Ephesians 4:26

“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath”.

“Be ye angry”: Psalms 4:4 “Permissive imperative, not. command to be angry” (Robertson p. 540). “It seems clear that this form of words is. Hebrew idiom which permits and then restricts anger, rather than actually commanding it” (Stott p. 185). Vincent argues that righteous anger is commanded, not merely permitted. (p. 396).. certain type of anger needs to be in our lives. “There is. great need in the contemporary world for more Christian anger. We human beings compromise with sin in. way in which God never does. In the face of blatant evil we should be indignant not tolerant, angry not apathetic. If God hates sin, His people should hate it too. If evil arouses His anger, it should arouse ours also” (Stott p. 186). See Psalms 119:53; Psalms 104:1. “John Wesley said: ‘Give me. hundred men who fear nothing but God, and who hate nothing but sin and. will shake the world'” (Barclay p. 156). This was the type of anger that Jesus expressed (Mark 3:5; John 2:13). Anger is. legitimate human emotion, built into us by God. The Bible deals in reality. It does not tell us to "stuff" our anger or deny it, rather it teaches us to properly channel it. Anger for the Christian can become. very constructive tool. There is something wrong with the person who never gets mad at anything.

“And sin not”: This is. very reasonable command and God is not requiring the impossible here. Hard circumstances, difficult situations, or being provoked still does not give us the right to sin. God has enabled us to properly channel this emotion into very constructive and effective ways. First do not be too quick in using this emotion (James 1:19). Always leave room for the wrath of God and do not allow your anger to take vengeance (Romans 12:19). Be angry for the right reason. Often Christians are more upset because someone slighted them, instead of when people slight God. Stott makes. good point when he said, “So Paul immediately qualifies his permissive be angry by three negatives. First, ‘do not sin'. We have to make sure that our anger is free from injured pride, spite, malice, animosity and the spirit of revenge. Secondly, ‘do not let the sun go down on your anger', warns us against nursing anger. Third ‘give no opportunity to the devil' for he knows how fine is the line between righteous and unrighteous anger” (pp. 186-187).

“Let not the sun go down upon your wrath”: “Do not let sunset find you still nursing it” (NEB). “Wrath”: “To exasperate to anger” (Robertson p. 541). “Irritation, exasperation” (Vincent p. 396). Since sinful and selfish anger is plainly forbidden, the wrath in this passage is justifiable anger. “If the person with whom one is angry is not accessible, or refuses to be reconciled--then at least the heart should be unburdened of its animosity by the committal of the matter to God” (Bruce p. 361). The Christian has many opportunities to remove such anger: Seek reconciliation (Matthew 5:23). Realize that God will judge (Romans 12:19), and that such. judgment will be just and free from self-serving motives. Pray for your enemy and do him good (Romans 12:20). Let God have all your anxiety (1 Peter 5:7). “Because the longer we postpone mending. quarrel, the less likely we are ever to mend it” (Barclay p. 157). “ Nursing one's wrath to keep it warm is not recommended as. wise policy. It magnifies the grievance, makes reconciliation more difficult, and destroys friendly relations and the prime exploiter of such discord is the devil” (Bruce p. 361).