What about Anger
There is such a thing as righteous anger. Jesus displays this when He clears out the temple. How many of us try to justify our anger? In the 10 commandments it states, thou shall not murder. Let us look at Matthew 5:21-26 ESV. You have heart 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; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will 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 offer your gift. Come to terms 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 until you have paid the last penny.
When you hold that unrighteous anger against your brother or sister, or whoever it may be, you are committing murder in your heart. The anger and rage you hold inside of you towards another only festers. Those emotions can turn to bitterness, resentment, retribution, judgment, and so on. As the scripture says, you are putting yourself at jeopardy of hell fire.
Maybe we have a thought that this person doesn’t deserve my forgiveness…but let us look at the truth…have we ever lied, stolen something, desired something someone else had and became jealous (covet) of that person? Have we ever cheated or idolized a person or thing and put it before everything in our lives? Have we ever used the Lord’s name in vain?
he 10 Commandments
1. Thou shalt have no other gods before Me.
2. Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image.
3. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain.
4. Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
5. Honor thy mother and father.
6. Thou shalt not kill.
7. Thou shalt not commit adultery.
8. Thou shalt not steal.
9. Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
10. Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s house.
By going through these, we realize that none of us deserve to be forgiven. Romans 3:10 ESV says, as it is written: None is righteous, no, not one. Let us look at another passage of scripture. John 10:17-18 ESV, For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down, of My own accord…
John 3:17 ESV, For God did not send His son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.
Let us look at another example that Jesus gave us. The Pharisees had brought a woman who was guilty of adultery before Jesus. In those times it was customary for the woman caught in adultery to be stoned to death. The Pharisees asked Jesus what they should do. Here is Jesus response. “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her.”(John 8:7 ESV). Eventually the crowd cleared, without a stone being cast. Jesus, who knew no sin, could have cast stones at her until she died. Here’s what happened instead.
John 8:10-11 ESV, Jesus stood up and said to her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”
Imagine hearing Jesus say these words to you…neither do I condemn you, go, and sin no more.
I encourage us, reconcile with whomever we need to reconcile with before it is too late. If we don’t forgive, the Lord does not have to forgive us (Matt. 6:15). It’s up to us to make the final decision…will you forgive and give grace? Or will you continue to commit murder in your heart? Where do you want to spend your eternity?
© 2022 Leslie Wittenmyer—All rights reserved