In southern Chile there is a volcano named Calbuco. The volcano erupted at least once every 16 years, and usually more often than that, from 1893 to 1972. Then Calbuco sat dormant for more than 40 years, until April 22–30, 2015. The eruptions in 2015 were so violent that smoke and ash shot more than 6 miles into the sky. People were terrified and had to evacuate their homes, leaving several villages looking like ghost towns. Though the volcano had been dormant for more than 40 years, the danger was always there.
In Matthew 5:21–26, Jesus addresses one of the most common issues Christians face: anger. Jesus prefaces his teaching on anger by citing the sixth commandment, “You shall not murder” (cf. Exod. 20:13). In this section of the sermon, Jesus draws out two earlier claims in practical terms. First, he says he came to fulfill the Law and Prophet (Matt. 5:17). Second, he says his disciples’ righteousness must exceed that of the scribes and Pharisees (v. 20). This teaching on anger and its relation to the sixth commandment demonstrates both claims.
Jesus addresses three matters that violate the heart of the sixth commandment: anger, insults, and grudges. Cain’s anger led him to kill his brother Abel (Gen. 4:5–8). Insults involve an improper value judgment made by the one doing the insulting. Specifically, Jesus says, “whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council” (NKJV). The NASB offers this rendering for “Raca” – “good-for-nothing.” Insulting someone else amounts to dishonoring an entity made in God’s image; murder takes this mindset to its natural conclusion. Finally, Jesus condemns grudges. From a moral standpoint, treating someone as though they are dead amounts to killing them in our hearts.
What can the Christian do? We have to move out of the shadow of Calbuco. We cannot nurture anger in our hearts and imagine we will somehow avoid deadly eruptions. James says we should “be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger,” and “receive with meekness the implanted word” (James 1:19; 21). Quoting from Proverbs, Paul writes, “‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Rom. 12:20–21).
If we will: listen more and speak less; focus on each individual as a person loved and valued by God, so much that He sent His only Son to redeem this one (cf. John 3:16); frequently let God’s Word into our hearts, then we will find we have moved out of the shadow of our own anger, and into God’s delightful presence.
Clay Leonard
