-“Thou shalt not kill.” Are you sure you do not? How has Christ decided the point? He tells us plainly that if we have
(1) any malice;
(2) hatred;
(3) ill-will;
(4) scornful anger against our brother, we are guilty of a breach of this commandment.
(5) God will accept nothing at our hands; no worship, no service that we can pay Him, if we are not reconciled to, and at peace with all the world. Not outwardly only, but in heart and soul. (Thomas Adam.)
Unjustifiable anger
I. The sin which our Lord here condemns.
II. The guilt of this unjustifiable anger.
1. Causeless anger has in it the nature of murder.
2. Evident from the greatness of the punishment.
III. The duty of avoiding such anger.
1. In order that we may render acceptable service to God-“If thou bring thy gift to the altar.”
2. That we may avoid the doom of those who are implacable. We learn from this how spiritual is the law of God; also the utter worthlessness of human righteousness. (E. Balyley, M. A.)
Restraint of hasty temper possible
La Fontaine, chaplain of the Prussian army, once preached an earnest sermon on the sin and folly of yielding to a hasty temper. The next day a Major of the regiment accosted him in no very good humour, saying: “Well, sir! I think you made use of the prerogative of your office to annoy me with some very sharp hits yesterday.” “I certainly thought of you while I was preparing the sermon,” the chaplain answered, “but I had no intention of being personal or sharp.” “Well, it is of no use,” said the Major, “I have a hasty temper, and I cannot help it. I cannot control it; the thing is impossible.” The following Sunday La Fontaine preached on self-deception, and the vain excuses which men are accustomed to make. “Why.” said he, “a man will declare it is impossible to control his temper, when he very well knows that were the same provocation to happen in the presence of his sovereign, he not only could, but would control himself entirely. And yet he dares to say that the continual presence of the King of kings imposes upon him neither restraint nor fear.” The next day the preacher met the officer again, who said, humbly, “You were right yesterday, chaplain. Hereafter, whenever you see me in the danger of falling, remind me of the King.”
