Jesus said that, being angry with a brother or sister gets equivalent punishment to the person who murders. We may rightly conclude then that to anger towards someone is as ugly as murder. In essence we are murdering a person in our heart when we harbor bitter resentment and anger towards them. So what does the bible have to say about murder, that we can then also apply to our anger?

The punishment for murder is death. Numbers 35:21 CSB — “or if in hostility he strikes him with his hand and he dies, the one who struck him must be put to death; he is a murderer. The avenger of blood is to kill the murderer when he finds him.

Punishment requires 2 or more witnesses. Numbers 35:30 CSB — “If anyone kills a person, the murderer is to be put to death based on the word of witnesses. But no one is to be put to death based on the testimony of one witness.

Don’t murder! Deuteronomy 5:17 CSB — “Do not murder.”

A distinction is made between accidental murder and intentional. There is forgiveness for accidental. Joshua 20:5 CSB — “And if the avenger of blood pursues him, they must not hand the one who committed manslaughter over to him, for he killed his neighbor accidentally and did not hate him beforehand.

Murder seems to come along with other deadly sins as well. Jeremiah 7:9 CSB — “ ‘Do you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known? Job 24:14 CSB — The murderer rises at dawn to kill the poor and needy, and by night he becomes a thief. Hosea 4:2 CSB — Cursing, lying, murder, stealing, and adultery are rampant; one act of bloodshed follows another.

Murder seems to come out when we can’t get what we want. James 4:2 CSB — You desire and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain. You fight and wage war. You do not have because you do not ask.

Murderers and the like will not inherit the kingdom of God. Galatians 5:19-21 CSB — Now the works of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, moral impurity, promiscuity, idolatry, sorcery, hatreds, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambitions, dissensions, factions, envy, drunkenness, carousing, and anything similar. I am warning you about these things — as I warned you before — that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

God Hates Murder Proverbs 6:16-19 CSB — The LORD hates six things; in fact, seven are detestable to him: arrogant eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that plots wicked schemes, feet eager to run to evil, a lying witness who gives false testimony, and one who stirs up trouble among brothers.