Our lesson this morning is taken from Ephesians, chapter 4, and we want to begin with verse 25, and read through the end of the chapter. Paul writes, “Therefore, putting away lying, ‘Let each of you speak truth with his neighbor,’ for we are members of one another. ‘Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil. Let him who stole steal no longer, but rather let him labor, working with his hands what is good, that he may have something to give him who has need. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by Whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.”
This is a section of Scripture where Paul speaks to us about our manner of life as Christians—some things we ought to do, some things we ought not to do; some things we should practice, some things we should refrain from practicing. And among this list of things for the Christian life, I want for us this morning to look specifically at the things Paul has to say on the subject of anger and wrath.
In an article in a newsmagazine some time back, there was a discussion about how best to handle an individual’s anger. One possibility given was that the individual should just let go—just blow off steam! Just blow your top! And the point was that, this was good for the blood pressure. But it’s not so good for others, because it tends to produce hostility among others. The other possibility that was posed in this article was that one could simply hold the anger inside—suppress it, so to speak. Now, that was not so good for the blood pressure. It would, in fact, cause the blood pressure to rise. But it indeed was good for others, because it prevented hostility in others.
Well, anger is a God-given emotion. And it is a subject with which we are all only too well acquainted, I’m sure. We live in an age, in a time, when it seems that, all too often, people’s anger easily goes out of control. Many people are angry, and they do not refrain from their anger one bit. They do not attempt to restrain the hostility and the aggression associated with that anger.
We regularly hear of violent displays of anger, we occasionally witness it in public places, and we are even subject to being objects of someone’s anger and hostility. For example, it has been in the news recently about an angry motorist, who went to another motorist’s car, pulled the woman’s dog out of the car and threw the dog into the traffic, where the dog was run over and killed. Also, recently, in the headline news, and in fact it continues to be in the headline news, is the story about a young man—a middle school-aged boy, who became angry with his teacher, got a gun, and shot and killed his teacher.
Well, you know that we could go on and on, listing innumerable instances where anger and aggression is prevalent in our society. There was, too, a case where a man was caught in traffic and the motorist behind him honked his horn again and again. The motorist in the car in the front, who was being honked at, got out of his car, went back to the second vehicle, from where the honking was being initiated, and he jerked the door open and he began to shout at this man in the car. The irate “victim” of the honking began calling “the honker” names, being very abusive to him. The startled motorist in that car, who was the subject of that abuse, said, “But your bumper sticker said, ‘Honk if you love Jesus’!!” Well, certainly, whoever said that, “When a person’s temper gets the best of him, it reveals the worst in him,” had it right. Also, we might be reminded that “anger” is just one letter short of the word “danger.” And so it is.
Because anger is a God-given emotion, it would behoove us to see what God’s Word has to say on the subject. Certainly, for us as Christians, the Bible provides the final Word for all things in our life, and that includes, of course, human behavior. So what does the Bible have to say on the subject of—on the matter of—anger and wrath?
In the Old Testament, much is written on the subject of anger. For example, in the book of Proverbs, we read, “He who is quick tempered acts foolishly,” Proverbs 14:17. And also, from Ecclesiastes, we read “Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, for anger rests in the bosom of fools,” Ecclesiastes 7, verse 9. And then, from the pen of the Psalmist [David], we read this, which really sums up the matter, when he says, “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm,” Psalm 37, verse 8.
Well, in the New Testament writings, it is apparent that unrestrained anger and aggression are not compatible—are not consistent—with the disposition and the actions of a Christian. The apostle Paul would say in his writings, as we read here in this text just a moment ago, that anger and wrath are to be put away, and they are to be replaced with kindness, with forgiveness, Ephesians 4:31 and 32. We are told again by Paul, in Colossians 3, and verse 8, that we must put away anger, wrath, and malice. And James tells us in his epistle to be “slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God,” James 1: 19 and 20. Yet, we can’t help but note that within the pages of the New Testament, there appears to be a place for a certain type—a certain kind—of anger.
