Anger Demands a Cause

Matthew 5:22 But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

INTRODUCTORY THOUGHTS

Without a just and righteous cause for anger, it does not have a godly basis. Although Jesus was giving this admonition directly to the Jews concerning their kingdom, the principle remains just as accurate and applicable today. Many of the modern versions remove the phrase “without a cause” claiming that the so-called best manuscripts fail to include it. In following this faulty “scholarship,” they corrupt the verse and create a contradiction between Matthew 5:22 and Ephesians 4:26. Young David was no doubt angry as he heard the blasphemy from the lips of Goliath (1 Samuel 17:22-25). He was not going to let these words go without an appropriate response. When he asked about fighting the Philistine, others became angry and accused him of ungodly motives (1 Samuel 17:26-28), but he retorted, “Is there not a cause?” (1 Samuel 17:29).

DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS

(For children):The people of Jabesh-gilead asked king Nahash of Ammon to make a treaty with them to avoid his attack. Nahash’s response was extremely cruel and aroused the anger of king Saul who took care of the situation. Read 1 Samuel 11:1-11.

(For everyone):What was the cause of David’s anger? Was it a righteous or an unrighteous cause? How does this justify David’s anger or condemn it?

(For everyone):Do you become angry when there exists no righteous cause for anger? What does this suggest about the condition of your heart?

PRAYER THOUGHTS

Ask God to show you whether or not you have a cause for anger.

Ask the Lord to keep you from any unrighteous anger.

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In the Hour of Trial

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