Matthew 5:21-26

Anger & Reconciliation

1. Recap v. 17-20 ->Christ fulfills the Law and establishes ALL law in Himself

• We cannot even begin to practice righteousness in the kingdom of God until we know Jesus!

2. The greater focus & judgment to those who are part of the kingdom of God

• Attitudes and actions of the heart! 
• Attitude/desire for PEACE or TURMOIL

Anger & Murder

1. Murderers are liable to judgment
2. Anger (without cause) is liable to judgment -> heart motive like murder

• anger w/o cause IS sin [Prov. 29:11, Ecc. 7:9]
• anger w/ cause IS acceptable BUT USE CAUTION [Eph. 4:26-27]
• anger w/ cause WILL/MUST produce action [Neh. 5:1-13, Jesus in temple]
• prayer
• confrontation
• anger w/o cause WILL produce other damaging sins...
• vengeance
• bitterness

The effects of anger w/o cause are clearly seen here:

1. Anger w/o cause is the heart motive similar to murder

• there is NO place for this anger in the kingdom of God

     2. Anger w/o cause WILL produce a spirit and desire for personal vengeance AND a root of bitterness

• this CAN happen w/ justified anger...it WILL happen w/ unjustified anger
• Heb. 12:15 -> seeks to strip us of the peace of God AND cause trouble

     3. Anger unchecked/uncontrolled

• Produces an INSULTING spirit (in danger of coming before the council)
• if continually left unchecked WILL produce a spirit that goes beyond regular insults and seeks to DEFAME CHARACTER (in danger of hell fire)

The solution= RECONCILIATION!

• the offense is against a brother -> RECONCILIATION MUST OCCUR OR RELEASE

1. Unresolved sin issues ARE sin and produce sin

• hatred/lack of fellowship with a brother IS sin [1 John 2:9-11]

      2. Lack of fellowship and sin in my physical interactions DO affect my relationship w/ God!

• thus the connection between ANGEr and offering SACRIFICE
• the scenario: one brother comes to worship God knowing that there is a brother who IS/HAS BEEN/FEELS OFFENDED
• leave the sacrifice and go
• first be reconciled w/ your brother THEN offer sacrifices/worship to God

RECONCILIATION -> 2 parts for 2 people (repentance and forgiveness)
1. Can ONLY occur where an offense has ACTUALLY occurred

• if there is no genuine offense then control over the "offended" person's emotions MUST be exercised AND repentance before GOD should occur

2. In the case of REAL offense

• the offender MUST seek forgiveness by the offended
• people of the kingdom of God MUST be merciful -> a generous spirit of willingness to forgive
• what does it mean to forgive?
• of the N.T. words for forgiveness they incorporate the following ideas to release as from a debt, to let go free, to show favor and kindness to, and to be gracious to
• one pastor defines it as a "commitment to pardon graciously the repentant from moral liability and to be reconciled to that person, although not all consequences are necessarily eliminated"

Aspects of forgiveness
1. A commitment -> being people of our word... committing our thoughts and actions to the task
2. To pardon graciously -> to NOT bring the matter up in a MALICIOUS WAY nor to hold against the individual

• does not mean forget

      3. The repentant: focused on later [Lk. 17:4]

• forgiveness can only be extended to the repentant (God and man)
• man releases man from liability NOT CONSEQUENCE
• when no repentance is present man releases offender to God for God's judgment and vengeance! [Rom. 12:19]
• this will keep the root of bitterness from growing

      4. MORAL LIABILITY: responsibility to repay

• the one who forgives does NOT seek to exact blood from a piece of fruit
• the forgiver is committing to be at peace EVEN IF the offender CANNOT restore everything

      5. Be reconciled: the characteristics of forgiveness

• being reconciled is where the rubber meets the road for forgiveness
• this is where we see IF we have forgiven
• this is where we primarily see the characteristics of forgiveness

Characteristics of forgiveness:

1. resisting revenge [Rom. 12:19]
2. not returning evil for evil [1 Thes. 5:15]
3. wishing the offender well [Lk. 6:28]
4. grieving at the offenders calamities [Prov. 24:17]
5. praying for their welfare [Matt 5:44]
6. being at PEACE with them [Rom. 12:18]
7. coming to their aid in distress [Exo. 23:14]

     Consequences are NOT necessarily eliminated: some actions will, some won't
Those who are UNFORGIVING or have no generous spirit to forgive RISK not knowing God in reality and facing condemnation [Matt. 18:21-35]
 6. The offender MUST seek Genuine Repentance

• if forgiveness is limited by repentance then the WRONG DOER MUST seek it
• an unwillingness to desire repentance RISKS the offender...
• being under stricter church discipline
• being an unbeliever
• repentance IS the confessing and turning from sin and turing to God, seeking reconciliation to God
• therefore, repentance b/n brothers would confessing and turning from sin and turning to a brother, seeking reconciliation from the brother
• repentance characterized [2 Cor. 7:10-11, 6-7]

Characteristics of repentance:

• grief is an UNRELIABLE characteristic and should be moved away from as an defining example

1. earnestness= urgent response
2. eagerness to clear yourself= open confession
3. indignation= true contrition/brokenness
4. fear= afraid of returning to sin -> accountability
5. longing= desire for reconciliation [2 Cor. 7:6-7]
6. zeal= no rationalization/justification (passion for truth)
7. punishment= a willingness to accept consequences