Matthew 5:21-26
Big Idea: Living Right With God Requires Getting Right With Others
Anger: love in action resulting in an intense emotional state in response to a threat to someone or something I care deeply about
Righteous Anger: anger arising when I witness an offense against God, God’s Word, or God’s people
“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.”
-Ephesians 4:26-27
My Pathway To Freedom From Anger:
1) Embrace My Reality (v. 21-22)
My Anger Autopsy:
1) What triggered my anger?
2) Why does this thing matter so much to me?
3) Am I allowing this thing to define me or God to define me?
“We love because He first loved us. If anyone says, ‘I love God,’ and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him: whoever loves God must also love his brother.”
-1 John 4:20-21
“Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. By this we know love, that he laid down his life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.”
-1 John 3:15-16
2) Guard My Heart Vigilantly (v. 21-24)
“Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart.”
-Psalm 24:3-4
3 Parts Of A Pure Heart:
1) Purity of Perspective
2) Purity of Motive
3) Purity of Response
3) Get Right With Others Quickly (v. 23-26)
Getting Right With Others Quickly Means:
1) Act With Urgency
2) Make It A Top Priority
3) Lead With Humility
4) Go In Grace
4) Come To The Father Wholeheartedly (v. 24)