Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.

Ephesians 4:26-27

The passage above draws a distinction between being angry and sing, but have you ever felt guilty for being angry? It seems to me to be a matter of motivation. Usually, when I feel guilty about being angry it is a reflection on my own selfishness. I’m angry because things didn’t go my way, or someone cut me off in traffic – I think you get the idea.

But being angry is not always a sin. A common place in Scripture where anger is justified is when Jesus overturned the tables in the Temple –

And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Matthew 21:12-13

Jesus was angry and justifiably so, but he didn’t stay angry. The next verse in the passage tells us “the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them” (Matthew 21:14).

Anger shouldn’t consume us. Paul says to not let the sun go down and still be angry. We shouldn’t always be angry because an angry, hostile attitude breeds more anger and bitterness.

See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;

Hebrews 12:15

Finally, Paul advises us to never give opportunity to the devil. Misguided anger is a sure way to undermine your faith for all to see.