The Temptation of Anger

So I found this book, "Great Sermons by Great Preachers" (1927) on my bookshelf.

I don't remember exactly where I got it, or how long I've had it. But I decided that I would read one of these sermons a week. There are sermons from Luther, Spurgeon, Bunyan, Edwards, Chrysostom, and of course, Wesley, as well as a whole slew of preachers from the beginning of Christondom up to the turn of the 20th century.
Today's sermon was from Aurelius Augustine, aka St. Augustine, written sometime around 420 AD, entitled "On the Lord's Prayer". This is significant for me, because as a church we are committed to praying this prayer every day for 40 days as we began 2019.

                                                                 #40DaysofOurFather

Augustine takes the approach to divide up the phrases of the prayer and expound generally and briefly upon each one.  "Our Father who art in heaven", "Hallowed be thy name", etc.

What struck me today was his comments on "lead us not into temptation". Augustine here focused inward rather than outward. And on one particular temptation, rather than the many "outward" temptations that beset us regularly, daily, or hourly.

The inward temptation that, for Augustine, this passage clings on, is anger (vengence). The preceeding words of the prayer, "Forgive us our debts (trespasses) as we forgive our debtors (those who trespass against us)" is key for Augustine to the next step in the prayer, "AND Lead us not into temptation".

"What then is that firghtful temptation which I have mentioned, that grievous, that tremendous temptation, which must be avoided with all our strength, with all our resolution; what is it? It is when we go to avenge ourselves. Anger is kindled, and the man burns to be avenged."

I usually do not go straight to thinking about my anger with others, or my desire to be avenged when I think about this part of the prayer. But this temptation does place me at the center focus, I am the locus point and my desire against someone else (perhaps because of what was done to me or said to me, or maybe even what was not done) becomes the primary focus.
Yet we have just asked the Lord to forgive us...as we have forgive others anything (debt, sin, or trespass) that they have done (or not done, or said, or not said) against us.

So I was wondering today, where this temptation sits with me? And as a reader, where does it sit with you? Is there anger in your heart today toward another person?

This prayer that we call "The Lord's Prayer" is found in Matthew 6, as part of a series of sayings of Jesus recorded by Matthew as part of the sermon on the Mount.
The prayer is Matthew 6:9-13. But the very next 2 verses say:

"For if you forigive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins." (Matthew 6:14-15)

It seems that for those people in those hard times in our lives that sometimes we simply can't move on past the feelings. Maybe we feel that we are justified in how we feel, after all, we didn't do anything wrong, which means that all the wrong is on the other person.

But, at least thinking about this prayer today, I don't think it's a matter of right/wrong, or even who is to blame and who is not. After all every one of us has sinned (Romans 3:23).

We are praying this prayer between us and our God. Our righteous, holy ("hallowed be thy name"), perfect, and loving ("Our Father") Judge. And since we are none of these things and God is all of things, we leave it in His capable hands (Romans 12:19).

Augustine offers this hope, "If ye shall see any anger making a stand against you, pray to God against it, that God may make thee conqueror of thyself, that God may make thee conqeror, I say, not of thine enemy without, but of thine own soul within. For He will give thee His present help, and will do it."

If there is anger/vengence in your heart toward another as you pray this prayer today, then I pray with you that God will make it known and that God will be your very help right now to conquer through grace and forgiveness. We have been forgiven much, so as forgiven and redeemed people, let us be the first to offer much forgiveness. This will lighten your soul. The anger that you are holding to is poison to you, not the person to whom you harbor these feelings. By the grace of God, and in the name of Jesus, today, let it go.


Great Sermons by Great Preachers, Jessse Hurlbut, ed, (The John Winston Company, Chicago, 1927), 31-39