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.