“The Curse of our Emotions”

Scripture: Matthew 5:21-32; 34-48

Today, we consider the second message from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount by looking at five of his topics – all of which, I think, have a common theme – that of how our emotions can work against us, how they can hold us back, and what we can do about them.

Bob Zuppke was head coach for the University of Illinois football program in the early 20th century (1913-1941). He was renowned for the fire and fervor of his half-time pep talks.
One afternoon, his team hit the locker room [at the half] well behind in both points and enthusiasm. Zuppke began talking to them and the more he talked, the louder and more dramatic his voice became. The momentum built in the players, too. Then the coach pointed to the door at the far end of the locker room and said, “Now go out there and win this game!”
Filled with emotion the players got off the bench, ran toward the door and charged through it. But it was the wrong door, and one by one, [the entire team] fell into the swimming pool!

It is one thing to be all charged up - it is quite another thing to be headed in the right direction.

-As related by David Tyler Scoates, Hennepin Avenue United Methodist Church, Minneapolis, Minnesota.

We are not going to dissect our God-given gift of human emotions, we are not going to put a valve or cap on them, and we aren’t going to start condemning them. Jesus didn’t do any of those things – he simply warns us about how unfettered emotion can cause problems in our relationships, and advises us on how we can live in a better way. He wants us to head in the right emotional, as well as spiritual, direction.

So let’s begin.

Read Matthew 5:21-26

Anger is a tough one, isn’t it? It seems to crop up at the worst possible times, and it very well may be the most difficult emotion to control. But we have to remember that scripture doesn’t tell us that we should never get angry. Proverbs 14:29 reminds us that “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but one who has a hasty temper exalts folly.” Ephesians 4:26 tells us “Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger”

In essence, Jesus and Solomon (if, indeed, he is true author of Proverbs) and Paul tell us that we all will become angry from time to time, but that we can never let it control our lives. As a matter of fact, in verse 22 of our Matthew passage, Jesus tells us that we are not to even speak out in anger. The word “Raca”, which Jewish law says is sinful to utter, is an expression of contempt. And to call someone a “fool” is just as bad. Proverbs and Ephesians both call us to temper our anger. Don’t let it leap up in your face at the slightest hint of disagreement. If you are to become angry, let it come slowly so you can deal with it. Paul tells us that we are not to be sinful in our anger, that it isn’t to last. Let it come, and then set it aside.
Now you may be thinking “That’s all well and good, but the doing is not always easy.” True – very true. And I can only suggest that if you believe that you have a problem with anger, if you aren’t living up to the thoughts expressed by Jesus or Solomon or Paul, start by, first, becoming aware of your anger, and second, ask the Lord to forgive you, and finally, ask for forgiveness for your friend’s comment or action. First you, then others. If you practice this every day, your attitude toward life will eventually improve radically.

Read Matthew 5:27-30

Lust in this context is about having sexual thoughts about someone else, and Jesus tells us that lustful looks and thoughts are just as bad as actually committing the act. Now in this regard, I will never pretend to understand, or speak on behalf of, women and their attitudes toward men, but I do know that men’s eyes will almost always be drawn toward a woman who they find attractive. It is part of our makeup, and there isn’t much that we can do about it. A pastor friend of mine put this in perspective many years ago. He said “If you look at a woman, that isn’t lust. But if you look a second time, you’ve just fallen.” Another way to think about this is “Looking at someone isn’t the sin. The sin comes when you begin making plans!”
This is the entire issue with pornography. It’s about emotional imaging in a sexual context. And the sin isn’t only on the one who is receiving the images – it is also on those who exploit others in the production of the material.
Lust is all pervasive, and in our society, sexual practices that go beyond those condoned is scripture have become an everyday occurrence, and have become generally acceptable, even within many churches.
Enough said about Lust.

Read Matthew 5:31-32

A couple quick comments regarding divorce. Most divorces today comes about because of “hasty anger” that continues to fester in a person’s life. Jesus said “Cut it out!” And as for the marital unfaithfulness, many see this only as sexual unfaithfulness, but I think that it may be more than that – that it is unfaithfulness to the marriage covenant, which would include abuse and other violence against a spouse. Anger, lust, and personal self-centeredness – nothing good can ever come from any of these.

Read Matthew 5:38-42

Revenge is anger that retaliates. And Jesus is calling us to a retaliation that is 180 degrees out of sync with what society would suggest. The Lord would have us respond to unreasonable demands by giving far more than is being required. It’s no longer about the law in Leviticus 24:17-22 – it’s now about “turning the other cheek”, regardless of what has been done to you. Again, don’t let your anger rule your life. Give it all over the Jesus!
And we still ask “How many times must I forgive?” In Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus tells us forgive as much as is necessary – not as much as you want to, but as much as required to heal the relationship.

Read Matthew 5:43-48

And now we get to the bottom line regarding our emotions. You may have noticed that it is some form of anger that causes nearly all of our problems, and what does Jesus say the solution is? Love.
Trivia quiz – “How many books in the New Testament contain the word love at least one time?”
Answer – 26 out of 27!
Which book in the translations (and I checked through many, not including paraphrases) does not contain the word love?
Answer – Acts!

And the writers isn’t talking about “flower power” love, or mushy, fluffy love, or shallow and insincere love. Scripture is talking about a love that is so radical and so all inclusive that it overpowers every other human emotion that we can imagine. All of the other, more negative emotions, while they should be seen as blessings, are more of a curse on our human lives. They cause us to do things that we know, all too well, that we shouldn’t do in the first place.
Jesus’ kind of love overcomes all of the curses that our emotional outbursts bring down on us, because his kind of love doesn’t just cover over a problem, it resolves it. Love your enemies and pray for good things in their lives. Love those who persecute you. Love those who want to harm you. Love those who want to take every possession that you own away from you. Love those who don’t love you, and who, in all probability, never will.
Extreme negatives call for extreme solutions. Has someone hurt you with an unkind word? Love them back. Has someone stolen from you? Give them a little more, and love them. Are you considering the best way to get even with someone? The best way is to love them.
Romans 12:14-21 Let the Lord take care of the evil. In the meantime, neutralize evil, reduce the effect of the curse in whatever the situation is, and do it with the goodness of the Lord. Love them into submission. Why? Because we are to be one with Christ, and this is exactly what he did over and over again.
I know – it’s easier to say it than it is to do it. But just try it – you have to start somewhere!