Text: Prov.15:1,18; 16:32; 19:11; 25:28, Ecc.7:9
INTRODUCTION
Anger is our reaction of indignation and displeasure at the deeds, words or intentions of others. It is not always sinful in that it may be a just reaction to wrong but it is very often sinful either because selfishness prompts our anger or because our anger, though justly stirred, runs away with itself and leads us to wrong words and actions.
Wrath and Anger
Wrath describes passionate rage which boils up suddenly in an angry outburst, sometimes to disappear almost as quickly, but at other times to become a lasting bitterness.
Wrath and anger are almost synonymous words in the Bible. In the New Testament wrath comes from a Greek root which means “to boil up” or “to well up” and original denoted violent movement. Wrath, therefore, indicates a rage which quickly bursts forth, often uncontrollably, and as quickly disappears. Anger, however, describes that angry attitude and temper which lasts and is nursed.
In man wrath and anger are especially sins of the tongue (IICor.12:20; Jas3:3-18), but they find their place on our tongues and in our actions because they are often cherished in our hearts (Eccl.7:9; Amos 1:11)
Wrath and Anger are not always out of place and sinful.
We ought to be angry when good is put aside and evil exalted, and we have examples in the Bible of just and holy anger:
Moses was angry at the Israelites’ lack of trust in God (Ex.16:20), and at their apostasy in making a golden calf (Ex.32:19,22);
David was angry at the unjust rich man about whom Nathan told him, not realizing at first that it was at himself his anger was rightly directed (IISam.12:5);
Nehemiah was angry at the abuses which had taken place in Jerusalem (Neh.5:6);
Paul’s spirit was provoked to anger in Athens when he witnessed its idolatry (Acts 17:16).
We have evidence too of God inducing a proper anger in His people for good purposes (Rom.10:19; IICor.7:11).
Our Lord Jesus Christ was angry at men’s indifference to human need (Mark 3:5), and His wrath was the revelation of God’s wrath.
God’s holy and just wrath and anger are described in the Bible in various aspects:
God’s wrath is slow (Ps.103:8;Isa.48:9; Jonah 4:2; Nah.1:3)
God’s wrath is righteous (Ps.58:10,11;Lam.1:18;Rom.2:6,8;3:5,6;9:18, 20,22;Rev.16:6,7);
God’s wrath is perfectly controlled e.g our Lord’s cleansing of the temple was not done on impulse, but the night before He inspected the temple (Mark 11:11).
But more often than not we do wrong to be angry because of the selfish motives and attitudes which prompt our anger (Jonah 4:4).
Pride –and especially hurt pride – promotes anger (Gen.4:3-5; IIKings 5:11; Esth.3:5; Dan.3:13).
Unwillingness to accept rebuke spurs on anger (IIChron.26:19).
Jealousy kindles anger (ISam.17:28; Acts 5:17,18).
Resentment encourages anger (Luke 2:28).
Selfishness sparks off anger (I Kings 21:4).
Touchiness provides ready opportunity for anger (Gen.40:1f).
Malice is the companion often of anger (Gen.27:41,45 Col.3:8).
Wrath and anger do harm and easily lead to other sins.
When we lose control of ourselves on account of wrath or anger sin crouches at the door (Gen.4:7).
Like a wind or hurricane that arises swiftly or unexpectedly, or a fire that gets out of control, wrath and anger can do immeasurable harm (Eccl.10:4; Ps.124:3) and mischief (Prov.6:34;15:1;16:14), besides being overwhelming (Prov.27:4).
They tear us apart (Amos 1:11).
They show on our face (Gen.4:5).
They have physical repercussions (Acts 7:54) – to harbor anger or resentment is as bad for the body as it is for the soul (Prov.14:30).
They mar prayer and fellowship with God (ITim.2:8).
They spoil Christian fellowship and the life of the church (IICor.12:20).
They give the devil a foothold which he will use to his own evil advantage (Ephil.4:26f).
They can be the first step even to murder, and they can certainly constitute the spirit of murder for murder is only anger full-grown (Matt.5:22).
They are accompanied frequently by quarrelling and harsh words (Prov.15:18; Eph. 4:31).
They lead often to cruelty (Gen.49:7; IIChron.16:10; Prov.27:4) and injustice (Prov.14:17;29:22).
They issue all too often in strife and contention (Prov.21:19;29:22; 30:33), violence (Dan.2:12) and murder (Gen.4:8; 49:6;Ex.2:12; Matt.2:16-18).
The condemnation of wrath and anger
They are a characteristic of fools (Prov.12:16;14:17,29;27:3,4;Eccl. 7:9).
They provide sufficient ground for terminating friendship, for keeping friendship with a man whose temper is uncontrolled can lead us in the same direction (Gen.49:6; Prov.22:24).
They reveal the state of a man’s heart (Luk.6:45).
They are a work of the flesh, and are opposed to God’s Spirit (Gal.5:20).
They never work the will of God (Jas.1:19,20).
They are an infringement of the sixth commandment (Matt.5:21,22).
They bring their own punishment (Job 19:29; Prov.25:28).
They are frequently an infringement of God’s prerogative of judgment for wrath and anger so easily make us take judgment into our own hands (Rom.12:19).
The Christian attitude to wrath and anger.
We recognize wrath and anger, arising from bitterness, as belonging to the old life we once lived before our conversion, and that they are among the many things we are to put away from us (Eph.4:31).
We are to be slow to be angry (Ps.37:8; Prov.15:18; 16:32; 19:11; Tit.1:7; Jas.1:19).
Aiming at the avoidance of anger, we also try to placate those who are carried away by anger, where it is right and possible to do so (Prov.15:1, 18; 16:32; 29:8, 11).
Our aim when anger is justifiable is neither to allow it to cause us to sin (Eph.4:26), nor to allow Satan to gain a foothold by means of it (Eph.4:27).
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