Others Feelings – Matthew 5:21-26
22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.
This challenged me this morning as I too have been guilty in the past of name calling, and teasing. One step we can take is to really think about the words we use with people. Sometimes, without thinking, we can use words that put others down, or can even be offensive.
As Christians, we should be imitating Christ, and building each other up (encouraging on another). I think it has become culturally acceptable to tease a person “in jest”. We use the excuse that we are saying these things “as a friends” and “just joking with you!”. And although people laugh, and the person who is on the receiving end may laugh, they could actually be hurting inside. Plus the fact you are making fun, even in a “friendly” way, you are still possibly pointing out flaws, or simply putting that person down.
I myself often “poke fun” in a friendly way with friends, but am now challenged to reconsider my approach and to think about what it is I am saying, and how that could affect my brother or sisters feelings.
We can also apply this teaching in situations where someone says something nasty to you. It is so tempting to want to reply back with something equally as nasty! Remember all sin is sin. There is no sin that is more sinful than another. Of course in human terms we assign categories and levels to Sin and pat ourselves on the back for not committing the “really bad” sins, however this scripture points out that God does not categorise sin in this way.
Romans 6:23
23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
I have learnt 2 lessons today. Firstly, no matter how much I am “joking” I need to really consider what I say to people, and continue to imitate Christ. Secondly not to categorise sin into “good sin” and “bad sin” buckets. We will be standing before the almighty Father and Judge, who is perfect. If we go before him without Jesus, we don’t stand a chance!
Turn to Him, seek forgiveness of your sins, and continue to live for Him.
As a result of this reading, I need to go apologise to a few people!
Hi Lee, Ann again, Just read your comments. Nice to joke with each other and I love your sense of humour. Too many Christians have had a sense of humour bypass!!!! As you say as long as there is no undercurrent of nastiness behind the quip its OK. Also Christians ought to laugh at themselves a bit more – too flipping serious in my opinion!
Did Jesus ever ‘jest’ at other people’s expense? Surely, in his humanity at least, Jesus had a sense of humour. Did Jesus raise a smile amongst his followers when he compared the predicament of wealthy people with the idea of a camel trying to pass through the eye of a needle? Similarly, was he being humorously sarcastic with his picture of hypocritical religious leaders who strain out gnats and swallow camels? Was he simply making a serious point with a touch of humour? True, he was not talking about his friends, but they were God’s created people ? Um, I wonder.
I regularly meet with a group of fellow Christian men as we support our local rugby team on Saturday afternoons. Humour is often at the forefront of our fellowship. Some of our laughter is caused by comments about each other’s follies and foibles. We are a group of men enjoying each other’s company and entirely at ease with each other. We know the limitations of what we can say, and cannot say, to each other. I detect that, out of our genuine love and respect for each other, no jest is ever made with intended malice. The proof being that we all keep going back for more!
Now, on the other hand, the referees………………..!
I am really excited to see the responses from this reading. I completely agree, humour is completely not an issue. I am refering to comments that are to intentionaly to put others down, or to cause hurt! Often being a motor mouth, and having a speak first, think later issue, I have many times said some pretty cutting things!
Oh and I am sure I read in the Bible that referees don’t count! Although I could be wrong…
Hi Bro. I read your thoughts(not literally!-you could get burnt at the stake for doing that in days of yore!!), the ones that you wrote here I mean, and would offer another perspective for you to chew over as you consider your response to the passage in Mat.5.
You’ve read the word, been convicted but how to get a result is the hard bit. It is very common in the world to address the symptoms of an illness rather than the cause because it is the symptom which manifests itself, not the underlying illness. (i.e. We feel a pain in the stomach so we take a pain killer when we actually have an ulcer that needs treating. In the context of your thoughts, we realize that we are hurting people by speaking inappropriately to them so we focus on NOT speaking in that way in the future so as not to hurt them, often, failing miserably because our inappropriate speech is habitual).
In this part of the sermon on the mount, Jesus is not speaking to the rest of the crowd gathered (the world), He is speaking only to His disciples and giving them the advice which treats the cause of their problems which is lack of identity (relationship) with himself.(All they had known until recently was obedience to O.T. law.)
If we relate to a higher being we take on a higher standard of conduct (holiness). The closer we relate, the more of his holiness we have and the less inclined we are to indulge in earthly habits which damage others.
The resurrection life of Jesus within us calls us to a higher standard than ever obedience to the law could achieve. Being indwelt and led by His holy Spirit is the difference between God saying ” I am the Lord your God…You shall not murder” and realizing in our hearts that BECAUSE Jesus is our Lord, we will not murder.
Just as Jesus, out of his love towards us, and while we were HIS adversaries came to repair our relationship with our Heavenly Father, we likewise must reconcile ourselves both to our brothers and our adversaries,(v 24-25) only then, when we see them as ‘family’, will we stop doing those things which cause them pain.
Hope this helps your meditation.