Albert Barnes Commentary Ephesians 4:26

"Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:" — Ephesians 4:26 (ASV)

Be ye angry, and sin not. It has been remarked that this instruction here is consistent with the practice of the Pythagoreans, who were bound, when any differences arose among them, to provide some token of reconciliation before the sun set. (Burder, in Ros.Alt, u. neu. Morgenland, in loc.) It is implied here:

1. That there may be anger without sin; and

2. That there is special danger, in all cases where there is anger, that it will be accompanied by 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 experiencing a real or supposed injury, and commonly attended by a desire or purpose of revenge.

The desire for revenge, however, is not essential to the existence of this passion, though it is probably always attended by a disposition to express displeasure, to chide, rebuke, or punish .

To a great extent, the sudden excitement upon experiencing 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 someone raises their hand to strike us.

The object or final cause of implanting this passion in the human mind is to rouse a person to immediate self-defense when suddenly attacked, and before their reason would have time to suggest the proper means of defense.

It prompts at once to self-defense; and when that is done, its proper function ceases. If persevered in, it becomes sinful malignity or revenge—which is always wrong.

Anger may be excited against a thing as well as a person; as well against an act as against an individual. We are suddenly excited by a wrong thing without any malignancy against the person involved; we may wish to rebuke or chide that action, without injuring them.

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 protection. We would be safe without it.

2. When it transcends the cause, if any cause really exists. All that is beyond the necessity of immediate self-defense is apart from its design and is wrong.

3. When it is against the person rather than the offense. The object is not to injure another; it is to protect ourselves.

4. When it is attended by the desire for revenge. That is always wrong (Romans 12:17, 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 that has been done.

If people were perfectly holy, that sudden arousing of the mind in danger, or upon experiencing an injury, which would serve to prompt us to save ourselves from danger, would exist. It would be an important principle of our nature. As it is now, however, this arousal is violent, excessive, uncontrollable, persevered in—and is almost always wrong.

If people were holy, this excitement of the mind would obey the first commands of reason 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, however, it is excited not only in view of physical dangers but also in view of the wrongs done by others. Hence, it often terminates on the person and not the thing, and frequently becomes wholly evil.

Let not the sun go down. Do not cherish anger. Do not sleep on it. Do not harbor a purpose of revenge; do not cherish ill-will against another. When the sun sets on a person's anger, they may be sure it is wrong.

The meaning of this entire verse then is: "If you are angry—which may be the case, and which may be unavoidable—see that the sudden excitement does not become sin. Do not let it exceed its proper bounds; do not cherish it; do not let it remain in your bosom even until the setting of the sun."

Though the sun is sinking in the west, do not let the passion linger in your bosom; instead, let its last rays find you always peaceful and calm.