Monday 9 June 2014

THURSDAY- 10TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME -A
I Reading: 1 Kings 18: 41-46: Elijah prayed and the sky gave rain.
Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26: Anyone who is angry with his brother will answer for it before the court.
The Real Meaning of Murder, 5: 21-26
Jesus Christ says that unjustified anger is the same as murder and will be subject to the same judgement from God. Civilized societies have always considered murder to be a serious crime worthy of judgement. But anger is a different matter. Few have ever thought of anger as being on the same level as murder and worthy of serious judgement.
Christ is saying that every human being is a brother under God’s creation. Therefore, his words apply universally to every human being.
1.     The law (v.21)
2.     The real meaning: Anger (v.22): real sin breaks the law of God: the cause of murder is the anger
3.     The growth of anger (v.22)
a.     A brooding anger
b.    A contemptuous anger
c.      An accusing and cursing anger
4.     The judgement of anger (v.22)
5.     The answer to anger: Reconciliation (v.23-24)
a.     The urgency: must precede worship
b.    The time: while some openness exists
6.     The danger or damage of holding anger (v.25)
a.     Earthly judgement
b.    Divine judgement symbolized
7.     The terrible end of anger: judgement is sure (v.26)
Thought: we must never allow anger to take hold of us without just cause (Col 3:8; James 1: 19; 1Jn 3:15; prov 19:11; Eccl 7:9).

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