Entry
Anger / Stay in control
What did Jesus mean
Built up anger can lead to worse things.
Where did Jesus say this
Matthew 5:21-22 — “You have heard 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.”
A not-so-quick sidenote
To understand what Jesus was trying to say here, you first have to understand what he was referencing and why he said it in the way he did.
Let’s first break down the liabilities:
- Liable to judgment: In Jesus’s time, this was known as Krisis, which was a local court of 7 elders who dealt with everyday disputes. Think of it like being judged by your friends and family.
- Liable to the council: The council was known as the Sanhedrin, which was a much more powerful court comprised of elders, priests, and scribes. Think of it like being judged by the government.
- Liable to the hell of fire: Jesus was referencing a specific hell: Gehenna. This was a figurative manmade “hell” with an awful history. Once a place of child sacrifice to the Canaanite god Moloch, it transformed into a place of endless fire — burning the likes of animals, trash, and even criminals. Think of it like being thrown into actual hell.
Let’s also break down the word fool:
The word fool has transformed throughout the ages. Now, we throw it around like nothing. You might even jokingly call your own friend a fool for doing something silly. But back in the day, fool was a much heavier word. It was often used to describe someone who was spiritually empty. This person didn’t care to learn, didn’t care about the difference between right and wrong, and certainly didn’t care for God.
Psalm 14:1 — “The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”
Proverbs 1:7 — “Fools despise wisdom and instruction.”
Proverbs 10:23 — “Doing wrong is like a joke to a fool.”
What Jesus did not mean
You should go to Hell for calling someone a fool.
He’s exaggerating to prove a point.
Anger can fester. → I’m mad.
When it festers, it grows. → I don’t like you.
When it grows, it can become uncontrollable. → I hate you.
When anger is uncontrollable, it means you are no longer in control.
When you are no longer in control, anything is possible.
He also didn’t mean that anger is always bad or demands serious judgment.
But he was saying that if you are angry enough to judge others, then you should be ready to be judged yourself.
By calling someone spiritually worthless (a fool), you’re basically condemning them to hell. In your mind, you’ve already murdered them.
He’s exaggerating to prove a point.
Where to start
Choose to understand where your anger comes from before you choose something else (another feeling, a word, an action).
The more you CHOOSE to understand your thoughts (anger is a feeling that comes from thoughts), the more you can control it.
Figure out the why behind your feelings and you might be surprised. You may even figure out you’re not really that angry to begin with.
Benefits
You can stay in control. And away from Gehenna. Because that actually does sound scary.
Also said as: whoever is angry with his brother · anger is like murder · raca · what did Jesus say about anger