Whoever is angry with his brother will be brought to trial, ... if you are about to offer your gift to God at the altar and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front of the altar, go at once and make peace with your brother, and then come back and offer your gift to God. Matthew 5: 22 - 24
Basically, what this means is that we should not go to church, or start praying, if in our hearts we have ill feelings and vengeance against someone else. Now this makes it very difficult for many of us - or it should. Can you honestly say that when you start your prayers you really have no angers, bad thoughts or any negative feelings against anyone? I mean, anyone? Including someone who hurt you some time ago and the pain lingers on?
There are times when anger is justified. When we are angry about something that someone is doing that is harming a vulnerable person or ourselves. We have a right to stand-up and defend ourselves or our loved ones. If there was no anger then there would not be any wars to stop evil in its many forms.
So, anger can be justified. And the hurts done to us can linger on.
Now here's a thought. Why not include that anger in our prayers? Why not bring the situation to God? Tell Him why we were/are upset at a certain situation or individual. Tell Him how it still hurts and how you find it difficult to forgive. And ask Him to forgive on your behalf. Ask for healing and peace in this situation which is hurting you and hindering your prayers.
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:24
NOTE: This is the first of a series of articles entitled "What Jesus said about ..." If you click the label "What Jesus said" at the end of the article you'll be able to access all the articles.
ReplyDelete...in my humble opinion, anger has consumed us.
ReplyDeleteIn some cases ... yes.
DeleteGod bless, Tom.
This is a powerful and thought-provoking reflection on anger, forgiveness, and prayer. Jesus' words in Matthew 5:22-24 emphasize the importance of reconciliation before worship. Holding onto anger and resentment hinders our relationship with God, yet human nature makes it difficult to completely rid ourselves of negative emotions.
ReplyDeleteYour point about justified anger is important—there is a distinction between righteous indignation, which seeks justice and protection for the vulnerable, and personal grudges that consume our hearts. Jesus Himself displayed righteous anger when He overturned the money changers’ tables in the temple (Matthew 21:12-13), showing that anger, when directed at injustice, can be appropriate.
But when anger lingers, festers, and turns into bitterness, it becomes harmful. That’s where your suggestion is profound—bringing our anger into prayer rather than pretending it doesn’t exist. God already knows our hearts, so why not be honest with Him? Asking God to heal our pain and help us forgive—even when we struggle to do so—aligns us with Christ’s example on the cross: *"Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing."* (Luke 23:34)
Forgiveness doesn’t mean excusing wrongdoing, nor does it mean instantly letting go of pain. But it does mean releasing ourselves from the burden of carrying that anger alone. When we surrender our hurt to God, we invite His peace into our hearts and allow Him to work in ways we cannot.
Your reflection serves as an important reminder that prayer is not just about speaking holy words—it’s about coming before God with honesty, humility, and a willingness to let Him transform our hearts. Thank you for sharing this perspective!
"Why not bring the situation to God? Tell Him why we were/are upset at a certain situation or individual. Tell Him how it still hurts and how you find it difficult to forgive. And ask Him to forgive on your behalf. Ask for healing and peace in this situation which is hurting you and hindering your prayers.
ReplyDelete“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.” Luke 23:24"
Wise, wise words, Victor. Thank you for doing this teaching series. What inspired it?