Lesson Four • Anger
Keaton Washburn
I am an over-thinker in every sense of the word. Before I send a text, I read and reread it. When I receive a text, I read into it much further than the sender intended. When someone makes a comment about something I did or did not do, I mull over what I could have done better to ensure I do not make the same mistake again. My wife, Haleigh, on the other hand, moves much quicker than I do and does not often get stuck in her thoughts. She is usually decisive and quick in making decisions.
1. Do you identify as more of an over-thinker or as someone who tends to be impulsive? Why do you think that is true of you?
2. How has your over-thinking or impulsiveness helped you or hurt you?
Read Matthew 5:21-26.
3. What is your response to Jesus’ strong words? Are Jesus’ commands here something you make a habit of?
In verses 21 and 22, Jesus did something that He makes a habit of throughout His teachings. He took an Old Testament law (“You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment”) and upped the ante in saying, “But I say to you.” We see Jesus do this six times in the book of Matthew and one other time in Luke chapter 6. Craig Keener, in his commentary on Matthew, calls this putting a “fence” around the Law. He points out that in doing this “Jesus addresses not just how we act but who we are.” The law says not to murder, but Jesus calls His followers to not even be angry.
4. How have you experienced someone caring more about how you act and what you do rather than who you are? How did that affect you?
5. What standard does Jesus set for his followers in verse 22? Are you guilty of expressing anger through your words?
For a long time, being an over-thinker, I did not think that I struggled with anger. My actions and words tended to be measured. However, over the last couple of years, God has convicted me of my anger and lack of patience. For years, my anger was internal and it rarely manifested itself in lashing out. Yet, God’s Word makes it clear in Luke 6:45, “For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (This verse is in the same chapter of Luke’s recording of the Sermon on the Mount.) I think the temptation for people (like me) that tend to overthink is to assume you have got this in check because anger has not caused you to lash out yet. Or, we tend to point the finger at more impulsive people and shift Jesus’ words to someone else. However, Jesus is getting at the heart of the issue, the human heart. He does not just care about what we do, but who we are.
6. How have you tried to hold anger in? Has that worked? Did you reach a boiling point?
7. Why does Jesus take this a step further than just how His followers act? How does this challenge your view of God and His expectations?
The word that Jesus uses that we translate as “brother” in verse 22 is almost always used in relation to brothers and sisters in Christ, those who are the church. Thinking of the church, I see Jesus’ words in verse 22 as especially poignant behind one another’s back. I do not see too many Christians insulting and calling each other fools to their faces. This name-calling and insult-throwing usually happen behind the person’s back.
8. How have you seen gossip hurt those in the church? Why is it so hurtful?
Psychologists believe there are two main catalysts for gossip being believed and moving quickly: when it confirms a bias that the gossiper has about the one being gossiped about or when those discussing the information are already envious of the one being gossiped about. I do not know about you, but that reminds me of the hallways of high school. Yet, so often, we do exactly this. Instead of putting out the fire of gossip, we continue it for these reasons.
Jesus is very clear that there is no place for gossip and insults within His church. He says that the penalty for insults and impulsive, angry words is the same as murder - eternal separation from God in Hell. He does not say that anger is as bad as murder but makes it clear that the penalty for both is the same.
What R.T. France says about this matter is right on. Christians are “to submit our thoughts about other people, as well as the words they give rise to, to God’s penetrating scrutiny.”
Read Matthew 5:23-24.
Jesus does not lighten up here. He continues to raise the standard of the Law by calling believers to examine themselves before worship, even if they are not the angry ones. In saying, if you “remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go,” Jesus is putting the onus on the reader. If you have done something to make someone angry, before worshiping God, reconcile with them!
“First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” The order is intentional by Jesus. He is echoing many of the Old Testament prophets that repeated over and over the worthlessness of worship without purity.
Amos speaks of this very strongly as he records the words of the Lord, “I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:21-24).
Though we oftentimes take worship and communion lightly, God does not. Paraphrasing Amos, God does not want our worship if it is not from a pure heart that reflects the character of God. It is not that Christians have to be perfect, but we must repent of sin and reconcile with those we have caused anger in. Before worship, before communion, and before spending time with God, we have to be right with other people. If we are not right with those around us, we cannot be right with God.
9. What does it look like to reconcile with someone? Is there someone you have caused to sin or gossiped about that you need to make right with?
10. Why does God treat worship and sin so seriously? Does the church treat worship and sin the same way God does?
Read Matthew 5:25-26.
