I am a Jesus pusher!! “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder’” (Matthew 5:21). “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother shall be in danger of the judgment” (Matthew 5:22). Many commentaries attempt to interpret verse 22 as a scale of activities and punishments. Jesus begins with a person “angry with his brother.” This anger places the individual liable for “the judgment,” with a focus on what is happening in the person. Some interpret the punishment as coming from the Jewish leaders who hold court at the city gates or square. Jesus progresses to calling a person “Raca,” expressing their inner anger by belittling and demeaning them. In this case, the punishment must be brought before the council or Sanhedrin. The final step is the inward anger that causes the person to call his brother, “You fool,” placing him in danger of hell! To progress from a small city court to the Sanhedrin and then to God’s judgment is a severe progression.
Several problems are with this thought process. Anyone brought before a lesser court because he had inner anger is unlikely. If anger were present, how would it be determined or proved? Anger is acceptable so long as we do not express it in a demeaning way. However, this is the thing Jesus highlights in this illustration. The issue is not the physical symptoms or expressions but that which is present in a person’s inner spirit. But I am helpless; I cannot control or dictate how I feel! That thinking proves the point Jesus made. I desperately need Jesus to merge with my inner spirit! I am a Jesus pusher!!!