The True Test of Righteousness: Overcoming Anger
March 14, 2025 - Friday of the First Week of Lent
Matthew 5:20-26
The scribes were experts in Jewish law, and the Pharisees devoted themselves to its meticulous observance. To many, they seemed to represent the highest standard of righteousness. Yet Jesus tells us that unless our righteousness surpasses theirs, we “will not enter the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:20). What does he mean by this?
The Gospel of Mark recounts the story of a legal expert who asked Jesus about the greatest commandment. Jesus answered: “Love the Lord your God” and “Love your neighbor as yourself”—the two greatest commandments of the Law of Moses. The expert agreed, even acknowledging that love is greater than all temple sacrifices. And how did Jesus respond? “You are not far from the kingdom of God” (Mk 12:34).
But being near the kingdom is not the same as being inside it. What was missing? If strict observance of the Law alone is not enough to enter the kingdom, what is?
Going Beyond the Law
Today’s Gospel gives one example: anger. We all know how destructive anger can be. In the story of Cain and Abel, anger drove Cain to murder his brother. It is not enough to simply obey the commandment, “You shall not kill”—we must also confront the root cause of violence. This is why anger is listed among the seven deadly sins.
Anger has destroyed individuals, families, and entire nations. It was anger and hatred toward the Roman occupation that led to the Jewish-Roman War (66–74 AD), which ended in disaster—the destruction of Jerusalem, the Temple, and immense loss of life. The early Desert Fathers prescribed patience and long-suffering as the remedy for anger, recognizing how it poisons the heart and damages relationships.
The Challenge of Reconciliation
Anger is often fueled by words—especially within families and communities. How many times has a single word, like those in today’s Gospel, caused tempers to flare? Jesus offers a simple but difficult solution: avoid abusive language, and if we have wronged someone, we must take the initiative to seek reconciliation.
"Leave your gift at the altar and go first to be reconciled with your brother” (Mt 5:24). Imagine this scene in Jesus’ time: a person has traveled from Galilee to the Temple in Jerusalem—a journey of nearly 100 kilometers, requiring several days. And yet Jesus tells them to go back first to make peace before offering their gift. This striking image underscores a profound truth: it is easy to say sorry to God, but much harder to say sorry to those we have hurt. Yet, that is precisely what is required of those who seek to enter the kingdom of God.
The Cost of Unresolved Anger
What happens if we ignore Jesus’ teaching? Israel’s history gives us an answer. Anger, rebellion, and the refusal to reconcile cost them everything—their city, their temple, their land, and countless lives. On a personal level, unresolved anger can cost us peace, relationships, and even our well-being.
As St. Paul warns: “Do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Eph 4:26). The longer anger festers, the more damage it causes. Jesus calls us to a righteousness that is not merely about keeping rules but about transforming our hearts. And that begins with the hard but necessary work of reconciliation.