‘You have heard that it was said to the people of long ago: Do not murder; and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment. But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment….anyone who says ‘You fool’ will be in danger of the fire of hell’…settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court…for you will not get out (of prison) until you have paid the last penny’ (Mt 5:21-26)
This is a portion from the Sermon of the Mount, the Constitution of the Kingdom of God. Jesus preaches to the believers, for the unbelievers can never obey His law. In the above scriptures, Jesus reveals the power of sinful anger. He equals anger without cause with murder. The religious leaders taught the people that if they physically kill a man, they shall be judged by the court and condemned by the judges. That is how they interpreted God’s 6th command: ‘Thou shall not kill’ (Ex 20:13). So the people had to devise means by which murder should be done in secret. The interpretation of the law by the religious leaders made the people more skillful hypocrites, just like themselves.
Religion indeed has the power ‘to nullify the law of God’ (Mk 7:13). The word ‘nullify’ in Greek means to kill the effect, the fruits, the supremacy, the control and power of the Word of God. Religion makes church to become a social club, the preacher becomes just a speaker and the Bible, just an interesting fiction novel. Think about it! The evil spirit of religion infiltrates the churches and like a slow, silent poison, destroys the power of the Word of God. Faith comes by hearing the Word preached with the power and the anointing of the Spirit. Religion destroys any chance for the hearer to have faith. Doubt then is the only option. What God calls ‘a command’, religion turns it into an opinion. Religion removes the authority of God’s law to convict the soul of sin. The fear of God is demoted to become the lesser fear of men, of human courts and of police. That is a spiritual tragedy! No wonder there are so many sick, afflicted, oppressed, hopeless and wretched people in the churches…
Jesus brings back the Spirit of the law. Jesus never destroys the laws of God, but He brings back the spiritual content in them. Even in the Old Testament, all God’s laws are spiritual. But the Pharisees cleverly separated the Spirit from the Word of God. They continued to teach the Bible, while quenching the Holy Spirit by their religion. Jesus reminded the people that fearing men and their judicial system is not good enough for God. That type of fear is sin and bondage itself. That is why Jesus said that murder is not done just in the natural, for example, killing a man physically. He said that murder originates in the heart and it manifests thru speech. Anger, intolerance, impatience, losing your temper, refusal to forgive another, jealousy, hurtful speech, insults, slander…all these are criminal, these are the bullets of AK47. We wrestle against wickedness in high places (Eph 6:12). Theses demons arrest the souls of men. The least they can kill are sleep, self-esteem, peace and joy in the victim’s soul. This sinful anger against another is one of the greatest roots of poverty that no man can cure. The angry man pays until his last penny. The welfare system cannot help! The compassionate but undiscerning ministry cannot help! The sympathy of people cannot help!
The worship of God is quenched when ‘criminals’ lead the congregation. God expects a sacrificial offering of repentance on His altar! Calvary can never be ignored! The Blood of Jesus speaks and cannot be silenced by sinful, reprobate men!
Are you a murderer?
Can you frustrate and intimidate someone until the person becomes a fool? Then you are a murderer, if the courts of Nigeria have convicted you or not! God who created you, Jesus Christ who died for you, warns you against the added sin of procrastination. The earlier the better you repent to God and you settle your arguments with men. For if you have offended anyone, that person becomes your ‘enemy’ taking you to the court of heaven. Do not deceive yourself! Do not expect mercy from God when you still oppress, terrorize and make life miserable for another human being.
Joseph’s brothers, King Saul, Herod, Herodias, all these were wicked, jealous, angry people. They could have killed many more if God permitted them to do it. The lesson here is that anger has a power of its own that cannot be contained. Anger is not just an emotion. Anger will explode into murder, dragging its victim to hell. The angry heart kills. The angry tongue kills!
Please do not resist the deep truth of these words! If you judge ourselves here and now, we shall not be judged by God later! Allow the Holy Spirit to penetrate your soul and bring it to its knees. Repent and turn away from sinful anger. Be angry with the principle of sin, but do not be angry without cause with men! Do not allow the devil to become your heart’s tenant? He will pay his rent with the blood of the innocent! (Eph 4:26, 27)
Finally, pray for mercy! God delights in showing mercy!
A true child of God is forgiving and merciful as his own Father in Heaven!
He that has ears to hear- let him hear!
Amen!