“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.’”

Most people reading the Ten Commandments likely don’t blink at the command, “You shall not murder” (Exodus 20:13). Because we’ve likely never actually killed someone, this seems easy to move on from. But Jesus made clear in today’s passage that the heart behind murder condemns us just like the physical act. When we become angry in a sinful way, we may not destroy people physically, but we begin to do it in our hearts. The effects of sin run deep. We are reminded that none of us are faultless in following God’s commands, even those that seem that they don’t apply to us. If we take pride in ourselves and our own ability to obey God, we act foolishly. First Corinthians 1:28-31 says, “The insignificant things of the world and the despised God has chosen, the things that are not, so that He may nullify the things that are, so that no human may boast before God. But it is due to Him that you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption, so that, just as it is written: ‘Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.’”

Even in our thoughts about others in the heat of our anger, we must depend on Christ to transform our hearts. In our sin, we are inclined toward hate and the murderous attitudes Jesus spoke against, but in Him we can be transformed, relying on His righteousness to help us see people differently and even love our enemies.

• What does it look like to depend on Christ when you are overcome with anger?
• Who have you struggled with feeling hatred toward? How can you surrender that to God?
• Pray and talk to God about your struggle with anger and repent for your hateful inclination.