It’s obvious that Jesus Himself expressed anger on more than one occasion. For example, consider the occasions where He rid the temple of moneychangers. Also, think on the several occasions when He would express anger and frustration toward the hypocritical Pharisees. We note from the Scriptures that God is a God of anger, as well as being a God of love, Romans 1:18, Romans 2:5, and Ephesians 5, verse 6. And we can’t avoid Paul’s exhortation, that he made to the members of the church in the ancient city of Ephesus, when he said, “Be angry, and do not sin,” Ephesians 4:26. Thus, it would seem that there is given a certain license for anger to Christians of every age.
Well, then, how is it that we can reconcile these passages, that demand that anger and wrath be put off—put from us—with the fact that: God is a God of anger; that Christ Himself displayed anger; and that it would seem to be appropriate for even Christians to display a certain type of anger?
Let’s take a closer look at what we have cited here. First of all, consider the ANGER OF GOD. We would see from the Old Testament, as well as the New Testament, that God’s anger is always a JUST reaction to evil, Romans 1:18 and Romans 2:5-9. Also, God’s wrath is never misguided. He is, therefore, capable of properly manifesting anger. However, as human beings, we are imperfect; and we are not as capable of exercising this kind of anger. Our anger is often misguided, and it is often misdirected, because it is based upon ignorance; it is based upon false presumptions; it’s based on misunderstandings, and even prejudices.
Well, then, what of the ANGER OF CHRIST? In the examples of His anger in the New Testament, whether it’s anger against those moneychangers in the temple, or weather it’s His anger at hypocritical Pharisees, we note that there is nothing at all in His anger that has to do with His Own self interest. He only expresses a holy anger against unrighteousness, which is abhorrent to God. Yes, Jesus could be angry, but He could ONLY be angry for God’s honor. When He was personally abused—and He was abused often—we note from the Scriptures that He said nothing. Peter will tell us this concerning Jesus: “Who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return,” and “when He suffered, He did not threaten,” 1 Peter 2:23. But, when any unrighteousness was against God, Jesus displayed a righteous anger.
But once again, man, with our imperfections, cannot always properly direct and control our anger, or be angry at the right THINGS. For example, we remain silent when sin is exalted and God is dishonored. Someone said, “It’s not a sin to be angry at sin,” but how often do we get angry at sin? Rather, we tend to get angry when we are offended personally. As William Arthur Ward said, “Righteous indignation is often nothing more than self-righteous irritation,” and I believe that is so.
Well, what about Paul’s statement concerning, “be angry, and sin not”? First of all, let’s be reminded of the context of this section of Scripture that we have read here in Ephesians, chapter 4. Paul is telling us here that, if anger does come to the heart (and it will from time to time), it must be controlled. “Do not sin,” he says, “nor give place to the devil.” And then that anger must be dispelled before nightfall. “Do not let the sun go down on your wrath,” Paul says.
Well, we look, then, and compare this meaning of what we have said with the Greek words, the original language that is used here. First, we will look at the word “thumos.” “Thumos” is most often translated “wrath” in our New Testament. And we see that the definition of this word is “the sudden outburst of passionate anger; fierceness,” and it is said that it can “often result in revenge.” The well-known commentator, William Barclay, says of this word “thumos”: “The blaze of temper which flares into violent words and deeds, and just as quickly dies.”
Well, then, there is the Greek word, “orge.” And that is often translated in the New Testament as “anger.” From one Greek scholar, we read that the definition of this word “orge” is “indignation, which has risen gradually and become more settled.” And from W. E. Vine’s An Expository Dictionary of New Testament Words, we see that “orge” suggests a kind of anger that is “a more settled or abiding condition of the mind.”
