Yes I thought it was.
What confuses me is why you think these verses to you mean that you have committed murder in your heart when you get angry.
What is interesting is if you look at the following headings for the verses from the NKJV, NIV and NLT
Murder Begins in the Heart - NKJV
Murder - NIV
Teaching about Anger - NLT
I do not think Jesus is saying here that being angry is the same as committing murder.
From Mathew 5:17 Jesus is teaching about the law and how the Pharisees distorted the true intent and added to it.
Matthew 5:21
21 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’
The expression refers to the traditional interpretation of the teachers of religious law and Pharisees. Though their traditions prohibited murder, they did not prohibit hatred. The surpassing righteousness of Jesus demands reconciliation (5:23-24); merely refraining from committing murder is not sufficient (NKJV study notes)
Matthew 5:22
22 But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But whoever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire.
5:22 The scribes and Pharisees said that a person who referred to another as Raca, meaning “empty head,” was in danger of being sued for libel before the council (or the Sanhedrin). On the other hand, Jesus said that whoever calls another a fool will have to answer to God. That is not to say that calling someone a fool will condemn a believer to eternal punishment in hell. Rather Jesus was saying that to utter such words is to place oneself in a worse condition at the time of judgment (see 1 Cor. 3:12–15). NKJV study notes.
So as I said, I think Jesus is not saying being angry in your heart is committing murder.
He is correcting what the Pharisees were saying and teaching the true intent of the law.
Furthermore the reason I think this is because
Matthew 5:43-44
Love Your Enemies
43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
The Pharisees taught "Love your neighbour and hate your enemy"
Jesus said "Love your enemy as well"
Exodus 23:4
4 “If you meet your enemy's ox or his donkey going astray, you shall surely bring it back to him again.
Leviticus 19:18
18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.
19:18 love your neighbor as yourself. See v. 34; quoted by Christ (Mt 22:39; Mk 12:31; Lk 10:27), Paul (Ro 13:9; Gal 5:14) and James (2:8). The stricter Pharisees (school of Shammai) added to this command what they thought it implied: “Hate your enemy” (Mt 5:43; see note there). Jesus’ reaction, “Love your enemies,” was in line with true OT teaching (see vv. 17, 34) and was more in agreement with the middle-of-the-road Pharisees. Rabbi Nahmanides (thirteenth century) caught their sentiments: “One should place no limitations upon the love for the neighbor, but instead a person should love to do an abundance of good for his fellow being as he does for himself.” “Neighbor” does not merely mean one who lives nearby, but anyone with whom one comes in contact (see Lk 10:25–36 and notes). NIV Study notes.
Sorry for the long post.
Jesus a little more to go.
Matthew 5:27-28
Adultery in the Heart
27 “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Notice lust in the heart is equal to adultery.
You've thought is therefore have done it.
He did not say that about anger.
Finally Paul says
Ephesians 4:26-27
26 And “don’t sin by letting anger control you.” Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry,27 for anger gives a foothold to the devil.
He does not say "Anger is akin to murder"
He says it gives satan a foothold.[already
I believe the main thrust of that teaching was that the law was spiritual, not by the mere letter as they had been taught.
That it isn't what a man does on his outside that has defiled him, but that he defiles himself within first by what comes out of his heart. That the act of murder has happened already inside and the act of adultery has happened already inside. This is regardless of whether or not you keep the outside clean looking by not committing the outward act.
This is my understanding of the teaching. It would seem odd to me for Him to say having thoughts and fantasies about someone other than your spouse is to have already committed adultery but that to have thoughts and fantasies about revengeful anger and bitter turmoil is not to commit murder already.
He took the whole teaching straight to a mans heart and what his heart is doing and thinking.
And we know it is what comes out of a mans heart that defiles him.
