Is It Okay for a Christian to Be Angry? (Ephesians 4:26–27)

Anger is a powerful and often destructive emotion. But is it ever acceptable for a Christian to be angry?

In this study, we dive deep into Ephesians 4:26–27 where Paul says, “Be angry and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.”

In this study, you’ll discover:

• What the Bible actually says about anger in the Christian life
• The difference between righteous and selfish (sinful) anger … and how to discern between the two
• Why Paul ultimately calls believers to put away anger altogether
• Practical steps for walking in peace, forgiveness, and unity in the body of Christ

If you’ve ever wondered, “Is it okay for a Christian to be angry?” this study will give you biblical clarity, encouragement, and a renewed focus on Jesus—the One who alone can transform our hearts and free us from the destructive grip of anger.

https://youtu.be/To8F8Au24a4

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Key Passage: Ephesians 4:1-3

BE ANGRY, AND yet DO NOT SIN; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.
– Ephesians 4:26–27

Put Off / Put On (Review)

Anger

• Ephesians 4:26–27 – Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.
  • Be angry (orgizō – verb) – to be provoked to anger, be angry, aroused to anger, be wroth
• Psalm 4:4 (NKJV) – Be angry, and do not sin. 
• Two key arguments for what Paul is saying …
  • 1. It is okay (and encouraged) to have righteous anger but not unrighteous anger
  • 2. We should avoid any anger … but if we do get angry, don’t let it become sin
• Scholar – Its force may be conveyed by a paraphrase, “Anger is to be avoided at all costs, but if, for whatever reason, you do get angry, then refuse to indulge such anger so that you do not sin.” ⁽¹⁾

Can Anger be Good?

• Deuteronomy 9:8 – “Even at Horeb you provoked Yahweh to wrath, and Yahweh was so angry with you that He would have destroyed you.”
• Numbers 25:4 – And Yahweh said to Moses, “Take all who are the heads of the people and execute them in broad daylight before Yahweh, so that the burning anger of Yahweh may turn away from Israel.”
• Isaiah 54:8 – “In a flood of fury I hid My face from you for a moment, but with everlasting lovingkindness I will have compassion on you,” says Yahweh your Redeemer.
• Jeremiah 4:8 – “For this, I gird myself with sackcloth, lament and wail; for the burning anger of Yahweh has not turned back from us.”
• Jeremiah 12:13 – “They have sown wheat and have reaped thorns; they have strained themselves to no profit. But be ashamed of your produce because of the burning anger of Yahweh.”
• Mark 3:1–5 – And He entered again into a synagogue; and a man was there with a withered hand. And they were watching Him to see if He would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse Him. And He said to the man with the withered hand, “Get up and come forward!” And He said to them, “Is it lawful to do good or to do harm on the Sabbath, to save a life or to kill?” But they kept silent. And after looking around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, He said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored.
• John 2:13–17 – And the Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “ZEAL FOR YOUR HOUSE WILL CONSUME ME.”
• Romans 1:18 – For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness …
• Romans 2:5 – But because of your stubbornness and unrepentant heart you are storing up wrath for yourself in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God …

• God’s anger is motivated by His nature of love, holiness, purity, and righteousness
  • God’s anger and love are not opposed to one another

Two Kinds of Anger

1. Anger without sin (righteous anger)
2. Anger with sin (unrighteous anger)
   • Difference? … Sourcing

1. Anger without sin: motivated by love

• Hatred of sin
• Injustice
• When the weak, poor, destitute, and needy are exploited
• God’s character and nature is mocked
• 1 Corinthians 13:6 – … [love] does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth …
  • Love does not celebrate evil, sin, or the mockery of God and His righteousness

2. Anger with sin: motivated by self

• How something affects me, disrupts my preferences, etc.
  • i.e., “I am the most important person here and you are interrupting that”
• Not merely external but internal (heart posture/attitute) … frustration, brooding, bitterness
• The inward heart of anger is akin to outward murder (Matthew 5:21–24)

• William MacDonald – Anger against evil can be righteous. But there are other times when anger is sinful. When it is an emotion of malice, jealousy, resentment, vindictiveness, or hatred because of personal wrongs, it is forbidden.  … We must not excuse malice, wrath, envy, hatred, or passion in our lives. These sins discredit the Christian testimony, stumble the unsaved, offend believers, and harm ourselves spiritually and physically. ⁽²⁾
• Frank Thielman – Where anger is present, Paul says, a potentially sinful situation exists. ⁽³⁾
• Warren W. Wiersbe – It is difficult for us to practice a truly holy anger or righteous indignation because our emotions are tainted by sin, and we do not have the same knowledge that God has in all matters. God sees everything clearly and knows everything completely, and we do not. The New Testament principle seems to be that the believer should be angry at sin but loving toward people. “Ye that love the Lord, hate evil” (Ps. 97:10). ⁽⁴⁾

