Angry With Cause?
"Ye
have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt
not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the Judgment. 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." Here
Jesus describes murder as first existing in the mind. That malice and revenge
which would delight in deeds of violence is of itself murder. Jesus goes further still, and says,
"Whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of
the Judgment." There is an anger that is not of this criminal nature. A
certain kind of indignation is justifiable, under some circumstances, even in
the followers of Christ. When they see God dishonored, his name reviled, and
the precious cause of truth brought into disrepute by those who profess to
revere it, when they see the innocent oppressed and persecuted, a righteous
indignation stirs their soul; such anger, born of sensitive morals, is not a
sin. Among the listeners are those who congratulate themselves upon
their righteousness because they have committed no outward crime, while they
are cherishing in their hearts feelings of the same nature as that which
prompts the assassin to do his fearful deed. Yet these men make professions of
piety, and conform to the outward requirements of religion. To such Jesus
addresses these words:-- {2SP 219.3}