“The 6th Commandment and Anger”
Matthew 5:21-26 February 14, 2010
Pastor Marcus J. Serven
Covenant Family Church (RPCGA)
Our Lord takes the 6th Commandment to an entirely new level in this potent passage from the Sermon on the Mount. Whereas the Jewish Rabbis taught that the 6th Commandment was only an external standard, Jesus instructed his disciples that it was an internal standard as well. In other words, if you even contemplated murderous thoughts then you were guilty of breaking the 6th Commandment. This was a shocking development for Jesus’ disciples! So much so, that following the conversation with the Rich Young Ruler they began to ask the question—“Who then can be saved?” In this they rightly perceived that they had utterly failed in keeping the Law of God. As always, Jesus’ answer is revealing, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (cf. Matt. 19:25-26) Thus, we see that the answer to a violation of the 6th Commandment by word, deed, and thought is exactly the same as any one of the other Commandments—by faith looking to Jesus Christ who took away the penalty and power of sin (cf. Isa. 53:4-6; Rom. 3:21-26; 2 Cor. 5:21; Heb. 9:11-15; 1 Pet. 2:24; 1 John 1:7).
The Main Point of this Sermon:
“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.” Eph. 4:26-27
1. Restatement of the OT Law, (vs. 21)
2. Reinterpretation of the OT Law, (vs. 22)
3. Remedies for Anger, (vs. 23-25)
4. Reprimands for Anger, (vs. 26)
[podcast]http://www.download.covenantfamilychurch.net/2010/2010_2_14_The_6th_Commandment_and_Anger.mp3[/podcast]