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It Is The Way of Jesus
From Matthew 5: 21 "You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, "You shall not murder'; and "whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.' 22 But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister,you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, "You fool,' you will be liable to the hell of fire. 23 So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister, and then come and offer your gift. 25 Come to terms quickly with your accuser while you are on the way to court with him, or your accuser may hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the guard, and you will be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will never get out until you have paid the last penny.
Woah! Wait! Did I just hear Jesus make the Commandments stricter? That might have been the thought of some among the crowd listening to Jesus' Sermon on the Mount covered in this passage. Jesus take the Commandment of Thou Shalt Not Kill and make it one of anger. Well, I stay away from murder, isn't that enough? No, Jesus says, anger with a brother or sister is just as bad. Many have been the times we have been angry with someone to the point where they no longer live in our opinion; they count for nothing and we avoid them and avoid thinking about them. Sigh, don't raise your hands; we're all guilty as charged.
Jesus knew it was easier to stay away from killing someone with a weapon than to realize that our words have power to kill, so do our thoughts. And Jesus wants us to know that anger is a big thing that should not control our lives. It's not the Jesus way! Jesus' way is reconciliation; that of forgiving those who have harmed us and asking for forgiveness when we know we have harmed or hurt others. It was serious enough for Jesus to say, "If you call someone a 'fool', you're 'liable to the hell of fire.'" That's serious! And if you come to sacrifice something on the altar of God and your remember that there's something not right in one of your relationships, leave your gift there and get right with that person, then come back and offer your gift. Reconciliation is important to the point Jesus says we don't want to have to be imprisoned over it. Those who don't forgive and live with hate towards someone find themselves in a ever tightening prison with themselves holding the only key.
This new kingdom that Jesus ushered in is a kingdom with requirements and His interpretations of the law give us new and needed insight towards healthier living before God and one another.
PRAYER: Loving God, forgive me of my sins. Help me to be forgiving towards those who have hurt/harmed me. Let me realize that my anger can kill or maim; I want to do neither. I want to bless others and give them life. This I pray in Jesus' precious and powerful name, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
