Righteous Anger Vs. Unrighteous Wrath
Pastors Rodney & Adonica Howard-BrownePublish date: 09/14/2025
Foundation Scriptures:
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath. Ephesians 4:26 KJV
For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God. James 1:20 KJV
1. The Emotion of Anger.
a. Every one of us experiences anger.
b. Anger itself is not sin; it is a natural emotion like any other.
c. Anger can become sinful when it is without a cause, or when it is excessive or protracted.
d. How we respond in our anger determines whether we walk in righteousness or in sin.
e. James reminds us that the wrath of man never produces God’s righteousness, while Paul tells us that there is a way to be angry and yet not sin.
f. The challenge of the Christian life is learning how to handle anger in a holy, Spirit-led way.
2. The Danger of Man’s Wrath.
a. Man’s wrath is uncontrolled, flesh-driven anger that lashes out in words, attitudes, or actions.
b. James 1:20 teaches us that such wrath does not accomplish God’s purposes—it tears down rather than builds up.
c. Examples in Scripture:
d. Cain’s wrath against Abel led to murder (Genesis 4:5–8).
e. Moses’ wrath caused him to strike the rock instead of speaking to it, costing him entry into the Promised Land (Numbers 20:10–12).
f. When anger controls us, it blinds us, harms others, and damages our testimony.
3. Righteous Anger—A Godly Response.
a. Ephesians 4:26 says, “Be ye angry, and sin not.”
b. This implies there is such a thing as righteous anger—anger aligned with God’s holiness.
c. Biblical examples of righteous anger:
d. Jesus cleansing the temple (John 2:13–16).
e. He was not out of control but moved by zeal for God’s house.
f. Nehemiah was angry when he saw God’s people oppressed and the Sabbath profaned (Nehemiah 13:17).
g. Righteous anger is directed against sin, injustice, and evil—not against people personally.
h. It seeks repentance and restoration, not destruction.
4. Don’t Let Anger Linger.
a. Paul continues in Ephesians 4:26: “Let not the sun go down upon your wrath.”
b. Lingering anger festers into bitterness, resentment, and unforgiveness.
c. Luke 15:28 KJV –– And he was angry, and would not go in: therefore came his father out, and intreated him.
d. The older brother was angry and resentful when his prodigal brother returned home and was warmly received by their father.
e. His father reminded him that he would lose nothing by forgiving his brother and receiving him back graciously, but he would gain back a brother.
f. In the same way, when we forgive, we don’t lose a blessing, but we gain one.
g. Don’t miss out on your own blessings because you are angry with your brother.
h. If God has forgiven someone, we have no right to hold onto anger and unforgiveness toward them.
i. God deals with each of us justly.
j. Psalms 145:8 KJV –– The Lord is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
k. Father God is merciful and forgiving, and we should be too.
l. Matthew 20:15 AMPC –– Am I not permitted to do what I choose with what is mine? [Or do you begrudge my being generous?] Is your eye evil because I am good?
m. Jesus likened the Kingdom of Heaven to the owner of the estate paying his laborers for their work in His vineyard.
n. They were hired at different times and worked variously from one hour to the whole day.
o. When those who worked longer were offended when everyone received the same pay (that they had each agreed to) He reminded them to never begrudge His generosity or His goodness to anyone.
p. Envy, jealousy, resentfulness, offence and competition stir anger and bring division.
q. But mercy, forgiveness and generosity bless and build us up.
5. Forgiveness.
a. Ephesians 4:31–32 adds: “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger… be put away from you… And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.”
b. Resolve conflict quickly.
c. Apologize.
d. Forgive.
e. Release offenses before nightfall.
f. Sleep in peace, not in anger.
6. Walking in the Spirit, Not the Flesh.
a. The fruit of the Spirit includes self-control (Galatians 5:23).
b. To “sin not” when angry, we must yield our emotions to the Holy Spirit.
c. Romans 12:19–21: “Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.”
d. We overcome evil with good.
e. When tempted to wrath, pray: “Lord, help me to see this situation as You do. Give me Your patience and Your peace.”
f. Practical Applications:
g. Pause before you speak (Proverbs 15:1 – A soft answer turns away wrath).
h. Pray through your anger (Philippians 4:6–7 – peace comes through prayer).
i. Pursue reconciliation quickly (Matthew 5:23–24 – be reconciled before offering your gift).
j. Choose forgiveness daily (Colossians 3:13 – forgive as Christ forgave you).
7. What is the Motivation?
a. The function of anger is to provoke action.
b. Motivation is what makes it sinful or righteous.
c. James warns us that man’s wrath will never produce God’s righteousness.
d. Paul reminds us that while anger itself is not sin, it must be handled under the Lordship of Christ and the guidance of the Spirit.
e. Unchecked anger leads to destruction.
f. Righteous anger leads to correction and restoration.
g. Lingering anger leads to bitterness, but Spirit-led anger produces holiness and healing.
h. Let us commit to being quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to wrath (James 1:19).
i. May our hearts burn with righteous zeal for God’s glory, but may our words and actions always reflect Jesus Christ.