"Matters of the Heart" Part 1: Anger

“Matters of the Heart” Part 1: Anger

Matthew 5:17-20
V17 Abolish or fulfill – Jesus life and sacrifice fulfilled what the law required for our salvation. Jesus’ life gave the law meaning

V18 God’s Word stands and His entire plan will come through

V19 If you break the commandments and teach others to break them your heart is in the wrong place. There will be a loss of reward.

V20 “One must surpass humanly contrived religious respectability, if one is to mesh their life with the kingdom of heaven” Dallas Willard in Divine Conspiracy
Matthew 23:2-3 Follow the law and don’t look to the Scribes and Pharisees. There was something commendable about them. The Pharisees aimed at the praise of men not God.

**what are you doing in your life so others will notice?

It’s a matter of the heart not just observing the law.
Become the kind of person from whom the deeds of the law flow
Matt 12:33-35 Our words reveal what is in our heart.
Matt 23:25-26 work on your heart not you outward appearance

“law is not the source of righteousness but the course of righteousness.”

John 6:29 “the work is belief” displays the heart

Dikaiosune = greek word Greek philosophy Socrates, Plato, Aristotle “what makes a person good”
Old Dikaiosune = law New Dikaiosune = the desire of the heart.

You shall not murder the 6th commandment

V 22 Heart issue # 1 Anger What is anger?
Anger is a response or a feeling based on a situation, in and of itself it is not sin. Ephesians says in your anger do not sin. “anger without cause” when there is no just cause
. Possibly after someone has said they were sorry or did not intentionally harm you.

When is anger right or ok? Jesus’ anger ill
What causes anger?
Tough situations, people not doing what we want them to do, wounded ego, self-righteous think we are better. It takes energy to keep anger alive. Reminding ourselves of why we are angry.
***Story of Cain’s anger was because of himself

What should we do with our anger?
1. James 1:19 says be slow to anger. Your testimony
2. Think about the positives
3. Write a letter.
4. Ephesians 4:26 “Don’t let the sun go down”

Result-“in danger of judgment” **keep your anger in check

What does unchecked anger lead to?
Billy Sunday Ill Shot gun
1. Ill feelings - contempt “Raca” = empty headed - Aramaic word may have come from the sound of gather spit. The intent of contempt is to push away, leave someone out or exclude them. lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense dislike
Once contempt is established it justifies anger.
-Cain was jealous
Result-“in danger of the council” being sued, guilty of the crime = sin

2. Action - “you fool” Where anger and contempt are full blown there is the act of writing the person off and defaming their character.
Not much power in today’s society but biblically…
Pro. 14:16, 18:2 & 26:11
-Cain was a murderer
Result-“in danger of Gehenna” a burning garbage dump outside of Jerusalem. You are actually sinning, wages of sin is death.

V23-25 If your heart is in the wrong place get it right. Religious exercises are not acceptable to God if your heart is wrong.
V26 There will be a consequence for not getting it right. Cain's consequences.