THURSDAY- 10^TH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME -B

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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