Sibling Rivalry

Sibling Rivalry

Read: Matthew 5:21-24

“I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.”

Matthew 5:22

“No matter how just your words may be, you ruin everything when you speak in anger.”

—John Chrysostom

IN WORD These are hard words. They address every one of us. Most of us can claim not to have murdered someone else, but none of us can realistically claim to have avoided anger—even sinful, unjustified anger. Deep down inside, we know it’s probably wrong to harbor our own sense of vengeance, as though God gave anyone the privilege of sharing in His omniscient judgments. But we’re only human, right? It’s a small sin, and everyone does it. Surely it’s not equal to murder, is it?

You may know the familiar commentary on this verse: Murder begins in the heart; the anger we feel is the source of the crime. But still, isn’t there a difference between thinking the thoughts and acting on them? Why is Jesus so harsh toward this very natural response to injustice?

Jesus condemns our anger and judgment for at least two reasons: (1) It dishonors Him as the judge of creation; it usurps His standards and places our own above them. And (2) it slanders a being created in His image! It is mental murder of a divine image-bearer, perhaps without physical consequence, but with character assassination and spiritual condemnation instead. Anger accomplishes in the spirit what murder does in the flesh. It further degrades God’s fallen creation.

IN DEED Parents of more than one child can imagine God’s perspective on human anger. Like God, we are generally sympathetic toward all of our children. We may be angry over their actions at times, but it is a measured, sympathetic anger, motivated by a desire to redeem. Siblings, however, want their offending brother or sister to pay! Jesus warns us that God’s children are siblings, not parents, and our perspective is grossly distorted. The Father’s judgment is thorough and accurate, and it can be trusted. Leaving our anger to Him acknowledges that, worships Him for it, and respects His ability to redeem His image-bearers.