Ephesians 4:26-27

Day 38

“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

The Destructive Force of Anger
Humans are made in the image of God.  As image bearers, we share various characteristics of our Creator.  Much theological debate has focused on the exact meaning of our image bearing or “likeness” to God.  Some theologians minimize our similarity to the nature of God due to the impact of the Adamic fall.  This view holds that whatever Adam and Eve possessed in the original creation diminished greatly when sin entered the world, so that what they once were we no longer are.  Others appeal to New Testament scriptures to support the claim that little was lost in the significance of image bearing for humanity, despite the fall of Adam and Eve. Consider James 3:8-10. But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way.  James appealed to the theology of image bearing when considering the way in which we ought to speak to others.  We cannot bless God while also cursing people made in His likeness.  Thus, James affirmed the ongoing significance of image bearing.

In what ways do humans reflect God’s image?  Clearly the image bearing can be seen in humanity’s distinctive nature when contrasted with the rest of the created order. The sixth day of creation culminates with the creation of men and women.  God’s special creation of people at the apex of the creation narrative sets humanity in contrast to the rest of creation.  By setting men and women as the pinnacle of the created order, God demonstrated the importance He placed on us in contrast to the rest of creation. In addition, God walked with Adam and Eve in the garden, an indication of the personal relationship God had with them, which is also unique when compared to God’s relationship with the rest of the created order. Further, God gave Adam and Eve dominion over the garden and over the animals. Just as God ruled over all creation, Adam and Eve ruled over the garden. They bore His image in the imitation of His dominion.

In addition to their relationship with God and their dominion over the garden, in a limited way, we see a reflection of the attributes of God in our emotions.  We see God’s emotional responses described in various biblical texts. For instance, we read about the heartbreak of God. In Genesis chapter 6, human rebellion reached such a toxic apex that “The Lord was sorry that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.” (Genesis 6:6). Jesus showed deep sorrow during His ministry. Jesus wept at the tomb of Lazarus and over the city of Jerusalem. Jesus wept in the Garden of Gethsemane.  We experience sorrow because we are made in the image of God. Sorrow is a divine emotion. We also read in the scriptures of the joy of the Lord. Nehemiah told the people of Jerusalem that “the joy of the Lord is our strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10)  In Deuteronomy 18, God expressed His disgust of wicked expression of idolatry. We too can experience the emotion of frustration or disgust due to the events surrounding our lives. God expressed His emotions.  As image bearers we also share in the emotional aspects of the divine nature. Emotions are not sinful, as God Himself expresses His emotions.  As image bearers we will experience emotions.  

Anger is another emotion expressed by God.  God angrily rebuked Israel for their sin. Moses led Israel to the cusp of the Promised Land. The twelve spies reported all of the richness of the land but ten of the spies expressed terror due to size of the inhabitants. The people sought to physically replace Moses with a new leader with the intent of returning to Egypt.  Instead, God’s anger altered their plans.  So the Lord’s anger burned against Israel, and He made them wander in the wilderness forty years, until the entire generation of those who had done evil in the sight of the Lord was destroyed. (Numbers 32:13)  We can also see righteous and divine anger in the person of the Son of God.  During the ministry of Jesus Christ, He emotionally rejected the religious leaders who used the temple as a means of financial gain to the detriment of worshipers.  He drove them all out of the temple with a whip, turning over the tables of the money changers.  The zeal of the Lord directed His righteous response. Even though we see moments of anger expressed by God, God also displayed great restraint in expressing His anger.  But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness and truth. (Psalm 86:15) Since we bear God’s image, we also express emotions.  Expressing anger, when regulated with great restraint and directed at unrighteousness, we can reflect the very nature of God Himself.

In Ephesians 4, Paul doesn’t renounce all anger as sinful, but clearly warns that anger can lead to sin.  Restraint in our anger distinguishes it between mere human passions and divine image bearing, righteous anger, in our emotional responses.  “Be angry,” Paul said.  There are legitimate reasons for us to be angry. Sin and death prompted divine sorrow, disgust, and anger from God. As His image bearers we will also experience these same range of emotions about sin and death. However, God perfectly regulates His emotional response to everything due to His perfect knowledge and justice.  We must check our emotional response to all circumstances to measure it against the divine standard.  “Be angry but don’t sin.”  Anger is a divine emotion but in the heart of a human, sin can take the sacred and make it profane. We must check our hearts.  We must regulate our emotions to test them against God’s standard of righteousness and goodness.

Paul adds another check on our anger. “Don’t let the sun go down on your anger.”  We must let our anger resolve quickly.  James addressed anger this way.  James 1:19-20 This you know, my beloved brethren. 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. Drawing on both texts, Ephesians 4 and James 1, we should be slow to anger and quick to let anger resolve. That gives us three ways to check our hearts.  First, we check that our anger is truly a righteous anger and not merely our own pride or jealousy.  Second, we should allow our anger to resolve. Third, we are to be like God in that we are slow to anger.  These three practical tests provide a good litmus test for our emotional response to evil.

Suggested Prayer:  God, guard my heart from the unrighteous anger.  Give me a gracious and patient response to those around me.  Let me be slow to anger and quick to let anger resolve.  In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Ephesians