In our daily meditations, we explore Jesus’ teachings from The Sermon on the Mount. Jesus has a way of addressing not just surface issues but getting to the root of problems that touch the core of our being. This is exactly what He does with His next words in the Sermon on the Mount.
The Root of the Problem
“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 (Matthew 5:21-22).
Committing murder is a serious sin, but Jesus also condemned even thinking about violence. Sin begins in the mind and heart, where people weigh their choices and decide whether to act. William Barclay explains this spiritual struggle like this:
The Charioteer: Reason vs. Passion
Plato likened the soul to a charioteer whose task it was to drive two horses. The one horse was gentle and biddable and obedient to the reins and to the word of command; the other horse was wild, untamed, and rebellious. The name of the one horse was reason; the name of the other was passion. Life is always a conflict between the demands of the passions and the control of reason. The reason is the leash that keeps the passions in check. But a leash may snap at any time. Self-control may be for a moment off its guard—and then what may happen? So long as there is this inner tension, this internal conflict, life must be insecure. In such circumstances, there can be no such thing as safety. The only way to safety, Jesus said, is to eradicate the desire for the forbidden thing forever. Then and there alone, life is safe. [1]
When someone receives the gift of new life in Christ, God's Spirit enters their heart and starts a transformative process in their inner being and character. I have observed that the Holy Spirit, in His work of shaping us, often emphasizes particular parts of our character. To illustrate, I will share openly about my early life before I embraced this new life in Christ.
From the Fishing Boat to the Holy Spirit
Before I came to Christ at 23, I worked as a commercial fisherman with my father on his boat off the coast of Harwich, England. When a man is away from women and children and among other men of the world, the worst in him is often unleashed. Commercial fishing was a hazardous, high-pressure job, and many things could create friction among co-workers. Foul language was common, and tempers frayed easily. I recall a time when my brother, who was working with us, would use my shoulder as a punching bag while practicing his boxing skills. I recall getting so angry with him that I charged at him and tried to throw him off the boat into the River Deben near Felixstowe, Suffolk. The River Deben is renowned as one of the fastest rivers in England, particularly at its mouth. If I had succeeded in throwing him overboard, the fast-flowing river would have pulled him under and killed him. I thank God for the Holy Spirit’s ability to change us and mold us into the image of Christ.
Living with the Reminders of Our Past
Whenever I feel tempted to let my anger surface, when I get hot under the collar and sense it is building, I remember the day I could have thrown my brother over the side of the boat. Several years ago, I visited a friend whose living room had a hole in the wall. When I asked why he didn't fill it in and paint over it, he said he kept the hole to remind him of the time he got so angry with his wife that he threw a knife at her, missed, and the blade stuck in the wall. He needed this reminder to keep his anger in check. He wasn’t married for long; his wife soon left him, and he was burdened with the guilt and pain that come from losing a family. When we let anger rise within us, we don’t realize the harm we may cause if we allow it to control us instead of the other way around.
Heavenly Father, please grant us self-control and godly character to pull the reins of our inner lives. Keith Thomas
Reflect and Respond
1. Identify Your "Hole in the Wall"
We all have "markers" of our past mistakes. Instead of hiding from them in shame, use them as a "holy stop sign." When you feel your pulse rise, pause and visualize that moment of past regret. Ask yourself: "Is this current frustration worth the potential cost?"
2. The "Snap" Test
Barclay mentions that the "leash of reason" can snap. Don't wait until the leash is strained to act. Identify the physical signs of your anger early—clenched jaw, hot face, or shortened breath. In that moment, pray a "breath prayer" like the one at the end of this post: "Father, grant me self-control."
3. The Internal Audit
Jesus moves the goalposts from actions (murder) to attitudes (anger). This week, try to catch yourself when you are "murdering" someone’s character in your mind or with your words. Remind yourself that God is more interested in the peace of your heart than the "rightness" of your argument.
Continue Your Journey…
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Read our full study: 3 Winning the War Within: A Bible Study on Matthew 5:21-30
[1] William Barclay, The Daily Study Bible, The Gospel of Matthew, Vol 1. Printed by Saint Andrew Press, Edinburgh. Page 136137.