Rev. David Holwick
First Baptist Church
Ledgewood, New Jersey
August 6, 1989
Matthew 5:21-26
GRUDGES AND ANGER
I. Henry Lee Lucas illustration.
Henry Lee Lucas killed for the first time when he was 23.
He stabbed and strangled his 74-year-old mother.
After 6 years in an institution for the criminally insane and
8 more years in prison, Lucas was released.
He began drifting around the country.
Over the next 11 years he murdered at least 188 people in 24 states.
He claims to have killed at least 360.
At his trial for the murder of a hitchhiker, Lucas boasted that he
had crucified some victims and filleted others like fish.
He said, "I had nothing but pure hatred. Killing someone is just
like walking outdoors. If I wanted a victim, I'd just go get one."
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A. Jesus, quoting Moses, speaks of judgment for those who kill. 5:21
1) Fortunately this is true in the case of Henry Lee Lucas.
He has been sentenced to death several times now.
B. But Jesus doesn't stop with people like Lucas.
II. Jesus goes beyond killing to anger. 5:22
A. Radical statement.
1) KJV "without cause" is a late addition.
B. Jesus is outlawing anger.
1) Shows his authority.
2) Before trying to dilute it, take it at face value.
III. "Anger" has connotation of brooding. (orge)
A. Feeds on your soul.
B. (American Baptist minister illustration, Leadership Magazine.)
Charles Cerling is an American Baptist pastor in Michigan.
A few years back he returned to his office after a vacation
and began sorting through the mail.
As he leafed through the minutes of the last deacons' meeting,
one phrase stood out:
"We discussed our leadership situation."
He knew what that meant; and sure enough, a few days later
he was fired.
Cerling says his anger began to build in intensity.
The church tried to be kind, and let him use all the stationary
and phone calls he needed during the 90 days they gave him
to find a new church.
He used their postage and telephone lines as if money were water.
Maybe Guam needed a new pastor. He called them.
Spending their money was an expression of rage.
The entire time he entertained himself with fantasies of revenge,
until he realized it was destroying him.
He checked into a motel for 24 hours and did nothing but pray and
study the Bible.
God delivered him from the pit of anger.
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IV. Calling someone a "Fool." Contempt also condemned.
A. Steep penalty - fires of hell.
B. Grandma illustration.
Years ago my sister and I were messing around in our grandma's
living room.
My sister did something irritating, so I called her a "fool."
Immediately, Grandma whirled around and said,
"Don't call her a fool or you'll go to hell!"
All week long I had been calling her a nitwit and a moron, but
"fool" was apparently special.
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C. No difference with anger.
1) Both can destroy relationships.
V. Real issue at stake in this passage.
A. It is an attack on legalism.
1) Many Jews had the idea that if they had not been arrested for
murder, they were all right with God.
2) It is a human tendency - anything is permissible as long
as you are not caught.
B. By outlawing anger, Jesus is giving God's true intention in
the Sixth Commandment, "Thou shalt not murder."
1) Murder begins in the soul.
a) All stand condemned.
VI. Secondary factors. (Qualifications)
A. Poetic language.
1) Hyperbole - hate parents.
2) Going to hell for calling someone a fool is similar.
B. Some anger OK?
1) Examples in Jesus' life.
2) He was angry at injustice, we tend to get angry at personal
affronts.
VII. Focus of Jesus here - personal relationships.
A. Key term is "brother."
1) Believers are a family of faith.
2) Destroying this special relationship is the same as murder.
B. But not destroying/harming people is only half the solution.
1) The other part is to be a peacemaker.
VIII. Importance of Reconciliation.
A. Unrealistic to never get angry.
1) Very realistic - and expected - to do something about it.
B. Core of gospel:
1) God reconciles us to him.
2) He expects us to be reconciled with each other.
a) This is not separate from our relationship with God.
b) It directly affects it.
IX. Jesus' illustrations:
A. Sacrifices to God (:Communion). 5:23
1) First priority - reconciliation.
2) Take first step, even if he is angry and you aren't.
3) Religious duties are second. 5:24
B. Courtroom. 5:25
1) Penalty is debtors' prison.
2) Emphasis on reconciling quickly.
a) Don't put it off.
