Anger

Matthew 5:21-24

Anger.
"It's just the way I am."
"I'm only angry for a little bit, then I'm over it."
"You have to stand up for yourself."
"I have a right to be upset."
"In my family, this is normal."
"It's a German, or Italian, or Irish, or fill-in-the-blank thing."
"I can never change."
"You can just deal with it."

Anger, this is how we measure it. It's acceptable. It's hereditary. It's just there. But Jesus measured it differently. He said, "You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, 'Do not murder and anyone who murders will be subject to judgement.' But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgement. . . .Anyone who says, 'You fool! will be in danger of the fire of hell" (Matthew 5:21,22).

By human standards anger is no-big-deal, but by Christ's standard it puts us pretty close to damnation. A damnation that is not born out of an arbitrary rule, but the reality what heaven is. It's as if Jesus is trying to yell, "Don't go there! That sin will kill you and it will destroy everything you love in the process."