Jesus concludes this section by showing the possible end result of anger - imprisonment. Anger that is not dealt with will not dissipate; it will grow. Gossip that is not confessed will destroy the one gossiping or the one being gossiped about. God does not take sin lightly, so why do we?
1. Do you identify as more of an over-thinker or as someone who tends to be impulsive? Why do you think that is true of you?
2. How has your over-thinking or impulsiveness helped you or hurt you?
Read Matthew 5:21-26.
3. What is your response to Jesus’ strong words? Are Jesus’ commands here something you make a habit of?
In verses 21 and 22, Jesus did something that He makes a habit of throughout His teachings. He took an Old Testament law (“You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment”) and upped the ante in saying, “But I say to you.” We see Jesus do this six times in the book of Matthew and one other time in Luke chapter 6. Craig Keener, in his commentary on Matthew, calls this putting a “fence” around the Law. He points out that in doing this “Jesus addresses not just how we act but who we are.” The law says not to murder, but Jesus calls His followers to not even be angry.
4. How have you experienced someone caring more about how you act and what you do rather than who you are? How did that affect you?
5. What standard does Jesus set for his followers in verse 22? Are you guilty of expressing anger through your words?
For a long time, being an over-thinker, I did not think that I struggled with anger. My actions and words tended to be measured. However, over the last couple of years, God has convicted me of my anger and lack of patience. For years, my anger was internal and it rarely manifested itself in lashing out. Yet, God’s Word makes it clear in Luke 6:45, “For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (This verse is in the same chapter of Luke’s recording of the Sermon on the Mount.) I think the temptation for people (like me) that tend to overthink is to assume you have got this in check because anger has not caused you to lash out yet. Or, we tend to point the finger at more impulsive people and shift Jesus’ words to someone else. However, Jesus is getting at the heart of the issue, the human heart. He does not just care about what we do, but who we are.
6. How have you tried to hold anger in? Has that worked? Did you reach a boiling point?
7. Why does Jesus take this a step further than just how His followers act? How does this challenge your view of God and His expectations?
The word that Jesus uses that we translate as “brother” in verse 22 is almost always used in relation to brothers and sisters in Christ, those who are the church. Thinking of the church, I see Jesus’ words in verse 22 as especially poignant behind one another’s back. I do not see too many Christians insulting and calling each other fools to their faces. This name-calling and insult-throwing usually happen behind the person’s back.
8. How have you seen gossip hurt those in the church? Why is it so hurtful?
Psychologists believe there are two main catalysts for gossip being believed and moving quickly: when it confirms a bias that the gossiper has about the one being gossiped about or when those discussing the information are already envious of the one being gossiped about. I do not know about you, but that reminds me of the hallways of high school. Yet, so often, we do exactly this. Instead of putting out the fire of gossip, we continue it for these reasons.
Jesus is very clear that there is no place for gossip and insults within His church. He says that the penalty for insults and impulsive, angry words is the same as murder - eternal separation from God in Hell. He does not say that anger is as bad as murder but makes it clear that the penalty for both is the same.
What R.T. France says about this matter is right on. Christians are “to submit our thoughts about other people, as well as the words they give rise to, to God’s penetrating scrutiny.”
Read Matthew 5:23-24.
Jesus does not lighten up here. He continues to raise the standard of the Law by calling believers to examine themselves before worship, even if they are not the angry ones. In saying, if you “remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go,” Jesus is putting the onus on the reader. If you have done something to make someone angry, before worshiping God, reconcile with them!
“First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” The order is intentional by Jesus. He is echoing many of the Old Testament prophets that repeated over and over the worthlessness of worship without purity.
Amos speaks of this very strongly as he records the words of the Lord, “I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:21-24).
Though we oftentimes take worship and communion lightly, God does not. Paraphrasing Amos, God does not want our worship if it is not from a pure heart that reflects the character of God. It is not that Christians have to be perfect, but we must repent of sin and reconcile with those we have caused anger in. Before worship, before communion, and before spending time with God, we have to be right with other people. If we are not right with those around us, we cannot be right with God.
9. What does it look like to reconcile with someone? Is there someone you have caused to sin or gossiped about that you need to make right with?
10. Why does God treat worship and sin so seriously? Does the church treat worship and sin the same way God does?
Read Matthew 5:25-26.
Jesus concludes this section by showing the possible end result of anger - imprisonment. Anger that is not dealt with will not dissipate; it will grow. Gossip that is not confessed will destroy the one gossiping or the one being gossiped about. God does not take sin lightly, so why do we?
