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“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’
But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.”
— Matthew 5:21–22 (NIV)
Let us look at what the Word of God says.
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus is not abolishing the Law; He is going beyond shallow obedience to external rules and exposing the true condition of the human heart. The song captures this contrast: the old command, “You shall not murder,” and the radical statement of Jesus, that anger and contempt put a person in danger of judgment and even the fire of hell.
The central theme is this:
True righteousness is not merely the absence of murder; it is the presence of love, reconciliation, and inner purity before God and man.
Jesus moves us from the visible act (murder) to the invisible root (anger, contempt, unforgiveness). He teaches that unresolved anger and despising words are not “minor issues” but matters of eternal consequence.
Three key ideas stand at the heart of this teaching:
1. Anger and contempt are spiritually deadly.
2. Reconciliation is a condition for acceptable worship.
3. True righteousness begins in the heart and is expressed in relationships.
Everything in the lyrics turns around these truths.
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These words belong to the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5–7). Jesus is addressing His disciples, with the crowds listening in. He is explaining what it means to live under the rule of the kingdom of heaven.
He repeatedly uses the pattern:
> “You have heard that it was said…
> But I tell you…”
This formula does not mean that the Old Testament Law was false. Instead, Jesus is exposing:
The original command, “You shall not murder,” comes from Exodus 20:13 and Deuteronomy 5:17. Under the Law of Moses, murder was a capital crime. There were courts, elders, and strict penalties.
By the time of Jesus, the people were familiar with this command as a boundary marker:
“If I don’t physically kill anyone, I’m righteous in this area.”
Jesus confronts that assumption head-on:
> “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.” (Matthew 5:22)
He shifts the issue from what we do with our hands to what we harbor in our hearts.
Then He makes a further shocking statement:
> “And anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court.
> And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.” (Matthew 5:22)
In Jewish culture, the Sanhedrin was the supreme court. To say that certain attitudes and words deserve not only local judgment but put one “in danger of the fire of hell” was staggering.
Immediately after that, Jesus moves to the subject of worship:
> “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you,
> leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.”
> — Matthew 5:23–24
In other words, God is saying:
This fits with the whole tone of the Sermon on the Mount: God is not fooled by religious appearances. He weighs motives, attitudes, and hidden sins. He demands a righteousness that “surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law” (Matthew 5:20).
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Two key Greek words in this passage bring clarity:
### 1) “Anger” – ὀργίζομαι (orgizomai)
Matthew 5:22:
“Everyone who is angry with his brother…”
So Jesus is not condemning every flash of emotion. Rather, He condemns cherished anger, the kind you feed, rehearse, and justify.
The song says:
> “Don’t let anger burn inside and poison your heart”
That is precisely the meaning. The anger that is allowed to burn inside, that becomes part of your inner climate, is poison.
### 2) “Fool / Contempt” – ῥακά (raka) and μωρέ (mōre)
Matthew 5:22 (literal):
> “Whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ will be answerable to the Sanhedrin. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ [*mōre*] will be in danger of the fire of hell.”
The issue is not a single syllable or cultural phrase; it is the heart behind it:
The lyrics capture this:
> “And anyone who says ‘You fool’ in contempt
> Is in danger of the fire of hell”
The critical word is “in contempt.” That is exactly the issue:
Anger that matures into contempt becomes spiritually murderous.
Thus:
When we understand these terms, we see that Jesus is not dealing with minor social etiquette. He is exposing a heart condition that heaven treats as severely as murder.
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We will follow the major themes and movements of the lyrics and connect them to Scripture.
### A. From Murder to Anger: The Deepening of the Law
Lyrics:
> “You have heard it said long ago
> ‘Do not murder, and anyone who murders will face judgment’
> But I tell you something deeper now
> Anyone who is angry with a brother or sister
> Will stand before the court…”
Here we have the essential movement: from outward act to inward attitude.
Other Scriptures confirm this principle:
The New Testament never allows us to separate inner hatred from outer violence. Hatred is simply murder in seed form.
Jesus is not lowering the standard; He is raising it. The kingdom of heaven does not merely restrain the hand; it transforms the heart.
### B. Anger, Contempt, and the Fire of Hell
Lyrics:
> “And anyone who says ‘You fool’ in contempt
> Is in danger of the fire of hell”
Many Christians treat anger and contempt as “lesser” sins. Yet Jesus links them directly with “the fire of hell.”
Why is this so serious?
1. Because anger and contempt assault the image of God in another person.
To despise a brother is to despise the image he bears.
2. Because anger and contempt open the door to Satan.
Unresolved anger becomes a foothold — a place where Satan has legal access.
3. Because they contradict the nature of Christ in us.
The lyrics say:
> “Don’t let anger burn inside and poison your heart
> Words of contempt cut deeper than you know”
That is accurate theology. Anger inside poisons us; contempt in our words wounds others and grieves the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:30–31).
### C. Worship and Reconciliation: The Altar and the Brother
Lyrics:
> “If you bring your gift to the altar
> And there remember your brother or sister has something against you
> Leave your offering right there
> First go and be reconciled
> Come back and offer your gift after peace is made
> Settle matters quickly with the one who accuses you”
This section closely follows Matthew 5:23–26. Note the order Jesus gives:
1. You come to worship.
2. You remember that someone has something against you.
3. You are not told to reason, “It’s their problem.”
4. You are told to stop your religious act.
5. Go. Be reconciled.
6. Then resume worship.
Two key truths:
Later Scripture agrees:
Jesus also says:
> “Settle matters quickly with your adversary…” (Matthew 5:25)
There is an urgency. Delay is dangerous.
The longer you keep an issue unresolved, the more interest it gathers in the spiritual realm. Anger compounds. Bitterness hardens. Satan gains ground.
