Introduction

Today, we’re going to apply what we’ve been learning about reading the Bible by returning to God’s Word together. We’ll be back in Matthew, picking up where we left off. Turn to Matthew 5, starting in verse 21.

Before we dive in, I want you to anticipate where this message will end. We sang the line, “My one defense, my righteousness… my God, how I need You.” By the end, I pray that will be your genuine plea to the Lord.

Recap of Matthew 5 Context

Remember, Jesus is teaching on a mountain with His followers—this is the Sermon on the Mount. In the first 12 verses, the Beatitudes, Jesus describes the true citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven. These children of God are truly blessed, even (and especially) in suffering. It’s a different measure of “blessedness” than the world uses.

For instance, in Matthew 5:10, Jesus says, “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” He calls us to rejoice—yes, even leap for joy—when people insult or persecute us because of Him. That’s not a natural response, but these kingdom people have been changed from the inside. They belong to a heavenly kingdom, not merely this world.

Jesus also calls His followers “salt” and “light.” Salt preserves and flavors, light stands out in darkness. As believers, we should stand out in a dark world. Our changed hearts and good works lead people to glorify our Father in heaven (Matthew 5:16).

More Righteous Than the Pharisees?

In verses 17–20, Jesus addresses the law. He says He hasn’t come to abolish it but to fulfill it. He warns, “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:20).

The scribes and Pharisees focused on external rules, sometimes going beyond Scripture (fasting twice a week instead of just once a year, tithing even tiny spices, etc.). They taught that by strictly following these external laws, one could be justified—declared righteous. But in doing so, they missed the heart of the law: loving God and loving neighbor.

Jesus shows us that we cannot truly measure up to God’s standard by external works. He raises the bar, pointing to the internal reality: “Unless your righteousness exceeds that of the scribes and Pharisees…” indicates we need a heart-level transformation, not mere outward rule-keeping.

“You Have Heard It Said…”

In Matthew 5:21–22, Jesus says:

“You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment…”

Here begins a series of “You have heard it said… but I say to you…” statements, where Jesus corrects common misunderstandings of God’s law. The Pharisees taught, “If you don’t murder, you won’t be judged,” focusing on the outward act alone. Jesus reveals it’s not just the outward violation but the heart attitude—anger—that incurs guilt before God.

Anger Equals Murder at the Heart Level

Jesus doesn’t lower the standard; He shows the law’s true intent. Anger is murderous in principle. The root of murder is hatred and anger. So if you’re harboring anger, you are liable to judgment just like a murderer.

He even warns that insulting someone (“You fool!” or “Raca!”) makes one liable to the “hell of fire.” The religious leaders were too focused on human courts and punishments, but Jesus points out the deeper issue: God judges the heart. Rolling your eyes in contempt or calling someone an idiot stems from the same attitude that leads to murder.

Why Anger Is So Serious

God alone is the righteous Judge. When we’re angry, we assume God’s role, demanding that someone “get what they deserve.” Yet we ourselves don’t want what we deserve from God—because that would be eternal judgment. Believers in Christ should remember how much they’ve been forgiven. The parable of the unforgiving servant (Matthew 18) illustrates that if you’ve been forgiven an impossible debt, it’s hypocritical to hold a smaller debt against your brother.

John, who was present for Jesus’s teaching, later wrote in 1 John 3:14–15: “Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.” Anger toward a fellow believer—someone else adopted by God—is utterly contradictory to the gospel.

The Only Hope of True Righteousness

Jesus’s words reveal that God’s standard is far higher than “just don’t murder.” We must not be angry at all. That standard should make us cry out, “Lord, I need You!” because none of us can achieve this on our own.

If you belong to Christ, He has freed you from sin’s penalty by taking that “hell of fire” on Himself at the cross. God’s righteous wrath against your sin was fully poured out on Jesus, so none of it remains for you if you trust in Him. That’s why we can show mercy to others: we have been shown infinite mercy ourselves.

Moreover, Jesus changes our hearts. In heaven, we’ll be incapable of sin. Even now, the Holy Spirit empowers us to resist sinful anger. When we fail, 1 John 2:1–2 reminds us we have an Advocate—Jesus Christ the Righteous—who intercedes for us.

Conclusion & Prayer

So how can anyone meet this standard of not even being angry? We can’t fulfill it by mere self-effort. Jesus is our only righteousness. His perfection is credited to us, and He bore our judgment on the cross. That is our “one defense, our righteousness.”

Let’s pray:

“God, thank You for Your Word and for this high standard that reminds us we can never meet Your requirement on our own. We need Jesus, who never sinned in anger and who absorbed Your righteous wrath for our sins. We ask that You’d change our hearts and make us people who do not harbor anger, but reflect the mercy we have received. In Jesus’s name we pray, Amen.”