Determining whether anger is sinful can be challenging when considering the various passages on the subject. For example, at least three verses seem to indicate that anger is sinful (two of them list anger with blatantly obvious sins), while others appear to convey the opposite.
Three passages that seem to implicate anger as sinful are James 1:20, Ephesians 4:31, and Colossians 3:8. James wrote, “The anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” Paul penned in Ephesians, “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice,” and also wrote in Colossians, “But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth.”
On the flip side, a few that seem to exclude anger from sin are Psalm 4:4 and Ephesians 4:26. Psalm says, “Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still,” and Ephesians states, “Be angry, and yet do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.”
Adding to the confusion on the subject is the fact that different Bible versions translate Matthew 5:22(a) differently, which is another key verse on anger. Some categorize anger as deserving of judgment while others specify that judgment for anger applies only when certain criteria accompany it.
Consider the following variations of Matthew 5:22(a), with the key differences in red:
English Standard Version: “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment.”
Holman Christian Standard Version: “But I tell you, everyone who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment.”
New American Standard Bible: “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court.”
King James Version: “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.”
New King James Version: “But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment.
Lastly, the Bible says that God experiences anger, yet He is holy, righteous, and sinless at all times. Although God’s anger results from righteous indignation toward sin, sinful behavior, or genuine injustice, it is still anger nonetheless (see Psalm 7:11, 1 Kings 11:9–10, 2 Kings 17:18 and 21:15, Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 3:4-5, Romans 1:18, and Hebrews 3:11).
Therefore, taking each of these considerations about anger into account and reconciling them (along with the entirety of Scripture on the subject), it appears that the determining factor in whether anger is sinful depends on its root motivation.
For example, if anger is prompted or generated by ungodly things like selfishness, hatred, jealousy, revenge, retaliation, bitterness, animosity, unforgiveness, ill-will, impatience, evil, or pride, it is sinful because its root cause is sinful.
However, if anger stems from righteous indignation toward things like the injustice of aborting babies in the womb, the hypocrisy of false teachers leading others away from the only true God, or violent acts committed against those created in God’s image, it is justified anger and, therefore, not sinful.
With that said, Scripture warns that all types of anger must be managed appropriately so it does not become a root of bitterness or morph into a spirit of revenge:
Hebrews 12:14-15 says, “Pursue peace with all people, and holiness, without which no one will see the Lord: looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up cause trouble, and by this many become defiled.”
Romans 12:17-21 says, “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord. Therefore ‘If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.' Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’”
I hope this brief synopsis helps you understand anger, its various root causes, and equips you to educate and disciple others who struggle with it for various reasons or to differing degrees.
