We covered the fifth commandment this week: you shall not murder. I practically cheered from the pew when I read that, because hey, I figure, at least I’ve got that going for me, right? At least I haven’t murdered anyone.
Most of the Old Testament commandments are straight-forward. You shall not murder. You shall not steal. You shall not covet your neighbor’s wife or his goods. With the exception of the first commandment (which, I admit, is tricky for those of us who have a tiny problem with idolatry), the remaining nine seem fairly manageable.
But then Jesus comes along, takes these perfectly clear rules and muddies up each one of them. Jesus digs into the commandments and ratchets up the expectations, and suddenly they aren’t so simple or straight-forward anymore. He really messes with us, doesn’t he? Suddenly the fifth commandment isn’t just about murder anymore. It’s about anger, too:
“I say, ‘if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment. If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought to court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell.’” (Matthew 5:21-22)
Man. I do not love that. Do not murder I can do. I’ve got that one covered. But anger? Bringing anger into the picture changes everything.
I’ve also been reading First John on my own this week, and interestingly, he has quite a bit to say about the commandments, too, like this:
“The proof that we love God comes when we keep his commandments and they are not at all troublesome.” (1 John 4:20-21)
On the one hand, I hear what John is saying. When you have a relationship with God, you want to keep his commandments – obeying him becomes not an obligation but an act of love. The act of keeping the commandments becomes not a “have to” but a “want to.”
On the other hand, I wouldn’t go so far as to call the commandments “not at all troublesome.” Frankly, I’m troubled by what Jesus says when he digs into the commandments. I’m troubled because I know, according to his definition, that I fall far short. And just to be sure I didn’t miss the point, I got two jabs in the ribs, one from Noah and one from Rowan, when Pastor Greg preached about anger on Sunday. Apparently they think I’m sidling up close to the fires of Hell.
I think when Jesus ramps up expectations for the fifth commandment by bringing the sin of anger into the picture, he intends it to trouble us. He intends to give us pause, and for good reason. Jesus’ definition of the fifth commandment moves us from our Pharisaic self-righteous assumption that we have the fifth commandment covered, to the realization that we are, in fact, guilty of anger – the sin that lurks beneath that commandment.
I don’t need a jab in the ribs from my kids when I read Jesus’ words about anger. I’m troubled when I read Jesus’ explanation of the Ten Commandments because I realize I haven’t come close to mastering them. But in falling so far short, I also realize how much I depend on his grace.
What do you think about John’s statement? Do you find the commandments troublesome? Do you think easy-breezy commandment-keeping is proof that you love God?
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Excellent and soul-searching. I’m basically a quiet person. My anger shows more in the quietness. But that doesn’t make it right. You’ve given me food for thought. My husband always says that all sin can be traced by to the commandment not to covet. I’ve found that to be true.
Thank you for opening this blog for this party.
I’ve been known to have the quiet anger (i.e. icing a person out) too, Pamela. Thanks for pointing out that just because we aren’t loudly ranting and raving doesn’t mean we aren’t breaking the commandment.
Your husband’s comment is interesting – I need to think on that one. I’ve often said that my sins all seem to trace back to the sin of idolatry … but that might very well be the same thing.
Michelle, I absolutely love and admire what you have addressed here. No, I’m not what anyone would perceive as an “angry” person, but there are many things going on in our world today which tempt me to become angry beyond the pale. And, truth be told, there are times when I rant and rave, albeit to myself and, if truth be told, to God who knows my heart and hears my fears and disappointments.
I pray that the Lord understands that these commandments are troublesome for us all. And, without His wondrous grace, we cannot hope to one day find them trouble-free. I pray for that day . . .
Thank you for this post, my friend, and the reminder that we so need Jesus to love us and accept us as we struggle and stumble along our ways.
Blessings!
You know, I think ranting and raving to God is okay. After all, it’s conversation, right? And that, in the end, is better than silence or no conversation at all. Look at the lament – a lot of the lamenting psalms seem pretty much like ranting and raving to me. I think God would rather that we are honest with him, even when that entails bitter lament, than to put up a wall and not converse at all (which is what I did for 20 years!).
I think they aren’t troublesome if I am relying on the Holy Spirit, rather than on myself. If I try to do this in on my own, I will end up getting mad every time…
Really, really good point, Lyli.
this is really wonderful, Michelle.
every time i think about this, i’m reminded of people who seem to compare sins as lesser or greater. we are equally broken and equally in need of grace. what a beautiful, deep reminder, sweet friend. <3
Yup, I think I touched on that last week – my tendency to lay out sins on a spectrum, from bad to worse. I am working on knowing in my heart that ALL sin separates us from God – and who am I to deem my sins less egregious than someone else’s, right?
I love your post and the way you tell how Jesus comes along and muddies up the commandments! Yes, we can all use a LOT of Grace because it is difficult to – -“let itgo,” – – “what difference does it really make?” — – “It is some of the small stuff that we are sweating about.”
