Bible Studies

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Love Not Anger

Jesus said that towards the end of the age: “Because of the increase of wickedness, the love of most will grow cold (Matt 24:12).” The love his saints express towards others will decrease; however, Jesus plainly states in Matthew 5:7: “Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.” and in verse 9, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.” Move on to verse 22, “But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.” To Jonah the Lord replied to him: “Have you any right to be angry (Jonah 4:4)?”

What good is our anger to an angry world? Is it but fuel to the fire, and a spark near gasoline? Jesus said: “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men (Matt 5:13).”
Does anger show light? Would someone seeing an angry Christian want to be a Christian themselves? No! They would rather be not saved and angry, than to be saved and angry. “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you (Matt 7).” Nothing we endure in this life even compares to our Lord. He was beaten, battered, and humiliated. Hung on a tree and was made a spectacle of, and even through all of this, his words were: “Father forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing (Luke 23:34).”

How can we be the sons and daughters of the Most High if we are harsh with our tongue? Do not the unsaved curse, and embitter one another? So why should they want to be saved if being saved is the same as not being saved? “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing (James 3:9).” Let your mouth praise, and not curse, for God loves all people; every single one of them. Thus he commanded us to do the same, but if we curse some people and praise others then what does that prove? Do not the unsaved also do this? Are we the saved to act as the unsaved? No! For God himself commanded us to love everyone. He told Peter to forgive your brother seventy times seven (Matt 18:21). Jesus also replied at the end of the parable; “Then the master called the servant in. ‘You wicked servant,’ he said, ‘I canceled all that debt of yours because you begged me to. Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.” Jesus then stated: “This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart (Matt 18:32-35).”

Anyone who claims to be in the light but hates his brother is still in the darkness. Whoever loves his brother lives in the light, and there is nothing in him to make him stumble. But whoever hates his brother is in the darkness and walks around in the darkness; he does not know where he is going, because the darkness has blinded him (1 John 2:9). Let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love, does not know God, because God is love (1 John 4:7). Does love come out of anger, or does anger show love? Is being judgmental Godly, or is it being God himself. God is the only Judge, James states: “Brothers, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against his brother or judges him speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it. There is only one Lawgiver and Judge, the one who is able to save and destroy. But you-who are you to judge your neighbor (James 4:11) Meaning, who do you think you are! Has God ordained you holier than others? No! We are all sinners saved by his grace, without His love we are as good as dead. God has expressed his love for you, for if he did not love you then you wouldn’t be here. Is this how you thank him? We should thank him by obtaining wisdom from heaven; “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace raise a harvest of righteousness (James 3:17).” That is why Jesus said, blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called sons of God (Matt 5:9). Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy (Matt 5:7).

Thank you Jesus for showing all of this to us, so our lives may have peace. For you loved us so that you came down and took our punishment. We were dead, but now you gave us life in abundance. Praise and glory to you God, for you love us unconditionally. No matter what we do, you love us the same. Your grace is forever upon us, and your mercy is beyond measure. May our love be made complete, by Your Love flowing through us.

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