“WRATH” (GAL. 5:20)

INTRODUCTION:

1. During this time of the year we see pretty lights and Christmas décor.

2. Close to our house in Millersburg is a manger display.

3. Many minds are going back to the time of the Lord’s birth.

4. In previous years we have shown that the Lord was not born during the month of December.

5. Even though we do not know when the Lord was born, and we are certainly not commanded to celebrate His birth, towards the end of each year we are reminded of Matt. 2.

6. Tonight I want to start with Matthew 2.

I. ACCORDING TO WHAT HAS BEEN RECORDED FOR US, HEROD HAD SPOKEN WITH THE WISE MEN. HE SENT THESE MEN TO BETHLEHEM TO FIND OUT WHERE JESUS WAS AND ASKED THAT THEY RETURN AND TELL HIM THE LORD’S LOCATION. THE WISE MEN WERE WARNED BY A DREAM NOT TO FOLLOW HEROD’S INSTRUCTIONS TO RETURN SO THEY WENT BACK HOME A DIFFERENT WAY. THEN JOSEPH WAS TOLD IN A DREAM TO TAKE HIS FAMILY INTO EGYPT.

A. When Herod found out that things did not go his way, he was not very happy. He was pretty

unhappy.

B. Let’s look at v. 16 – READ. Herod was “wroth”.

C. The word “wroth” (wrath), according to Gal. 5, is a work of the flesh.

D. The reading of Matt. 2 helps to explain what the word “wroth” means in Gal. 5.

E. The first thing to notice about this word is that it is modified.

F. Herod was not only “wroth”; he was “very wroth”.

G. What would a “very wroth” person do?

H. Matthew says that Herod had all the male children two years and under in Bethlehem killed.

I. Even the male babies in the bordering areas were put to death.

J. Murdering an adult is hard to understand.

K. Murdering a handful of adults is usually especially difficult to comprehend.

L. Here is a man who didn’t command that adults be killed – he commanded that “children” be killed.

M. Given the area that is described, perhaps 30-50 children were killed if we want to offer an estimate.

N. This area was large enough that more than 1-2 boys were destroyed.

O. However, it was not so large that there would have been a thousand.

P. Some have read this story and concluded that thousands of children were murdered.

Q. The facts that we have do not support that supposition.

R. What would cause a man to suddenly give an order that results in the death of several small and innocent children?

S. The answer is “wrath”.

T. By observation we know there are different types of anger.

(1) It is possible for anger to simmer.

(2) People get upset about something and they can’t let it go.

(3) Others become angry and the anger turns into resentment.

(4) This word “wrath” is a special kind of anger.

(5) This is the anger that is like an explosion.

(6) The person who has wrath in the heart can blow up.

(7) After the explosion, everything is once again fine.

(8) During the explosion, it is time to get out of the way.

(9) As the person is exploding, out of the mouth may come threats; hateful words; foul language; cutting remarks; or just a good tongue lashing.

U. If my reading behind the lines in Matt. 2 is correct:

(1) Herod exploded.

(2) When he didn’t get his way (wise men didn’t return) and he concluded that he had been

“mocked”, he lost all emotional control. He went off the deep end in what seems to have

been almost a blind rage.

(3) I can imagine him shouting to some of his men, “Go to Bethlehem and the borders and kill

every male child. Destroy every male under the age of two.”

(4) One single word used by Matthew paints a pretty clear picture.

V. Certain personality traits are often shared by criminals.

W. It has been found that those who kill others often share a common trait.

X. This shared trait can be described by the word “wrath”.

Y. A certain event triggers a strong emotional reaction.

Z. Emotionally, people are jerked off balance. In a fit of instantaneous rage, people kill.

II. WHAT HAS BEEN FOUND OUT BY SOME PSYCHIATRISTS WAS WRITTEN DOWN BY GOD A LONG TIME AGO. THE WORD “WRATH” SUGGESTS THAT HEROD WAS JERKED OFF BALANCE AND HIS EMOTIONAL REACTION LED TO MANY UNNECESSARY DEATHS.

A. I am going to leave Matt. 2 and turn to Lk. 4.

B. The first part of this chapter records the temptations in the wilderness.

C. Verse 16 tells us that Jesus came to Nazareth.

D. The Lord entered a synagogue and read some Bible verses.

E. Then Jesus said this – v. 21 – READ.

F. Jesus essentially said, “I am the fulfillment of these verses.”

G. After Jesus said a few more things, church ended.

H. Look at v. 28 – READ.

I. These people were “filled with wrath” (same word).

J. There was near instant rage in the minds of these people.

K. Bear in mind that these people were religious.

L. These people were not gang members; they were not ruffians; they had just been to a religious

service.

