FULL SERVICE: *See SERMON ONLY below
SERMON ONLY:
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Questions Sermon 15: Jesus Teaches on Anger (Matthew 5:21-26)
- Read the sermon passage carefully. Why did I begin the sermon with Matthew 17:1-8? What is the implication for our faithful following?
- What does “listen to Him” mean?
- Looking back at the previous chapters in Matthew, Christ is the fulfiller of the history of Israel, but does so perfectly, in contrast to the nation of Israel. Since all things are unfulfilled in Christ as the central figure of the revelation of God, how is that meant to affect our faith in Him for our present and future living?
- I give attention to today’s dilemma of having so much at our fingertips, and yet we see such a lack of discernment and an elevation of experience over biblical truth. Think about this for a few moments. Why is this particularly happening to the evangelical church in modern times?
- Clearly the righteousness that Jesus is speaking about is not legal righteousness. Nor is He advocating an “easy-believism” that focuses more on what appeals to what is satisfactory to the conscience in applying a shallow approach to our Bibles. The superior righteousness Jesus calls for, is far more demanding, far deeper than the righteousness of the Pharisees and the scribes. How does this affect our approach to Jesus Sermon?
- I quote, “And although Jesus condemns all kinds of anger, He essentially is saying that I cannot call myself a Christian and have a resident anger, nor a self-justified temper, alive and well waiting to unleash.” Clearly the gospel must be believed daily. Why?
- Manmade approaches to God’s law are deficient. These are some of the reasons why.
- They are rarely disobeyed when approached superficially. (2) Are externally measurable (3) they are fulfilled by the exertion of human will alone (4) this approach minimizes the activity of what is going on in the heart (5) they are radically individualistic not communal (6) they are humanistic and never need God’s grace, and lastly, (7) they elevates human goodness not God’s mercy.
Can you see that the will of Jesus is to change us inside out, and not outside in? what are the implications of that? Why do you think, I called that Cut-Price Christianity (v21)?
- In Exposing the Angry Assassin of the heart (v22), Jesus makes no provision for a sinful anger. How will this affect the way we deal with anger in the heart as well as angry words?
- Do I have any relationships strained by anger or resentment? Have I used words to cut and hurt to someone? Jesus seems to use the word “brother” far more generically. In other words, it may be much broader in application than just those close. Is there anyone in the unbelieving world that I have offended by my words?
- Lastly, we want to emphasize how the gospel ends anger (v23-26)
We said that the gospel…
- calls out the seriousness of anger
- provides the heart with a new sensitivity
- must be applied relationally
- cannot allow a fractured relationship with others whilst we claim a reconciled relationship with God
- demands reconciliation
- the gospel of the reconciled always calls us to pursue reconciliation
- Reconciliation is not optional
- The gospel of reconciliation has consequences
The gospel of superior righteousness could never to obeyed by a Pharisee because it is totally different than an external righteousness. For us, kingdom righteousness is transformation at a deeper level. What in the above list is God speaking to you about today? Has the Spirit of God brought about new convictions and new applications to your understanding? Spend a few minutes in confession but also in worship, for our God, as a great physician is showing His goodness in changing us from the inside out. Praise Him for nothing else in all the legalist religions of the world remotely come close to what our Father desires in us.
