"But I tell you — that anyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of Hell!" Matthew 5:22
We ought to learn to read the commandments, with the light of our Lord's explanation upon them. So long as the sixth commandment is interpreted to mean only actual murder — most people get along pretty well with it; they are not troubled in their consciences about its violation. There are not many murderers loose in our Sunday schools and churches, or living in our homes!
But when we hear our Lord's interpretation of this commandment, and learn that this literal sense does not exhaust the meaning of the commandment — that we break it, too, when we are angry with a brother — we cannot be quite so sure about our innocence! True, we have never actually killed anyone — but have we never been angry with another? Elsewhere we read, "He who hates his brother is a murderer!" This does not mean that hatred is as great a crime as murder — but that it grows from the same root and is of the same nature. Murder is only anger full-grown!
The Master's words here should be carefully considered. They condemn all anger against another — all expressions of scorn or contempt. The obedience of this commandment which our Lord requires is, love which . . .
thinks no evil,
nourishes no resentment,
is patient, gentle, thoughtful, kind, unselfish.
Yet are we not all too apt to allow the passion of anger to take possession of our hearts? Do we not too frequently permit envyings and jealousies and unkind and uncharitable thoughts — to enter our hearts and nest there — like evil birds? If we but remembered that the spirit of murder is in all these evil emotions — we surely would not nourish them for an instant!
None of us want the "brand of murderer" upon us! The way to keep out such evil feelings, is to yield to every gentle and loving impulse of the Spirit — to "overcome evil with good."
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J.R. Miller (1840 - 1912)
Prolific author and pastor of Presbyterian churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois, Rev. James Russell Miller served the USCC as a field agent in the Army of the Potomac and Army of the Cumberland.J.R. Miller began contributing articles to religious papers while at Allegheny Seminary. This continued while he was at the First United, Bethany, and New Broadway churches. In 1875, Miller took over from Henry C. McCook, D.D. when the latter discontinued his weekly articles in The Presbyterian, which was published in Philadelphia. J.R. Miller D.D.'s lasting fame is through his over 50 books. Many are still in publication.
James Russell Miller (March 20, 1840 - July 2, 1912) was a popular Christian author, Editorial Superintendent of the Presbyterian Board of Publication, and pastor of several churches in Pennsylvania and Illinois.
In 1857, James entered Beaver Academy and in 1862 he progressed to Westminster College, Pennsylvania, which he graduated in June, 1862. Then in the autumn of that year he entered the theological seminary of the United Presbyterian Church at Allegheny, Pennsylvania. Mr. Miller resumed his interrupted studies at the Allegheny Theological Seminary in the fall of 1865 and completed them in the spring of 1867. That summer he accepted a call from the First United Presbyterian Church of New Wilmington, Pennsylvania. He was ordained and installed on September 11, 1867.
J.R. Miller began contributing articles to religious papers while at Allegheny Seminary. This continued while he was at the First United, Bethany, and New Broadway churches. In 1875, Miller took over from Henry C. McCook, D.D. when the latter discontinued his weekly articles in The Presbyterian, which was published in Philadelphia.
Five years later, in 1880, Dr. Miller became assistant to the Editorial Secretary at the The Presbyterian Board of Publication, also in Philadelphia.