M. What did God’s people try to do? V. 29 – READ.

N. Long ago Luke recorded that the sin of wrath can cause people to kill.

O. No wonder Paul called this emotion a work of the flesh.

P. I do not know that I can say much more about man and wrath.

Q. The information about this sin is pretty much straight forward.

R. “Wrath” describes a temper that can instantly flare and when the temper flares, it is like the

explosion of a bomb.

S. After a person blows up everything is again okay.

T. If we have this kind of temper, God says to get rid of it.

U. It is not only contrary to the way of Christianity, the use of an explosive temper will keep people

out of heaven.

III. AS FAR AS HOW THIS WORD AFFECTS US, THAT’S IT FOR THE WORD “WRATH”. LITTLE MORE CAN BE SAID ABOUT WRATH AND MANKIND. HOWEVER,

A. The Bible applies this word to beings other than man.

B. The book of Revelation uses the word “wrath” many times.

C. In several places the word is applied to God.

D. In at least one place (Rev. 12), the word is applied to the devil. Rev. 12:12 – READ.

E. There are some things I do not know about Satan but I do know this much:

F. In the past (Rev. 12), Satan has had a flash of temper.

G. He was like the worst form of an exploding volcano.

H. Though Herod was not a nice man, he probably had some good days.

I. The devil is never nice. Any decency he extends to man is nothing but a lure to further ensnare

him.

J. If the devil has had this kind of temper/anger in the past, there is every reason to believe it

continues to exist. There is every reason to believe it will exist in eternity.

K. If we know of someone who has the kind of anger that has been described, how often do we want

to be around them? How much enjoyment comes from being around these people?

L. Do we not want to avoid people who are full of wroth?

(1) Do we not walk on eggshells just waiting for the next blowup?

(2) Do we not say under our breath, “I’m glad he didn’t explode.”?

M. What would it be like to spend eternity with a creature who has this type of anger?

N. There will be no relief from a being who has fits of rage.

O. This is an encouragement for me to make heaven my home. The same should be true for you.

P. For those we know and love who are not saved, this fact should encourage us to help show them

the way.

Q. Living with Satan’s “great wrath” for eternity is unacceptable to me and I hope the same is true for

you.

R. I said that the word “wrath” also describes God in the book of Revelation. This is true.

S. If you would like to read one of these references with me, Rev. 14:8 is the passage to find.

(1) In Rev. 14, God’s people were being abused.

(2) The devil was trying to draw away brethren from the faith.

(3) The devil had some helpers (Roman government and false priests).

(4) God said that these people would pay.

(5) When people hurt the church, they hurt Christ.

(6) Rev. 14 shows that those who attack the church will also be attacked. V. 8 – READ.

(7) People would drink the “wine of wrath”.

(8) We may need to think about this to appreciate the point.

(9) Remember what the word “wrath” means. It is like an explosion; it describes great intensity.

(10) Up to now “wrath” has described a temper.

(11) Now the word is applied figuratively to a beverage. People were to drink the “wine of

wrath”.

(12) Since beverages are often hot or cold, let’s use heat for an illustration of the text.

(13) Let’s say that this beverage is boiling.

(14) It is not only boiling; it’s temperature is 1,000 degrees.

(15) Imagine setting this drink before someone and saying, “Drink this.”

(16) People would say, “Oh, no! I don’t want that. It’s too hot.”

(17) The picture in Rev. 14 is: “Tough. I will pour it down your throat.”

(18) The verse says God “made” “all the nations” “drink” this cup.

T. Because of what Satan and his helpers had done, v. 10 says, - READ.

U. God is also capable of a strong reaction.

V. When the time for judgment comes, God’s wrath (that is righteous) will be in full force.

W. The unsaved will face the full fury of an omnipotent God.

X. When I look at the word “wrath” I learn some things:

(1) I learn this is a trait I do not want to have;

(2) I learn that the devil can literally fly off the handle.

(3) Because Satan has this characteristic I do not want to spend any time with him.

(4) Because this word is used to describe God’s punishment of the unsaved, going to heaven

is at the top of my list.

CONCLUSION:

1. Is this also the desire for each one who is here?

2. If we do not like to face people who are full of wrath in life, we certainly will want to avoid this in

eternity.

3. If you are not a Christian, this word should encourage you to become one.