Can You Offer a Rose with Forgiveness?

You have heard that our ancestors were told, ‘You must not murder. If you commit murder, you are subject to judgment.’ But I say, if you are even angry with someone, you are subject to judgment! If you call someone an idiot, you are in danger of being brought before the court. And if you curse someone, you are in danger of the fires of hell. So if you are presenting a sacrifice at the altar in the Temple and you suddenly remember that someone has something against you, leave your sacrifice there at the altar. Go and be reconciled to that person. Then come and offer your sacrifice to God. When you are on the way to court with your adversary, settle your differences quickly. Otherwise, your accuser may hand you over to the judge, who will hand you over to an officer, and you will be thrown into prison. And if that happens, you surely won’t be free again until you have paid the last penny. Matthew 5:21-26

Meditate. Read these verses three times and consider your attitude towards God and others.

      Jesus was continuing to teach those gathered around Him by the Sea of Galilee as He spoke more of His Sermon on the Mount. We can assume that they were familiar with the Ten Commandments—and here Jesus is elaborating on what the sixth commandment really means for every day life. You can read it again in Exodus 20:13 and also in Deuteronomy 5:17. Additionally, a portion of this passage is also recorded in Luke 12:57-59.

You must not murder. Exodus 20:13 (NLT)

Jesus was elaborating about the dangers of anger. Has anyone ever explained about defaming someone’s character by being angry or cursing them? That is just what Jesus is teaching—and it was hidden in the Ten Commandments all along. Jesus is really focusing on how people treat each other—on their relationships. Anger is a destructive emotion. He was doing more than just encouraging others to control their anger. He was instructing them on the evils of anger. The result can be judgment and even hell. Do you want to go there? We shouldn’t live in fear of hell…but we have control over our choices, and that includes how we deal with our emotions. 

      Think about the first example of anger in the Bible. Cain was angry with and jealous of his brother Abel, so he murdered him. Was that a good choice? No. We can all see that.  Do we see or even feel when we are angry with someone that we are in danger? I’ve often heard someone say that if you are mad at someone to the point that we are unforgiving and bitter, that we are only harming ourselves, not the person we are mad at who may not be aware of the situation. The chronic stress of the constant negativity raises the adrenaline and cortisol levels which can lead to cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, cancer, chronic inflammation, or digestive issues. Bad stuff. Mentally, bitterness and unforgiveness has been linked to depression, anxiety, chronic fatigue, and emotional burnout. None of those are fun, nor do they bring any glory to God. 

 What should someone do about their anger? Jesus says to go and reconcile with that person. Forgiveness is powerful. Even Jesus experienced anger—so it is an emotion that we do feel, although His was a righteous anger. Is yours? Go do something positive outwardly, and if necessary, forgive yourself, too. Be healthy. Release the anger, bitterness, and unforgiveness chains of bondage. Can you offer a rose with forgiveness?

Prayer ~ Lord God, please forgive me for the anger I’ve felt towards others and towards You over insignificant situations. Thank you for showing me how powerful forgiveness is and that You are so forgiving. It is such a release from what was actually a useless burden. Verses of Salvation ~ Hear me as I pray, O LORD. Be merciful and answer me! My heart has heard you say, “Come and talk with me.” And my heart responds, “LORD, I am coming.” Do not turn your back on me. Do not reject your servant in anger. You have always been my helper. Don’t leave me now; don’t abandon me, O God of my salvation! Psalm 27:7-9 (NLT) Friday’s Feast at the King’s Table Another of the seven healing foods of Israel includes grapes. I happen to live in the Columbia Basin of eastern Washington State where over 60,000 acres of wine grapes are grown, in addition to grape juice cultivation. We have grapes growing on our front yard fence with our wonderful neighbors, George and JoAnn.They planted them years ago and we enjoy feasting on them every fall. Grapes are not difficult to grow in your yard, but having acres of them, like any farming effort, is work. That is what farming is all about. Cultivate, water, and eventually harvest. Enjoy! © 2026 Text, photos, and illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.  Portions reused from April 20, 2022, Banquet With The King, blog. All scripture quoted from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.  New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.  Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved. Biblical search from Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.    Books by Mickey M. Hunacek Available as e-books or paperbacks at Amazon.com   Parenting Day By Day - Daily Devotional for Building Character Coins in the Bible: New Testament Stories