Lesson Four • Anger
Keaton Washburn
I am an over-thinker in every sense of the word. Before I send a text, I read and reread it. When I receive a text, I read into it much further than the sender intended. When someone makes a comment about something I did or did not do, I mull over what I could have done better to ensure I do not make the same mistake again. My wife, Haleigh, on the other hand, moves much quicker than I do and does not often get stuck in her thoughts. She is usually decisive and quick in making decisions.
1. Do you identify as more of an over-thinker or as someone who tends to be impulsive? Why do you think that is true of you?
2. How has your over-thinking or impulsiveness helped you or hurt you?
Read Matthew 5:21-26.
3. What is your response to Jesus’ strong words? Are Jesus’ commands here something you make a habit of?
In verses 21 and 22, Jesus did something that He makes a habit of throughout His teachings. He took an Old Testament law (“You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment”) and upped the ante in saying, “But I say to you.” We see Jesus do this six times in the book of Matthew and one other time in Luke chapter 6. Craig Keener, in his commentary on Matthew, calls this putting a “fence” around the Law. He points out that in doing this “Jesus addresses not just how we act but who we are.” The law says not to murder, but Jesus calls His followers to not even be angry.
4. How have you experienced someone caring more about how you act and what you do rather than who you are? How did that affect you?
5. What standard does Jesus set for his followers in verse 22? Are you guilty of expressing anger through your words?
For a long time, being an over-thinker, I did not think that I struggled with anger. My actions and words tended to be measured. However, over the last couple of years, God has convicted me of my anger and lack of patience. For years, my anger was internal and it rarely manifested itself in lashing out. Yet, God’s Word makes it clear in Luke 6:45, “For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (This verse is in the same chapter of Luke’s recording of the Sermon on the Mount.) I think the temptation for people (like me) that tend to overthink is to assume you have got this in check because anger has not caused you to lash out yet. Or, we tend to point the finger at more impulsive people and shift Jesus’ words to someone else. However, Jesus is getting at the heart of the issue, the human heart. He does not just care about what we do, but who we are.
6. How have you tried to hold anger in? Has that worked? Did you reach a boiling point?
7. Why does Jesus take this a step further than just how His followers act? How does this challenge your view of God and His expectations?
The word that Jesus uses that we translate as “brother” in verse 22 is almost always used in relation to brothers and sisters in Christ, those who are the church. Thinking of the church, I see Jesus’ words in verse 22 as especially poignant behind one another’s back. I do not see too many Christians insulting and calling each other fools to their faces. This name-calling and insult-throwing usually happen behind the person’s back.
8. How have you seen gossip hurt those in the church? Why is it so hurtful?
Psychologists believe there are two main catalysts for gossip being believed and moving quickly: when it confirms a bias that the gossiper has about the one being gossiped about or when those discussing the information are already envious of the one being gossiped about. I do not know about you, but that reminds me of the hallways of high school. Yet, so often, we do exactly this. Instead of putting out the fire of gossip, we continue it for these reasons.
Jesus is very clear that there is no place for gossip and insults within His church. He says that the penalty for insults and impulsive, angry words is the same as murder - eternal separation from God in Hell. He does not say that anger is as bad as murder but makes it clear that the penalty for both is the same.
What R.T. France says about this matter is right on. Christians are “to submit our thoughts about other people, as well as the words they give rise to, to God’s penetrating scrutiny.”
Read Matthew 5:23-24.
Jesus does not lighten up here. He continues to raise the standard of the Law by calling believers to examine themselves before worship, even if they are not the angry ones. In saying, if you “remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go,” Jesus is putting the onus on the reader. If you have done something to make someone angry, before worshiping God, reconcile with them!
“First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” The order is intentional by Jesus. He is echoing many of the Old Testament prophets that repeated over and over the worthlessness of worship without purity.
Amos speaks of this very strongly as he records the words of the Lord, “I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:21-24).
Though we oftentimes take worship and communion lightly, God does not. Paraphrasing Amos, God does not want our worship if it is not from a pure heart that reflects the character of God. It is not that Christians have to be perfect, but we must repent of sin and reconcile with those we have caused anger in. Before worship, before communion, and before spending time with God, we have to be right with other people. If we are not right with those around us, we cannot be right with God.
9. What does it look like to reconcile with someone? Is there someone you have caused to sin or gossiped about that you need to make right with?
10. Why does God treat worship and sin so seriously? Does the church treat worship and sin the same way God does?
Read Matthew 5:25-26.
Jesus concludes this section by showing the possible end result of anger - imprisonment. Anger that is not dealt with will not dissipate; it will grow. Gossip that is not confessed will destroy the one gossiping or the one being gossiped about. God does not take sin lightly, so why do we?
