By Elizabeth Prata
Ephesians 4:26 says, BE ANGRY, AND YET DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger,
The ALL-CAPS mean that an Old Testament passage is being quoted,
Psalm 4:4
Be angry, yet do not sin; on your bed, search your heart and be still. Selah
It is one of the most ripped from the Bible verses we or even Gentiles are familiar with. But what’s the context? What does it mean “be angry”?
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary has a word to start-
Should circumstances arise to call for anger on your part, let it be as Christ’s “anger” (Mr 3:5), without sin. Our natural feelings are not wrong when directed to their legitimate object, and when not exceeding due bounds.
Jesus became angry. He was angry with the Pharisees. He was angry with the merchants at the Temple ((John 2:13–16). He was even briefly angry with the disciples who forbade the children to come see Him (Mark 10:13–16). His anger was against sin, His anger wasn’t IN sin.
If we are angry, is it without sin, and against the right things? Against hypocrisy, sin, Legalism (Mark 3:1–6)?
Anger is a natural feeling. Be angry, it’s OK, as long as it’s not because of sin or wounded pride.
Secondly, as JFB Commentary stated, ‘not exceeding due bounds’. Remember when the Disciples were at a Samaritan village that didn’t welcome Jesus? James and John asked Jesus if they should call own brimstone upon them. (Luke 9:54–55). We don’t need an ax to kill a mosquito. Anger should be within bounds. JFB Commentary again-
Thus indignation at dishonor done to God, and wrong to man, is justifiable anger.
Far from the media and other secular outlets portraying Christians as ‘Ohm,’ meditative, placid, never angry people, we aren’t.
Gill’s Exposition says anger is justified…
…when his anger arises from a true zeal for God and religion; when it is kindled not against persons, but sins; when a man is displeased with his own sins, and with the sins of others: with vice and immorality of every kind; with idolatry and idolatrous worship, and with all false doctrine; and also when it is carried on to answer good ends, as the good of those with whom we are angry, the glory of God, and the promoting of the interest of Christ:
But why shouldn’t we let the sun go down on our anger, as the second part of the verse says? Here, RC Sproul explains,
Anger is the emotion most prone to sinful abuse, and this is why Paul also tells us to put anger away in this same passage (v. 31). This is not a contradiction of verse 26, Paul is only recognizing that our anger, even if it is godly at first, is too often perverted into feelings of malice instead of a longing to see offenders repent. When this happens, we are in danger of giving root to the bitterness that destroys (Heb. 12:15).
That was an important point. ‘Anger is the emotion most prone to sinful abuse’. Not coveting, lust, depression, rejection, or other emotions. Anger. Al Baker at Banner of Truth wrote,
“Proverbs 25:26 says, ‘Like a city that is broken into and without walls, is a man who has no control over his spirit.’ Anger, left unchecked, can be a deadly emotion, causing people to say or do things they later regret, causing those in the destructive path to live with intimidation, resentment, and fear. Are you an angry person? How does your anger reveal itself?“
“When your child breaks loose from your grasp, runs into traffic, and narrowly escapes being hit by a moving car, you are justified in your anger. God has set the world in such a way that bad things happen to children who are hit by moving automobiles. But when you are angry because your one year old has kept you up for several hours in the middle of the night for five nights in a row, then that’s unrighteous anger. You see, unrighteous anger comes because we say, ‘I have my agenda, my goals, my plan, my vision, my space and you are resisting or thwarting me. I am right in what I want, and you are wrong.’ Actually, unrighteous anger reveals our failure to trust God’s plan.”
The idea is to take stock of your anger. And remember, not all anger is violent, raging, throwing things. A person can seethe quietly. Assess why you are angry. Is it because your plans were foiled? Your comfort disturbed? Your name or reputation sullied? God’s name profaned? Hypocrisy uncovered?
Mark Dunn at Founders Ministries wrote: The apostle’s intention is to warn us against nursing anger. If we become aware of some sinful or selfish element in our anger, then it is time for us to cease from it.
I was angry when it came to light that former Dean of Ministry at a seminary and vaunted conference circuit speaker Steve Lawson had been an adulterous hypocrite for 5 years while striding around stages preaching holiness. I was angry again when he wrote a book for money touting his lessons learned, while still unreconciled to his wife and publishing against godly advice from godly men.
I believe my anger was justified because Jesus’ name was besmirched. But I had to work through my anger ‘before the sun set’, or only allow it space for a short time, and then seek the Lord to resolve it for me. I did not want the tendency for the anger to harden and thus skew my vision of the church and the head of the Church.
Even justified anger can turn into sin of allowed to fester.
So those are a few tips on anger. I encourage you to follow up with the links I’ve included, they are good ones from solid ministries on the topic. Think on the noble things, forgive others early and lavishly, and enjoy your days under the sun.
Further Resources
Sermon, Sinclair Ferguson. A Radical Transformation: Living As a New Person in Christ
RC Sproul- Be Angry, Do Not Sin
Mark Dunn, Founders Ministries: We Encourage Each Other
Al Baker, Banner of Truth- Anger
