In His Sermon on the Mount, Jesus expressed the radical idea that, among other seemingly lesser sins, being angry at your brother without a cause is as bad as murdering that brother (Matt. 5:21-26). This astounding idea comes with the consequence of being in danger of the judgment. Lest we confidently sit back and think that our anger is always justified, therefore we have nothing to fear, let us reconsider the sense of our Lord's words.

Following this radical idea, our Lord then challenges us to work out our differences with our brethren, placing great urgency on the need. He prioritizes it over offering a sacrifice on the altar (i.e., worshipping God). He tells us to agree with our adversary along the way, lest we are delivered to the judge, and the judge deliver us to the officer and the officer throws us into prison. He then reminds us that we will not get out of there until the last penny of difference is paid. This is serious business.

When we take this in context, we are pressed to recognize that the likelihood of entering heaven with unresolved issues with brethren is slim to none. Essentially, He is telling us that leaving matters unresolved is tantamount to bringing them before God at the judgment seat and asking Him to sort it out. Is the cause of your anger really worth all that? Before we answer 'yes,' we might do well to remember that the Lord had cause to be angry as He hung on the cross, yet He sought mercy for His adversaries and obtained forgiveness for you and I. This is The Judge we will stand before to explain the cause of the anger we bring to the judgment because we would not resolve it while on earth. He says we are in danger. Now that is awesomely terrifying!

We will get angry with one another. That is certain. Yet, it is not the anger that it is the issue, but how we resolve our differences that matters most. So, the next time you feel angry enough to carry it around a while, think about the Lord's radical teaching here. You are in danger of the judgment! If you carry around past unresolved issues with brethren in your heart right now, be sure that you too are in danger of the judgment. Resolve them quickly, as the Lord teaches His disciples to do. Show mercy that you too might find mercy. If you value your relationship with the Lord Jesus, value the relationships in your life right now. Eternity is an awful long time to live with regret.