A. Lot. Of. Grace. You said it, Hazel!
Dear Michelle
I also labored very hard trying my utmost to keep the commandments; with no success of course!! But what freedom the day I realized that I cannot. No one can for that matter. Our Lord Jesus is the only human who was ever able to obey the commandments. That is why He is the law maker and the law keeper and we are invited to just come to Him and abide in Him. He will then live His perfect life in and through us; all to the glory of our Pappa, of course.
Much love XX
Mia
My favorite “religious” word, Mia: abide. Yes, thank God for that.
I also appreciate your heartfelt comments each week – thank you for taking the time to leave a thoughtful comment, sweet sister!
No, I don’t think it’s easy at all. Our pastor talked about “the struggle” on Sunday, and she basically reassured us that struggling is normal. Struggling is an action verb – so it means you are walking the walk and trying to live your life in the right way. No one ever said being a Christian would be easy.
True, true, Courtney. I just read in Matthew (The Message) this morning, “Don’t think I’ve come to make life cozy.”
That pretty much says it all right there.
What did you do when your kids elbowed you? I don’t like to be reminded of my sins, so I probably would have given them looks…not nice looks! I think when we dig deep there is no easy-breezy following of the commandments…because we discover things just like you did yesterday.
BTW, you inspired me with your post last week when you photographed your writing space with your new picture. I am in the process of organizing my office for my writing. thank you!
Luckily we covered “honor your mother and father” last week, so I was the one giving the elbows then – so I guess we’re even!
Way to go, organizing your writing space, Mary! My desk is TINY, so I have no choice but to be neat, otherwise I wouldn’t have room for my laptop. But I also admit, I can’t write surrounded by clutter – it’s like a cluttered environment clutters my mind. I’m glad you are making space – both literally and metaphorically – for your writing, Mary.
Yeah, I’m stuck. How do you love someone with murder in his heart?
I don’t know, Megan. I really don’t know. Pray and pray and pray. It sounds all well and good on paper, doesn’t it? But it’s a whole lot harder in real life. Love you, sister.
Oh, this was a good one. (Meaning challenging, convicting…and yes, troublesome).
I think that the commandments, especially as Jesus elaborated on them, are very troublesome. And if we think commandment-keeping is easy, breezy – I would say that we are fooling ourselves into thinking we have *arrived* at some really pious place – and then I would venture to say that we are being self-righteous!
The commandments aren’t troublesome in the sense that they indicate the way we are SUPPOSED to live, the way in which we will avoid trouble. But that doesn’t mean that they come naturally. I find *dying to self* to be quite a struggle. But, in my opinion, we struggle because we WANT to obey God – and that desire for obedience springs out of love.
“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” (Philippians 2:13, NLT)
GOD BLESS!
I find the commandments troublesome too because I keep wanting to keep them on my OWN power (reference commandment # 1), and I just can’t do it. I’m having to put all my eggs in the one grace basket! Another great post, Michelle.
Thanks Michele for such a thoughtful post about the commandments, especially this one on murder/anger. We can destroy a person with our words or attitude and in God’s eyes that is the same as murder. Words can ruin a person’s reputation. When someone says something about another person, for some reason, no matter how much integrity that person has, people believe the lies being told about him/her.
Thanks so much for hosting this week.
Thank you for hosting. I love John’s writing — his grace and love jump from the words, and he says so much in a minimum of words. It is a balancing act, isn’t it, figuring out how the Old Testament interrelates with the New, and walking our way through the path? I am fascinated with the parallels between Moses and Christ, and how Moses led the way, as a human, that Christ fulfilled, as our Savior. A lot of meditation on this one, yet.
I am number 45 this week, Christians and Dreadfully Debutante Dogs encouraging Christians to do what you are doing — seriously reading, seriously thinking, seriously grabbing onto what God is saying and giving it some major, major thought as we process, individually, what it all means.
Praise God that His Son has paid the price for all our sins, and that His Spirit empowers us to refrain from sin when we yield to Him. Thanks for the great post & for hosting & God bless!
I am so enjoying reading your blog. I am so thankful that my relationship with God doesn’t depend on me. I am thankful that He knows all my flaws & failures & what I will do & chooses to love me still. Granted, I realize that it doesn’t mean I can do whatever I want, I need to do my part of obedience, but so grateful that He is Sovereign.
We all struggle with anger & don’t realize the depth of our sin. We have all heard that we’re under grace & not under the Law, but then why would Jesus bring up the Law when He was talking to the Pharisees? We are learning to preach the Gospel to ourselves every day & extend grace & mercy to one another. I think I forget how irritating I can be to other people in my family & at church or work, we sometimes forget we’re not perfect. I am learning to put myself in the other person’s shoes at times, & to be slow to speak! But I am far from there!!! I love your blog. Thanks for your posts!
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