“Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:9).

“In your anger do not sin; do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:26-27).

Ephesians 4:26-27 does not say that anger itself is a sin, but rather, it says that in our anger, we should not sin. So, anger itself is not a sin. On the contrary, sometimes not being angry reflects that our standard for holiness is too low. The Gospels record the incident of Jesus cleansing the temple. When Jesus saw that the holy temple of God had been turned into a marketplace and a den of robbers, He became angry. He drove out those conducting business and rebuked them for defiling God’s house. Jesus’ anger demonstrated God’s holiness and justice. Paul also expressed anger. When you read 1 and 2 Corinthians and Galatians, you can see how he rebukes Christians who lived in sin or abandoned the gospel’s truth. His anger stemmed from concern for these brothers and sisters and his defense of the truth. On the other hand, many times, our anger comes from selfish motives. We are upset at being offended, wronged, inconvenienced, disrespected, or looked down upon. Such anger is self-centered, and if not controlled, can easily turn into sin. That is why it is said, “Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold.” Paul in Ephesians is addressing the need to “be angry but do not sin.” He is not commanding us to get angry at others but emphasizing the importance of controlling anger, as unchecked anger can easily become a tool for the devil, leading to sin. Paul offers a practical method: resolve your anger before sunset. The longer we stew in anger, even if it is righteous indignation over injustice to others, the more likely we are to sin and continue sinning.

Can anger be so easily suppressed? Honestly, it is not easy. However, verses 30-32 provide the best way to control anger: “And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:30-32).

Verse 32 tells us to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving. Forgiveness is the key to unlocking the chains of bitterness. Bitterness binds many people, and years of unfair treatment only tighten those chains, draining their joy. But if we learn to forgive others and the harm they caused, bitterness will become a thing of the past, and we will be happier. Where can we find the strength to forgive? It comes from the forgiveness Jesus has given us. Since Jesus has forgiven us of countless sins, we need not cling to the harm others have done to us. We should share the forgiveness we have received from Jesus.

Furthermore, verse 30 mentions, “Do not grieve the Holy Spirit.” As Christians, we have God’s Spirit, the Holy Spirit, within us, guiding us to live lives pleasing to God. Every time we consider living in ways that are sinful or displeasing to God, the Holy Spirit acts as a voice in our hearts, reminding us. Ignoring this voice grieves the Holy Spirit; listening to it pleases Him. The first step in controlling anger is to heed or obey the Holy Spirit’s reminder. Often, when anger arises, we are easily swayed by emotions to shout, speak hurtful words, slam tables, or even hit others. We should train ourselves not to react impulsively but instead to pray to God. Ecclesiastes 7:9 refers to a person who is quick-tempered as a fool. Exploring Ecclesiastes 7 further shows that this quick-tempered fool is also one who considers himself wise and makes hasty judgments: “The end of a matter is better than its beginning, and patience is better than pride” (Ecclesiastes 7:8). Therefore, when we are angered by others or circumstances, we should refrain from reacting too quickly, as our assessment of the situation may be wrong. Calm down and learn to view the situation from an eternal, Godly perspective.

May the Lord help us practice patience and love from the verses we memorize and not be easily angered.

translated by Elder Liu Kerh Li