Anger and Revenge (5:21-26, 38-48)
One of the Ten Commandments says, "You shall not murder," but Jesus said don't even stay angry or hold a grudge against another person! If we even think about revenge, we are already guilty of a sin. We should try to be on good terms with everyone.
The Old Testament law was "An eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth." In other words, if someone was injured, the person who caused the injury should be injured in the same way. But Jesus said we should not try to get even at all! Holding a grudge can consume us with hatred, blocking out all enjoyment of life. A grudge clouds our judgment and may lead us to an act of revenge that can never be undone.
Jesus said we should even love our enemies! Just as God loves all His children, both the good and the bad, we must show kindness and respect even to those people who want to do us harm.
Putting aside fears, prejudices, resentments and hatreds and showing Christian love and compassion for all people is the mark of true children of God. Anger, hatred, harsh words, retaliation and revenge only result in more of the same. Only love can conquer evil (Romans 12:17-21).
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