### D. Guarding the Heart and the Tongue
Lyrics:
> “Guard your thoughts, forgive before the sun goes down
> Let love cover over wrongs, let mercy flow
> A gentle answer turns away wrath
> But harsh words stir up anger in the end”
This combines several biblical truths:
1. Forgive quickly.
Anger is to be resolved the same day, not stored like spiritual toxins.
2. Love covers.
Covering does not mean denying sin; it means choosing mercy rather than revenge.
3. Gentle words diffuse wrath.
The song points us to the discipline of our inner life (“Guard your thoughts”) and the discipline of our tongue. James says:
### E. The Old Law and the Searching Christ
Lyrics:
> “The old law touched the hands, but Jesus searches the heart
> Outward obedience isn’t enough anymore
> He calls us higher—to love like He loves
> Quick to forgive, slow to speak, full of grace”
This aligns with Scripture very precisely:
The Law, in its ceremonial and civil aspects, primarily regulated external conduct. Jesus, fulfilling the Law, now writes God’s standards on our hearts (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10).
He calls us to:
The lyrics say:
> “In Him we find power to break anger’s chain
> And live in the freedom of peace once again”
This speaks of grace:
Jesus not only commands us to forsake anger and contempt; He supplies the power through the indwelling Holy Spirit.
### F. True Righteousness and Mercy
Lyrics:
> “True righteousness goes beyond the rules we keep
> It changes the heart where anger used to sleep
> Reconcile fast, forgive from deep within
> For in showing mercy, mercy we win”
This is pure Sermon on the Mount theology:
Notice:
Anger “sleeps” in the heart of the unrenewed man. It may be quiet, but it is present, ready to be awakened. When Christ comes, He does not merely sedate anger — He cleanses the heart.
“True righteousness” (*dikaiosynē* in Greek) in Matthew 5 describes the inner, Spirit-produced conformity to God’s character, not mere conformity to external rules.
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We must move from theory to practice. In this area of anger and contempt, many believers remain in bondage for years because they never apply God’s Word decisively.
Here are four practical steps, each with a suggested proclamation.
### 1) Acknowledge Anger as Sin, Not Just “Personality”
First, we must call anger what Jesus calls it.
We must stop excusing it as temperament, culture, or “just how I am.”
Action:
Proclamation:
> “Lord Jesus, I agree with Your Word that cherished anger and contempt are sin. I renounce every excuse and every justification. I bring my anger into Your light, and I submit it to Your judgment and Your cleansing.”
### 2) Forgive Specifically and Completely
Second, we must forgive as an act of our will, in obedience to Christ, not waiting for our emotions.
Action:
“In the name of Jesus, I choose to forgive [name] for [specific offense]. I release them from my judgment.”
Proclamation:
> “Father, in obedience to Your Word, I forgive those who have sinned against me. I release them from my anger and from my claim of repayment. I surrender the whole situation into Your hands. I choose mercy, that I may obtain mercy.”
### 3) Seek Reconciliation Where Possible and Appropriate
Third, we must act on Jesus’ command to reconcile.
Action:
Proclamation:
> “Lord, I am willing to humble myself and seek peace. Show me whom I must approach, what I must confess, and how I must make it right. I choose reconciliation over reputation, obedience over comfort.”
### 4) Guard Your Heart and Tongue Daily
Fourth, we must adopt a daily discipline of guarding both our inner life and our mouth.
Action:
Proclamation:
> “Holy Spirit, I invite You to rule my heart and my tongue. Set a guard over my mouth. Warn me when anger begins to rise. I choose to respond with a gentle answer, with mercy, and with self-control, by Your power.”
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### Proclamation of Faith
Say this aloud, thoughtfully, in the presence of God:
> **In the name of the Lord Jesus Christ, I declare:
> I have heard the words of my Lord: ‘You have heard that it was said, “You shall not murder”… but I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.’
> I renounce cherished anger, bitterness, and contempt.
> I refuse to let anger burn inside me or poison my heart.
> I choose to forgive, before the sun goes down, all who have offended me.
> I choose to seek reconciliation where it is possible and right.
> I will not offer my worship while holding unforgiveness in my heart.
> The old law touched the hands, but Jesus now searches my heart.
> By His grace, my heart is being changed where anger used to sleep.
> I receive the power of the Holy Spirit to break anger’s chain in my life.
> I will be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry.
> True righteousness, Christ’s righteousness, is working in me.
> I will walk in love, in mercy, and in peace,
> and I shall live free from the bondage of anger,
> to the glory of God the Father, in Jesus’ name. Amen.**
### Prayer
Let us now pray in line with this Word.
“Lord Jesus Christ, You are the One who spoke these words on the mountain. You see beyond my outward behavior. You search my heart, my thoughts, my hidden attitudes.
I confess before You that anger, resentment, and contempt have had a place in my life. I acknowledge them as sin. I ask You to cleanse me with Your precious blood from every murderous thought, every bitter memory, every contemptuous word.
Holy Spirit, come and expose every root of anger, every wound where unforgiveness has lodged. Give me the courage to forgive, to release, and to bless. Where I must seek reconciliation, grant me humility and wisdom.
Set a guard over my mouth. Teach me to answer gently, to be slow to speak and slow to anger. Let the law of kindness be on my tongue. Let the love of God be poured into my heart by the Holy Spirit.
Father, I ask that my worship would be pure, not hindered by broken relationships and hidden hostility. Bring to my mind anyone against whom I hold something, or anyone who holds something against me, and make a way, where You will, for peace.
I receive now the freedom that comes from obedience to Your Word. In Christ, I am no longer under the dominion of anger. Let the peace of Christ rule in my heart, to which also I was called in one body.
I thank You for doing this work in me, and I yield myself to Your ongoing sanctifying power. In the mighty name of Jesus. Amen.”
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