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Coping With Life 24 – Anger
Coping With Life 24 – Anger
Mike Willis
Anger is not sinful. On at least two occasions, the Scriptures mention that Jesus was angry (Mark 3:5; 10:14 [translated “indignant,” ESV]). Paul told Christians to control their anger, saying, “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil” (Eph. 4:26-27). The Bible speaks of the phrase “the wrath of God” in ten passages. So all anger is not sinful, but there are sinful ways of handling one’s anger.
Some people have explosive tempers which require everyone to walk on tiptoes around them. This kind of temper is condemned in Scripture. It is called “wrath.”
“WRATH (Greek, thumos). This word describes the type of anger that is characterized by passion. It is defined as ‘passion, angry heat, anger forthwith boiling up and soon subsiding again.’ It is a passionate outburst of angry feelings, explosive anger. Those who allow their anger to show itself in this fashion explode and then calm down. After their explosion, they generally feel better. Unfortunately, they usually forget about the people whom they hurt during their outburst of angry passion” (Mike Willis, The Book of Galatians: Truth Commentaries, 260).
James warned about explosive anger: “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, SLOW TO ANGER; FOR THE ANGER OF MAN DOES NOT PRODUCE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD” (James 1:19-20). One must learn to control his passionate feelings. Unfortunately, we are living in a time when there is very little control of one’s passions. Several times a week, the news reports instances of fights, injuries, and killing occurring between people who have no control over their anger.
Sometimes one’s anger may not lead to an explosive reaction to another, but might settle into feelings of hatred toward those who have offended or hurt him. This is what Paul had in mind when he wrote, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice” (Eph. 4:31).
Jesus said in His Sermon on the Mount, “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire. So if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift” (Matt. 5:22-24). In this text, Jesus speaks of angry feelings toward another interfering with one’s worship. One cannot worship God when he is feeling bitterness in his heart toward others.
There are times when anger is justified and appeals for reconciliation fail. At that point Paul advised, “Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord’” (Rom. 12:17-19).
