Righteousness and Anger

   After declaring that the righteousness necessary to gain entrance into the kingdom of heaven must exceed that of Judah’s then current teachers of the law (Matthew 5:20), Jesus proceeded to give several examples (vv. 21–48). The first two were taken from the sixth and seventh commandments: “you shall not murder” (vv. 21–26) and “you shall not commit adultery” (vv. 27–30).

Six sections comprise this passage, each of which begins with some variation of “You have heard that it was said to those of old.” In each section, Jesus was not commenting on the moral law but rather demonstrating the shortcomings of the righteousness practiced by the scribes.

The section before us opens with “You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.” Murder is forbidden and punishable in judgment. However, lest anyone reading the law might suppose that murder was far more serious than merely expressing anger, Jesus added “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.” The judgment referred to might be thought to refer only to the state’s responsibility to punish the guilty. Indeed, Jesus referenced “the court” and “Sanhedrin” in verse 22. However, imagine how overwhelmed the courts would be if every outburst of anger were treated as murder.

Jesus was not expanding murder to include anger, even though most murders occur when someone is driven by anger and rage (v. 22). Rather, the Lord argued that anger is sufficient to make one as guilty before God as one who broke the sixth commandment. They should not worry about the court; they should fear “the hell of fire.”

Some manuscripts add “without a cause,” which was probably added as an interpretive note, reminding the reader that there is also righteous anger. While this is true, it is unlikely that Jesus uttered these words because most anger, even that which is often justified, is a carnal response to provocation. Most aggravations provoke in the flesh an angry response more often than a righteous reaction of spirit. Jesus is merely comparing anger and murder because both are sinful. 2 Enoch 44:3 reads, “He who expresses anger to any person without provocation will reap anger in the great judgment. He who spits on any person’s face, insultingly, will reap the same at the Lord’s judgment.” This is exactly what Jesus was saying,

Verse 22 poses a real interpretive problem. Most commentators see a progression in the seriousness of angry responses. However, the terms used here (Aramaic: raca and Greek: fool, moros) are both very mild, often used in family and friendly situations, such as calling someone feather brained or silly headed. Jesus used hyperbole to emphasize the seriousness of the matter. What some might shrug off as inconsequential and unworthy of addressing in human courts was far more serious than imagined. Jesus simply stated that as murder is sin, so is anger. The guilt of any sin subjects the sinner to God’s judgment. We must not treat anger lightly. We must not treat any sin lightly.
  Lest anyone suppose that salvation depends on such superior righteousness, be informed that, due to one's own sinfulness and guilt, no personal righteousness will ever satisfy God in the judgment. Salvation is only possible if Jesus saves the sinner by applying the fruits of His sacrificial death and imputing His perfect righteousness. This alone assures acceptance with God. However, no one would recognize his need for Christ without his first being brought to see that his own sinfulness and guilt puts him in jeopardy to God's Judgment (Acts 4:12).