Many of us tend to think that it is external factors that make us angry.  At this time, the political tension and online discourse will be at an all time high.  Many of us feel this tension and have an internalized anger because of it.

Jesus quoted the 10 commandments during this portion of teaching.  By doing so, he was showing that many at this time, even religious leaders and cultural elites, seemed to be content to uphold the literal meaning of the law while ignoring how they were violating it in their hearts.

Anger, in scripture, is not viewed as a sinful emotion.  In fact, in Ephesians Paul tells us to “be angry and do not sin”.  The anger that Jesus talks about is not just a momentary feeling, but the ongoing nurture of it.

Jesus is warning about the kind of anger that lives in us that leads to viewing and treating others with contempt.