The effects of Paul’s remarks concerning anger and wrath in this text, in Ephesians, chapter 4, verses 26 and 27, are certainly within harmony of what he also says in verse 31. “Do not sin,” Paul says. That is, don’t let anger become wrath—that outburst of anger, which is sin. Then he says, “do not let the sun go down ON your wrath.” That is, don’t let anger remain; don’t let it become settled; don’t let it lie there and fester. For to do that is ALSO sin.
The point is simply this: It is WRONG for us to lose control. It is WRONG to blow your top. It’s WRONG (in spite of whether it’s good for your blood pressure, or not) to let off steam. This is the idea that’s contained in this Greek word “thumos”. Remember that people who fly into a rage ALWAYS make a bad landing. Also, it is wrong to have a LASTING, even a surpressed, anger, and this this is the idea of the Greek word “orge.” Certainly the ancients were correct when they said, “Anger is a wind that blows out the light of the mind.” And that’s exactly what can happen when anger is settled, and it remains, and it festers within us. The light of the mind will be blown out.
Well, if it’s wrong to be angry or to display wrath, is it humanly possible to remove these emotional reactions to what we all encounter—to remove our emotional reactions to what we might term “trying and difficult situations”? (Maybe some of us encounter these situations on a daily basis.) Well, the answer is “Yes.” YES it is possible. But it is only possible as we undergo a transformation. When a person becomes a Christian, then a change IS possible—a change in all areas of our life, and most especially in our ability to restrain ourselves, to practice self-control, and to maintain our anger. Paul says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new,” 2 Corinthians 5, verse 17.
This change that we’re speaking about, that Paul speaks about here, involves many things. One of the things involved is our relationship to sin. Before we became Christians, we were “slaves to sin,” Romans 6, verse 17. But now that we have become Christians, we are “set free from sin,” Romans 6:18. Now, this does not mean we do not sin or that we cannot sin. Obviously, that is not the case. But what it DOES mean is that, sin does not have its rule—its dominion—within us, Romans 6, verse 14. In other words, we have a CHOICE now, as to whether, or not, we will sin. We are now free to present ourselves to God, to serve as instruments of His righteousness, Romans 6, verse 13. When a Christian willingly presents himself to God as a “living sacrifice,” Romans 12, verse 1, then transformation is possible. And it’s made possible “by the renewing of our mind,” Romans 12, verse 2. This renewing of our mind occurs as we “set our mind on things above,” especially upon God and upon His dear Son, Colossians 3:1-2. When we behold, or contemplate, the “glory of the Lord”, 2 Corinthians 3, verse 18, with a mind that is being renewed in this way, then it becomes possible for us to put off things like anger and wrath, Colossians 3, verse 8. And it’s possible for us to then put on things like kindness and love and the peace of God. Things, such as kindness, love, compassion, forbearance, and the peace of God, are the things that will help us to PREVENT anger and wrath from becoming a part of our lives. This is especially true of the peace of God, which, if allowed to rule in our hearts, will give us an inner calm, a serenity, and a harmony that we need in trying times.
Crucial to the putting on of such things as the peace of God is the absolute necessity of turning to the WORD of God, and prayer. As Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid,” John 14:27. Jesus also said, “These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world,” John 16:33. And then, from the pen of Paul, we read: “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and by supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds through Christ Jesus,” Philippians 4:6-7.
This transformation that we are speaking about here leads to reacting differently. Even as Christians, before we are transformed (and need I remind you that this transformation is a progressive thing, and some make more rapid progress than others; and frankly some never make very much progress when it comes to transformation)—until that transformation process begins and starts to take effect—then we may very well act and react in the manner of “the flesh,” that Paul speaks about in Galatians 5:19-21. And that includes displaying anger and wrath. But the more we are transformed into the image of Christ, the more we will react according to “the fruit of the Spirit,” which includes these things we have talked about: kindness, gentleness, self- control, patience, and so on, Galatians 5:22 and 23.
