31. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice,
32. And be ye kind one to another. Tender hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake has forgiven you.
1. Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.
2. And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us, and has given himself for us, an offering and sacrifice to God for a sweet smelling savor;
We read in the scriptures that both God and Jesus experienced anger — what we call righteous indignation. This is anger in response to ungodliness, injustice or the mistreatment of others. God displayed righteous indignation when dealing with the sins of the Israelites, and Jesus displayed it when confronting the hypocrisy and pride of the pharisees.
And although scripture warns us “Be ye angry and sin not, let not the sun go down on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26), it is the angry heart that makes a person contrary to God. Anger is not the sin — an angry heart is. So much so that Paul tells us in 1 Corinthians 6:10 that revilers will not inherit the Kingdom of God. Revilers are those who verbally abuse, insult, or slander others — these behaviors flow from a bitter heart, not isolated instances of anger. Heaven is a place of pleasure with no pain or sin; therefore, the posture of the heart determines if a person enters or not.
In the same way, being a Christian is to walk after Christ —carrying yourself in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, gentleness, goodness, faithfulness, and self-control, the fruits of the Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23). Worshipping humbly on Sunday, but living with bitterness, wrath, and anger the rest of the week is not being Christlike and does great harm to Christianity. As believers, we are called to live lives that attract the lost and unbelieving to Christ. But when we live contrary to the character of Christ, we make ourselves hypocrites, weakening the witness of God’s Word.
Living with anger also does great harm not only to the soul, but to a person’s health and relationships. An angry nature places tremendous strain on the body and mind, eventually causing sever ramifications for the heart and brain. What starts out as anger-induced high blood pressure, can eventually lead to heart attack or stroke. Bitterness of heart can also open the door to depression and anxiety, which often come from unresolved anger. We are commanded to forgive, not to make the person being forgiven feel better — but to release the anger and bitterness that over time take control of the heart. No relationship — whether family, romantic, friendship, or professional, can survive an angry spirit. Few people want to remain close to someone whose nature is dominated by anger.
Forgiving others frees the heart for the fruits of the Spirit to flourish. Confidence is built when strength is found in meekness and humility — while anger is a defense and protector of pride. Forgiveness strengthens and builds relationships, and a warm word invites conversation. Joy is shared among those who fellowship, whereas an angry expression leads to isolation. We are not merely commanded to walk in love as Christ loved us, but the fruits of the Spirit grow out of a heart shaped by God’s grace — the outward expression of being born again.
In closing, Romans 5:8 declares, “But God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Christ went to the Cross willingly, not angrily. He healed out of love and forgave out of compassion. When He did express anger, it was at the injustice of others, and most severely towards those who twisted and perverted the Word of God.
The essence of being Christlike is to love and forgive like Christ, and to reserve our anger for what is truly ungodly and unjust. Never sleep with anger; do so and you rise with a bitter heart — and so begins the process. When Jesus expressed righteous anger, He didn’t dwell in it. He would move on in love and peace — the example His brothers and sisters are called to follow.
Ephesians 5:1 “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children.”
Father God in Heaven, in a world full of hostility, frustration, and anger, I pray for your peace that surpasses all understanding. Give me the peace that only Jesus can provide — the peace that will form my heart to flow with the fruits of your Spirit. Your Word tells me that “He who is slow to anger is of great understanding” (Proverbs 14:29). Teach me to be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1:19), so that my life may be healthy, peaceful, and marked with longevity. In Christ Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.