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, MAT 5:22.

In MAT 5:17-48, Jesus added nothing to the law, but revealed how it was being abused by adding all the traditions, and commandments of men. He also revealed our need to excel in the intent and Spiritual nature of the law.

Our text teaches that the sixth commandment required far more than abstinence from literal murder: it forbade unjust anger, i.e., hatred, acts of selfishness, harsh words or thoughts.

This law of the God of life is a hedge about our lives. "Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in the image of God made he man," GEN 9:5-6. In our text Jesus explains that being angry with a brother without cause is a violation of the Spiritual meaning, or intent of this law. Jesus taught that those who through such anger say to their brother "Raca," or "Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire."

Anger is an emotion such as joy, sorrow, fear, hatred or love. An emotion in itself is neither right nor wrong, its motive determines that. Righteous wrath and pure love are both revealed in the atonement: there we see God’s love for His church in sending His Son to appease His just wrath upon sin, 1JO 4:10. Jesus showed righteous wrath, "When he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple," JOH 2:13-17.

Hatred against sin is just wrath; David said in PSA 139:21-22, "Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee? I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies."

Yet the next two verses show that David realized he needed God’s help to guard the motives of his heart. "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting."

David knew his own heart was "deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked," JER 17:9. "David said to Abigail, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which sent thee this day to meet me: And blessed be thy advice, and blessed be thou, which hast kept me this day from coming to shed blood, and from avenging myself with mine own hand," 1SA 25:33.

There is a righteous anger against sin, when the motive is to excite repentance. 2TH 3:6-15 says, "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly...that he may be ashamed. Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother."

Being ‘angry without a cause,’ comes from hateful emotions in the heart with a desire to harm. If we, like David, have learned to know our own heart, we will need constantly to cry unto the Lord with David, "Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts: And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting," PSA 139:23-24. Amen.