“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder; and whoever murders will be liable to judgment. But I say to you….”
 — Matthew 5:21–22a (ESV)

There’s a reason the Sermon on the Mount continues to shake the foundations of religious comfort and call us into Kingdom alignment—especially for me these days. Jesus, in His revolutionary sermon, is not softening the Old Testament law—He’s deepening it. He’s showing us that the real problem is not merely what we do, but who we are. Jesus didn’t come to abolish the law but to fulfill it by writing it on our hearts. His grace doesn’t lower the bar—it raises it and empowers us to live it.

As Rich Villodas has rightly said, “The Sermon on the Mount was not given to show our inability to live it and trust God. It was given so we could trust God and live it out. There’s a difference.”

Rich Villodas has rightly said, “The Sermon on the Mount was not given to show our inability to live it and trust God. It was given so we could trust God and live it out. There’s a difference.”

This first corrective application Jesus offers is regarding the sixth commandment: “You shall not murder.” But rather than merely repeating a command that everyone agrees with, Jesus goes after the root system that produces the fruit of murder—anger. And so, we must ask: What are you angry about right now?

A Misuse of the Law (v. 21)

Jesus begins with a familiar phrase: “You have heard that it was said….” He’s not contradicting the law but correcting the prevailing interpretation of it. The Pharisees essentially sought to decrease the law’s restrictions and increase the law’s permissions. Don’t we do the same? We excuse our inner emotions as “normal” or “harmless,” all the while allowing them to fester. But Jesus steps in and reverses this perversion.

While “murder” may seem like a distant and extreme sin, the word Jesus uses refers to bloodshed motivated by selfish intent—a reality far closer to our hearts than we may want to admit. As a nation, we’ve seen the devastating result of such anger as political controversy pervades and wars rage on. Anger has flooded our streets, our social media feeds, and—if we’re honest—our hearts.

The Kingdom Corrective (v. 22)

Jesus doesn’t just mention anger; He builds a progression of its destructive potential that goes something like this:

• Anger – liable to judgment. This is not simple irritation; it’s a burning emotion often coupled with a desire for revenge.
• Insults – liable to the council. “Raca” was a term of contempt for someone’s mind or intelligence.
• You fool – liable to the hell of fire. This targets a person’s character, their heart, their very worth.

Dallas Willard offers this sobering insight: “In anger I want to hurt you. In contempt, I don’t care whether you are hurt or not…You are not worthy of consideration.”

Anger left unchecked morphs into contempt. And when we hold people in contempt, we effectively dehumanize them. In today’s terms, we “cancel” them. But there is no “cancel culture” in the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom does not cancel—it confronts with truth and grace and seeks restoration.

There is no “cancel culture” in the Kingdom of God. The Kingdom does not cancel—it confronts with truth and grace and seeks restoration.

And so, though we may never take a life, how many of us have stood guilty of rage, bitterness, or dehumanizing another image-bearer of God? Jesus says such attitudes place us in dangerous territory—not just socially or emotionally, but spiritually. Before the court of heaven, anger is deadly.

The Kingdom Application (v. 23–25)

Jesus doesn’t just expose the problem—He offers a Kingdom pathway toward healing: radical reconciliation. Whether you’re offering your gift in worship or walking toward a courtroom, Jesus says: “Stop what you’re doing and go be reconciled.” Why? Because reconciliation isn’t optional for citizens of the Kingdom—it’s essential.

Reconciliation isn’t optional for citizens of the Kingdom—it’s essential.

Imagine what it would look like if we actually lived this out. What if every time we felt the fire of offense rising in our souls, we responded with urgency—not to retaliate, but to reconcile? This isn’t theoretical. It’s the way of Jesus. It’s what He did for us.

What if every time we felt the fire of offense rising in our souls, we responded with urgency—not to retaliate, but to reconcile? This isn’t theoretical. It’s the way of Jesus. It’s what He did for us.

Could it be that your inability to sense God’s nearness lately is connected to unresolved anger that you’ve buried? Jesus says to not just ignore it or suppress it—but to deal with it. And deal with it now.

A Warning Not to Delay (v. 26)

Jesus closes this section with a sobering warning: take action before it’s too late. Delayed obedience is still disobedience. While God is merciful and gives second chances, He also gives us the now as a sacred opportunity.

Delayed obedience is still disobedience. While God is merciful and gives second chances, He also gives us the now as a sacred opportunity.

Maybe one reason you’re reading this right now is that the Holy Spirit wants to surface some buried anger—anger that hasn’t gone away, just gone underground. You’ve been smiling in public but seething in private. You’ve been avoiding hard conversations that the Lord is inviting you to initiate. Today is the day.

Personal Reflection and Prayer

Again, the question comes to us: What are you angry about? Who are you angry with?

Take a moment now to pause and pray.

Consider this prompt: Lord, I confess that I am angry about/with…

As you pray, remember these thoughts for how to process anger biblically:

• Unprocessed anger doesn’t disappear—it gets buried alive.
• If we don’t work it out, it will eventually leak out, or worse—break out.
• Remember, not all anger is sin. Psalm 4:4 says, “Be angry and do not sin.” Anger can be holy, but if we don’t deal with its source, it will lead us into sin.
• Ephesians 4:26 gives a crucial warning: “Do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.”

Next, consider the following prompt: Jesus, I repent that my anger has led to the sin of…

Finally, I encourage you to pray: Holy Spirit, transform my anger so that reconciliation can be worked in…

Beloved, let’s be people of the Kingdom who live with inside-out righteousness. People who don’t just avoid murder, but reject the seeds of it—anger, bitterness, contempt. Let’s confront our anger, not in our own strength, but in the strength of grace.

And remember: Grace empowers what it commands.

Grace empowers what it commands.

Copyright © 2025 Justin Jeppesen. All rights reserved.