“That Whosoever Is Angry with His Brother Shall Be in Danger of His Judgment”
The prohibition against murder remained intact. People still were forbidden from wanton shedding of man’s blood (JST, Genesis 9:12-13; Exodus 20:13). In addition, however, Jesus here represents the true disciple as one who acquires control over his emotions, such that he avoids anger.
We would not expect one to commit murder who was not previously afflicted by an angry rage. In one sense, we should always bite our tongue, stifle and smother angry impulses, and throttle temper tantrums. It is always better to be in control of one’s emotions, even if such control comes as a result of massive self-discipline. But in a higher sense, the follower of the Christ seeks for the nature of Christ, a nature which does more than quench anger, but rather a nature in which there is no anger.
Our task in living the gospel is not simply to become more disciplined, as commendable as that might appear to be; our task is to have our dispositions changed.