Just as transformation is a process, which must begin, and it must be pursued and it must be worked on, so is transformation also a process that never ends. Well, as we are in the process of this transformation, the more we work at it, the more we develop it, then the better off we will be. AND the more able we will be to withstand our own tempers, and the better we will be equipped to put off anger and wrath. Let me share with you just a few suggestions here, and I put this under the category of “Anger Management.” What we are striving for is to be transformed into the image of Christ, but as we are in that never-ending transformation process, maybe some suggestions about how we can work on controlling ourselves—this matter of “self-control”—would be worthwhile to us
I’ve taken some suggestions from an ancient book. No, it’s not the Bible, although we will back up these suggestions with Scriptures from the Bible. But, rather, it is from a first century book, written by one named Seneca. He was a Roman philosopher and educator. About 2,000 years ago, Seneca wrote a book on “management,” and the principles in his book are still very appropriate today. Listen, and I’ll go through these briefly.
Seneca says, “Avoid frustrating situations by noting where you got angry in the past.” That makes sense, doesn’t it? Jesus warned, “Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation,” Matthew 26:41.
Seneca also says, “Reduce your anger by taking time, focusing on other emotions like pleasure, shame, or fear, avoiding weapons of aggression, and attending to other matters.” There’s an ancient Chinese proverb which says, “If you are patient in one moment of anger, you will escape 100 days of sorrow.” Indeed, I believe it’s true. And Paul instructs in this way: “Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report—if there is any virtue, if there is anything praiseworthy—think (or meditate) on these things,” Philippians 4:8. You’re wrestling with emotion, with frustration, building to anger and to wrath… Well, think about these things, instead.
Seneca also says, “Respond calmly to an aggressor with empathy or mild unprovocative comments, or with no response at all.” Well, the Wise Man of the Bible (Solomon) says, “A soft word turns away wrath,” Proverbs 15:1.
Also, it’s suggested: “If angry, concentrate on the undesirable consequences of becoming aggressive.” Let’s also be reminded of what David said in the Psalms: “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm,” Psalm 37, verse 8. Also, we should consider the circumstances and try to understand the motives or viewpoint of the other person. Put yourself in the other fellow’s place. “Walk a mile in his shoes,” we might say. Paul says, “Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself,” Philippians 2, verse 3.
And then, finally, the ancient writer Seneca says, “Train yourselves to be empathetic with others.” This was certainly confirmed within the Scriptures when Paul said, “And a servant of the Lord must not quarrel but be gentle to all,” 2 Timothy 2, verse 24. We might also be reminded of the principal set forth by the Lord Himself when He said, “Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them,” Matthew 7, verse 12.
Well, these are some suggestions that we might follow as we are continuing, day by day, to transform our minds to become more Christ-like. But also, perhaps, if we are having a problem with anger, with our temper, with “acting out,” as it is commonly referred to today, then perhaps these suggestions will be some things that can help us.
We bring the lesson to a close, and we state an old, Latin proverb, which says, “He who restrains his anger overcomes his greatest enemy,” and, for many, that is true. Instead of trying to determine whether we should react to some difficult situation by “losing our cool,” by “blowing our top,” by “flying off the handle,” or by surpressing our anger, our goal, as Christians, is that we ought to be in the process of changing the inner person. The more we are transformed, the more likely we are to be able to react to every situation with love, with peace, with long-suffering, with kindness, with goodness, with gentleness, and maybe, most of all, with self-control. We should follow the example of Jesus our Lord and do our very best, when a situation merits anger, to do just exactly what the Lord did: be sure that we are angry at the right thing, display our anger properly, and control that anger. Remember that Jesus did not revile, and He did not threaten [1 Peter 2:23]. Also, remember the admonition of both Paul and the Psalmist [David], when they said, “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath.”
Shall we cease from anger and forsake wrath by presenting ourselves to God, allowing our minds to be renewed? As we do that—as we behold the glory of God that is revealed to us in His Word—and as we ask for His help through prayer, then we will be equipped to actually “Cease from anger, and forsake wrath.”