Don’t let the sun go down upon your wrath

The Bible says we are to get angry about things that are wrong, but we are not to sin with our anger. What is the difference? And, what does it mean to “not let the sun go down upon your wrath?” As usual, it’s a good idea to see what the entire context of the verse is talking about. What was Paul talking about? What did he mean? What should we learn?

Therefore, putting away falsehood, speak truth each one with his neighbor. For we are members of one another.  “Be angry, and don’t sin.” Don’t let the sun go down on your wrath, neither give place to the devil.  Let him who stole steal no more; but rather let him labor, working with his hands the thing that is good, that he may have something to give to him who has need. Let no corrupt speech proceed out of your mouth, but such as is good for building up as the need may be, that it may give grace to those who hear. Don’t grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, outcry, and slander, be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving each other, just as God also in Christ forgave you. (Ephesians 4:25-32 WEB)

What was Paul talking about?

Remember, Paul wrote to Christians in Ephesus who were struggling with the mystery (of God reconciling Jew and Gentile into one body) in real life. That was even harder than us reconciling Fundamental, Evangelical, Reformed, and Charismatic Christians into one body. The Jews and Gentiles had hated each other for thousands of years. Oh, wait, maybe it is the same. That’s a lot of hate to undo in a few years. Even with the help of the Holy Spirit. The whole letter to the Ephesians is dominated by Paul’s mission to the Gentiles.

1. God has created one new body out of two peoples. The whole letter is held together with this appeal to unity.
2. Paul points to Christ’s victory over “the powers” as evidence of his power to reconcile Jews and Gentiles into one body.
3. Therefore, we should live in a way that maintains that unity in real life so we can stand strong against those powers.

The only way to do this is give up your former way of life (both Jew and Gentile) to live as one new creation. That’s a big task. Am I the only one who struggles with trying to give up 50 years of teaching, learning, applying, and living for the sake of unity to body of Christ?

What did Paul mean?

Fortunately, the Holy Spirit didn’t leave us adrift on an uncharted sea of our own resources to accomplish this task. He directed the Apostle Paul to give us clear and direct guidance.

Be ye angry and sin not

There is special danger in all cases where there is anger that it will be accompanied with sin. “Anger” is a passion too common to need any description. It is an excitement or agitation of mind, of more or less violence, produced by the reception of a real or supposed injury, and attended commonly with a desire or purpose of revenge. The desire of revenge, however, is not essential to the existence of the passion, though it is probably always attended with a disposition to express displeasure, to chide, rebuke, or punish; compare Mark 3:5. 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 defense of himself when suddenly attacked, and before his reason would, have time to suggest the proper means of defense. 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; Romans 12:17, Romans 12:19.
5. When it is cherished and heightened by reflection.
6. When there is an unforgiving spirit; a determination to exact the utmost satisfaction for the injury which has been done. If people were perfectly holy, that sudden “arousing of the mind” in danger, or on the reception of an injury; which would serve to prompt us to save ourselves from danger, would exist, and would be an important principle of our nature. As it is now, it is violent; excessive; uncontrollable; persevered in – and is almost always wrong. If people were holy, this excitement of the mind would obey the first injunctions of “reasons,” and be wholly under its control; as it is now, it seldom obeys reason at all – and is wholly wrong. Moreover, if all people were holy; if there were none “disposed” to do an injury, it would exist only in the form of a sudden arousing of the mind against immediate danger – which would all be right. Now, it is excited not only in view of “physical” dangers, but in view of the “wrongs” done by others – and hence it terminates on the “person” and not the “thing,” and becomes often wholly evil.–Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Let not the sun go down

Do not cherish anger. Do not sleep upon it. Do not harbor a purpose of revenge; do not cherish ill-will against another. “When the sun sets on a man’s anger, he may be sure it is wrong.” The meaning of the whole of this verse then is, “If you be angry, which may be the case, and which may be unavoidable, see that the sudden excitement does not become sin. Do not let it overleap its proper bounds; do not cherish it; do not let it remain in your bosom even to the setting of the sun. Though the sun be sinking in the west, let not the passion linger in the bosom, but let his last rays find you always peaceful and calm.” –Barnes’ Notes on the Bible

Neither give place to the Devil

Neither give place that is, occasion, or scope, to the devil, by continuing in “wrath.” The keeping of anger through the darkness of night, is giving place to the devil, the prince of darkness (Eph 6:12). –Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary

Do not give advantage to the devil to possess your hearts, and put you upon more and greater evils: see Luke 22:3 John 13:27 Acts 5:3. –Matthew Poole’s Commentary

This reference also implies that Beng. takes the night, during which anger is retained, as figurative of the darkness over which the devil is prince. This does not exclude the literal sense. The literal keeping of anger during the night is typical of spiritual giving place to the devil, the ruler of darkness. –Bengel’s Gnomen

What should we learn?

Paul says that righteous anger is a good thing (Please read Anger: Taming a Powerful Emotion by Gary Chapman), but seething anger and vengeful wrath are wrong.

4:25-28 Notice the particulars wherewith we should adorn our Christian profession. Take heed of every thing contrary to truth. No longer flatter or deceive others. God’s people are children who will not lie, who dare not lie, who hate and abhor lying. Take heed of anger and ungoverned passions. If there is just occasion to express displeasure at what is wrong, and to reprove, see that it be without sin. We give place to the devil, when the first motions of sin are not grievous to our souls; when we consent to them; and when we repeat an evil deed. This teaches that as sin, if yielded unto, lets in the devil upon us, we are to resist it, keeping from all appearance of evil. Idleness makes thieves. Those who will not work, expose themselves to temptations to steal. Men ought to be industrious, that they may do some good, and that they may be kept from temptation. They must labour, not only that they may live honestly, but that they may have to give to the wants of others. What then must we think of those called Christians, who grow rich by fraud, oppression, and deceitful practices! Alms, to be accepted of God, must not be gained by unrighteousness and robbery, but by honesty and industry. God hates robbery for burnt-offerings. –Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary