Handling Tough Emotions: Anger
Just as butter was produced by “pressing” the milk inside a goatskin or cloth container, and just as blood was produced by “pressing” the nose, so the angry “pressing” home of one’s point produces strife. The point is made more emphatically by the word play between nose (aph) and anger (aphim).
Held improves on the translations wringing, forcing, when he says further, “However, for
Everyone in Israel knew that twisting a skin bottle full of milk would produce butter, and it is clear that twisting a person’s nose will cause a nosebleed. In the same way, the person foolish enough to aggravate a person who is already angry should not be surprised to find that he has sparked a hot conflict.
‘Be angry, yet do not sin.’ Do not let the sun set on your vexation.” The imperative ὀργίζεσθε (orgizesthe) (“be angry”) gives one pause, since it seems counter to Paul’s admonitions that “anger (ὀργή, orgē) … must be removed from you” (4:31; cf.
“nor give the Devil any opportunity.” This colon* belongs with v. 26 as part of the motivation to turn aside from anger and its consequent thoughts and acts and is parallel with the admonition not to grieve the Spirit in v. 30. In its other NT uses the phrase δίδωμι τόπον (didōmi topon) refers to (1) giving up one’s place at a banquet (
Sometimes a Christian may legitimately become angry. Jesus became angry at times. In those times we must be extra careful how we act, for anger gives no excuse to sin. Sinning in anger would include things such as saying unkind things or acting in harmful ways toward others. We may not always be able to keep from getting angry, but we can keep from sinning when we do. When we do get angry, we should deal with it before the day is through.
When we allow our anger to become sin or when we allow ourselves to keep our anger for more than a day, it gives the devil an opportunity to gain control over our attitudes, our actions, and our relationships. It gives him a foothold to lead us into greater anger and more sin.
b. Don’t lose your temper, but rather ensure that your anger is righteous (verses 26–27)
‘Be angry, but sin not’ is an echo of
To a great extent the sudden excitement on the reception of an injury is involuntary, and consequently innocent. Anger is excited when a horse kicks us; when a serpent hisses; when we dash our foot against a stone—and so when a man raises his hand to strike us. The object or final cause of implanting this passion in the mind of man, is to rouse him to an immediate defence of himself when suddenly attacked, and before his reason would have time to suggest the proper means of defence. It prompts at once to self-protection; and when that is done its proper office ceases. If persevered in, it becomes sinful malignity, or revenge—always, wrong. Anger may be excited against a thing as well as a person; as well against an act as a man. We are suddenly excited by a wrong thing, without any malignancy against the man; we may wish to rebuke or chide that, without injuring him. Anger is sinful in the following circumstances. (1.) When it is excited without any sufficient cause—when we are in no danger, and do not need it for a protection. We should be safe without it. (2.) When it transcends the cause, if any cause really exists. All that is beyond the necessity of immediate self-protection, is apart from its design, and is wrong (3.) When it is against the person rather than the offence. The object is not to injure another; it is to protect ourselves. (4.) When it is attended with the desire of revenge. That is always wrong;
Paul tells them that the person in Christ must be in control of his or her anger. Anger (4:26) has been a confusing expression for the Christian. It is often seen and denounced as a sinful trait that should be erased from the believer. We attempt to rename it by more spiritual terms such as “righteous indignation” or “spiritual fervor.” In reality, we cannot empty ourselves from anger anymore than we can empty ourselves of any of the other emotions God has created in us by which we relate to the world.
Anger is not a sin, though it can be used in a sinful way. Paul notes this distinction when he quotes