1. Do you identify as more of an over-thinker or as someone who tends to be impulsive? Why do you think that is true of you?
2. How has your over-thinking or impulsiveness helped you or hurt you?
Read Matthew 5:21-26.
3. What is your response to Jesus’ strong words? Are Jesus’ commands here something you make a habit of?
In verses 21 and 22, Jesus did something that He makes a habit of throughout His teachings. He took an Old Testament law (“You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment”) and upped the ante in saying, “But I say to you.” We see Jesus do this six times in the book of Matthew and one other time in Luke chapter 6. Craig Keener, in his commentary on Matthew, calls this putting a “fence” around the Law. He points out that in doing this “Jesus addresses not just how we act but who we are.” The law says not to murder, but Jesus calls His followers to not even be angry.
4. How have you experienced someone caring more about how you act and what you do rather than who you are? How did that affect you?
5. What standard does Jesus set for his followers in verse 22? Are you guilty of expressing anger through your words?
For a long time, being an over-thinker, I did not think that I struggled with anger. My actions and words tended to be measured. However, over the last couple of years, God has convicted me of my anger and lack of patience. For years, my anger was internal and it rarely manifested itself in lashing out. Yet, God’s Word makes it clear in Luke 6:45, “For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” (This verse is in the same chapter of Luke’s recording of the Sermon on the Mount.) I think the temptation for people (like me) that tend to overthink is to assume you have got this in check because anger has not caused you to lash out yet. Or, we tend to point the finger at more impulsive people and shift Jesus’ words to someone else. However, Jesus is getting at the heart of the issue, the human heart. He does not just care about what we do, but who we are.
6. How have you tried to hold anger in? Has that worked? Did you reach a boiling point?
7. Why does Jesus take this a step further than just how His followers act? How does this challenge your view of God and His expectations?
The word that Jesus uses that we translate as “brother” in verse 22 is almost always used in relation to brothers and sisters in Christ, those who are the church. Thinking of the church, I see Jesus’ words in verse 22 as especially poignant behind one another’s back. I do not see too many Christians insulting and calling each other fools to their faces. This name-calling and insult-throwing usually happen behind the person’s back.
8. How have you seen gossip hurt those in the church? Why is it so hurtful?
Psychologists believe there are two main catalysts for gossip being believed and moving quickly: when it confirms a bias that the gossiper has about the one being gossiped about or when those discussing the information are already envious of the one being gossiped about. I do not know about you, but that reminds me of the hallways of high school. Yet, so often, we do exactly this. Instead of putting out the fire of gossip, we continue it for these reasons.
Jesus is very clear that there is no place for gossip and insults within His church. He says that the penalty for insults and impulsive, angry words is the same as murder - eternal separation from God in Hell. He does not say that anger is as bad as murder but makes it clear that the penalty for both is the same.
What R.T. France says about this matter is right on. Christians are “to submit our thoughts about other people, as well as the words they give rise to, to God’s penetrating scrutiny.”
Read Matthew 5:23-24.
Jesus does not lighten up here. He continues to raise the standard of the Law by calling believers to examine themselves before worship, even if they are not the angry ones. In saying, if you “remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go,” Jesus is putting the onus on the reader. If you have done something to make someone angry, before worshiping God, reconcile with them!
“First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.” The order is intentional by Jesus. He is echoing many of the Old Testament prophets that repeated over and over the worthlessness of worship without purity.
Amos speaks of this very strongly as he records the words of the Lord, “I hate, I despise your feasts, and I take no delight in your solemn assemblies. Even though you offer me your burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them; and the peace offerings of your fattened animals, I will not look upon them. Take away from me the noise of your songs; to the melody of your harps I will not listen. But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5:21-24).
Though we oftentimes take worship and communion lightly, God does not. Paraphrasing Amos, God does not want our worship if it is not from a pure heart that reflects the character of God. It is not that Christians have to be perfect, but we must repent of sin and reconcile with those we have caused anger in. Before worship, before communion, and before spending time with God, we have to be right with other people. If we are not right with those around us, we cannot be right with God.
9. What does it look like to reconcile with someone? Is there someone you have caused to sin or gossiped about that you need to make right with?
10. Why does God treat worship and sin so seriously? Does the church treat worship and sin the same way God does?
Read Matthew 5:25-26.
Jesus concludes this section by showing the possible end result of anger - imprisonment. Anger that is not dealt with will not dissipate; it will grow. Gossip that is not confessed will destroy the one gossiping or the one being gossiped about. God does not take sin lightly, so why do we?