“You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘You shall not murder,’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be answerable to the court.’ But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be answerable to the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘You good-for-nothing,’ shall be answerable to the supreme court; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell. Therefore, if you are presenting your offering at the altar, and there you remember that your brother has something against you, leave your offering there before the altar and go; first be reconciled to your brother, and then come and present your offering. Come to good terms with your accuser quickly, while you are with him on the way to court, so that your accuser will not hand you over to the judge, and the judge to the officer, and you will not be thrown into prison. Truly I say to you, you will not come out of there until you have paid up the last quadrans.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Now if your right eye is causing you to sin, tear it out and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. And if your right hand is causing you to sin, cut it off and throw it away from you; for it is better for you to lose one of the parts of your body, than for your whole body to go into hell” (Matthew 5:21-30; all Scripture quotations are from the New American Standard Bible).

Matthew 5:21-26, which we have looked at over the last few weeks, addresses anger as a form of murder. In Matthew 5:27-30, Jesus will talk about lust, equating it with adultery. Anger and lust are powerful emotions.

We might be tempted to call them bad emotions, which might drive us to suppress, ignore, or deny them. However, they are natural. In a sense, they are a God-given gift to each of us. However, we often use them in unhealthy or sinful ways. We will get angry. We will experience sexual desire. What do we do with it?

Both anger and lust are essentially natural physical responses necessary for survival that, due to sin, have been corrupted or perverted. Anger is part of the body’s “fight-or-flight” mechanism. We recognize a threat. Our pulses rise, our breathing becomes rapid, and our blood pressure may rise, all in preparation to fight off an enemy or flee for safety. Likewise, lust is the body’s preparation for procreation. Both can be good things, but we tend to misuse them. We might seek revenge for a real or perceived attack or threat. We allow ourselves to get angry about situations that do not concern us. We try to incite sexual desire outside of marriage to pursue self-gratification.

In whatever case, we need to confront the emotion without giving in to sin. We cannot pretend that it does not exist. We cannot afford to say “all is well” while our hearts continue to race as we hyperventilate in rage. Nor should we pretend we are spiritual giants who cannot fall into sexual sin. On the other hand, we should not allow anger or lust to take such a foothold that it controls our behavior and leads us into sin. “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26). At least in the case of anger, it is possible to confess that you are angry before you have fallen into sin.

So, what should we do when we experience one of these emotions that can lead to sin?

• Admit that you are feeling it. Admit that the thought, feeling, or temptation is present.
• Look for a way of escape. “No temptation has overtaken you except something common to mankind; and God is faithful, so He will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it” (1 Corinthians 10:13). God will provide the way of escape. Look for it; if you do not see it, ask Him to reveal it.
• Run! Use the way of escape! Do whatever you must to avoid falling into sin or allowing it to continue or worsen.
• If you have fallen into sin—a sin of the mind or heart (such as looking lustfully at someone) or sinful behavior (actually committing fornication or adultery)—immediately confess it and repent. Do not give up or run away from God; run to Him for restoration. This might require confession to a pastor or a trusted Christian brother or sister (James 5:16) who will emphasize God’s mercy without telling others what you confessed.
• If an attitude or behavior is continually leading you into sin, seek help. Perhaps you need a pastoral counselor, accountability partner, or support group. Find someone who will walk with you on the path to healing, deliverance, repentance, and holiness. Make sure it is someone who will share Christ’s forgiveness and compassion. Most likely, if you reach this point, you are already beating yourself up with condemnation; you do not need anybody who adds to it.

Emotions and feelings are real and natural, but they should be our servants rather than our masters. Do not let anger or lust control you. Admit when it is present and do what you must to stop it in its tracks. “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

“Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.” Lord, when temptation strikes and our emotions seem to be controlling us, show us the way of escape. Show us how to respond without falling into sin. We ask in Jesus’ name. Amen.

What tricks, tools, and tactics have you found helpful for dealing with strong emotions, including anger and lust? Share your thoughts in the comments area below.

Copyright © 2023 Michael E. Lynch. All rights reserved.