are you angry with someone?  Do you wish you could destroy them?  These feelings arise when we’ve been wronged, abused, abandoned, or hurt.  And in our own strength, we cannot forgive them, and so the anger stews, and stews, until…we act out and destroy that person.

Jesus shows us a better way – to release that anger onto his shoulders – and let him deal with the person who wronged us. 

We can tell God that we’re angry, lay the hateful thoughts and feelings at his feet, then get up and walk away from carrying that grudge that leads to murder.

That’s the way of the cross.