The Time Limit

• We are in unity and fellowship with one another
• So if anger is not dealt with, it will sever and prohibit relationship with the body
• Ephesians 4:26–27 – Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.
  • Anger (parorgizo (para: of, with) & orgizō (wrath)) – to rouse to wrath, to provoke, exasperate
    • BDAG: state of being intensely provoked, angry mood, anger,
    • para, used intensively (vines) … ever increasing
    • Don’t “keep anger warm” (don’t allow it to simmer or increase in heat) 
  • Anger: “loose your cool”
• Seek reconciliation the same day!
  • don’t give place to anger to stew, brood, grow roots of bitterness
  • put it away quickly
  • deal with it at once: immediately repent, ask forgiveness
• Jewish thought: a new day begins at sundown … so start every day in forgiveness, peace, and reconciliation
  • evening prayers began at sundown (which anger would greatly hinder and distract from)

The Devil’s Opportunity

• Ephesians 4:26–27 – Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and do not give the devil an opportunity.
• Ephesians 4:27 (NKJV) – … nor give place to the devil.
  • Place/Opportunity (topos) – place, any portion or space marked off; metaphorically: opportunity, power, occasion for acting
  • a common Greek idiom for giving someone or something an opportunity … ⁽⁵⁾
• Peter Thomas O’Brien – Accordingly, the verse may be translated, ‘Do not give the devil a chance to exert his influence’. ⁽⁶⁾
• Lynn H. Cohick – Paul points to the spiritual forces of darkness that dominate the present age, rule over the children of disobedience, and afflict the church. Christ has triumphed over all powers and authorities (Eph 1:21–22), yet the church must put on God’s armor to ward off the fiery arrows of the evil one (6:16). While the church as the body of Christ is reconciled both to God and to each other (2:16), it is still vulnerable to dissension in its ranks as enemies, including the devil, seek its destruction. ⁽⁷⁾

Be angry … but don’t be angry

• Ephesians 4:31 – Let all bitterness and anger and wrath and shouting and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
• James 1:19–20 – Know this, my beloved brothers. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

Anger controls and consumes

• Anger often controls and consumes (you don’t realize what you are doing under the influence of anger) … whereas we are called to be self-controlled
• [The Roman poet] Horace – “Anger is momentary insanity.” ⁽⁸⁾
• I can’t love and showcase Christ when I’m angry (I only think of self)

But I deserve justice and retribution!

• Romans 12:17–21 – Never paying back evil for evil to anyone, respecting what is good in the sight of all men, if possible, so far as it depends on you, being at peace with all men, never taking your own revenge, beloved—instead leave room for the wrath of God. For it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord. “BUT IF YOUR ENEMY IS HUNGRY, FEED HIM, AND IF HE IS THIRSTY, GIVE HIM A DRINK; FOR IN SO DOING YOU WILL HEAP BURNING COALS ON HIS HEAD.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
• F. F. Bruce – If retribution is called for, let God take care of it: his retribution will be just, and free from self-regarding motives. ⁽⁹⁾

But it’s my personality … I’m just an angry person!

• Gospel: put off the old man – put on the new
• 2 Corinthians 5:17 – Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come.

Casting Aside the Green Superhero

• The Incredible Hulk, the alter ego of physicist Bruce Banner, increases strength the angrier he gets.
• Who has position in your life – Christ or frustration?
• Galatians 5:19–23 – Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions, envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law.
• Colossians 3:8, 12-15, 17 – But now you also, lay them all aside: wrath, anger, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. … So, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience; bearing with one another, and graciously forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone, just as the Lord graciously forgave you, so also should you. Above all these things put on love, which is the perfect bond of unity. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body, and be thankful. … And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
• 1 Corinthians 13:4–7 – Love is patient, love is kind, is not jealous, does not brag, is not puffed up; it does not act unbecomingly, does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered; it does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; it bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

FOOTNOTES

(1) Andrew T. Lincoln, Ephesians, vol. 42, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1990), 301.
(2) William MacDonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary: Old and New Testaments, ed. Arthur Farstad (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1939.
(3) Frank Thielman, Ephesians, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2010), 313–314.
(4) Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 41.
(5) Frank Thielman, Ephesians, Baker Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic, 2010), 314.
(6) Peter Thomas O’Brien, The Letter to the Ephesians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1999), 340.
(7) Lynn H. Cohick, The Letter to the Ephesians, ed. Ned B. Stonehouse et al., New International Commentary on the Old and New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2020), 294.
(8) Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 41.
(9) F. F. Bruce, The Epistles to the Colossians, to Philemon, and to the Ephesians, The New International Commentary on the New Testament (Grand Rapids, MI: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1984), 361.

Photo Credit: Rob Potter

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In Our Next Study Together …

I invite you to join me on this journey from the book of Ephesians to discover God’s eternal purpose, His plan for your life, and learn how to practically live out an abundant and fruitful Christian life. 

• The focus of our next study: Ephesians 4:7
  • We are going to dive into the concept of Jesus giving us the gift of grace and what purpose His grace serves in our lives.
  • I encourage you to read through Ephesians a couple of times this week and focus specifically on Ephesians 4.