The New Self & Righteous Anger

At first glance, these verses seem contradictory. Be angry? Don’t we usually think of anger as sinful? But the text makes a crucial distinction: anger itself is not necessarily sin, but how we handle anger determines whether we sin or not.

Anger is a God-given emotion. We see it throughout Scripture—God Himself expresses anger at injustice, oppression, and rebellion. Jesus displayed anger when religious leaders placed burdens on people and when the temple became a marketplace rather than a house of prayer. Anger can be the appropriate response to genuine wrong.

The problem isn’t anger itself—it’s what we do with it. The old self lets anger ferment into bitterness, explode into rage, or settle into resentment. The old self uses anger as a weapon to wound others or as fuel for revenge. The old self lets anger simmer day after day, week after week, year after year.

But the new self handles anger differently. The new self recognizes anger as a warning light on the dashboard—something that requires attention but doesn’t dictate our actions. The new self processes anger quickly, seeks resolution before sunset, and refuses to give the enemy a foothold.

Notice the urgency: “do not let the sun go down on your anger.” There’s a time limit here. Unresolved anger is dangerous. It creates an opportunity for the devil to establish a beachhead in your life. What starts as legitimate frustration can morph into bitterness. What begins as righteous indignation can transform into hatred. The enemy loves to take our anger and twist it into something destructive.

Think about the anger you’re carrying today. Is it fresh, from something that happened this morning? Or is it old anger, perhaps from years ago, that you’ve never properly addressed? The old pattern is to nurture grudges, replay offenses in your mind, and build cases against people. The new reality is that you’re a member of Christ’s body, indwelt by His Spirit, capable of processing anger in healthy ways.

What does healthy anger look like? It acknowledges the wrong without exaggerating it. It seeks understanding before judgment. It pursues reconciliation over vindication. It forgives as Christ forgave. It refuses to partner with the enemy by giving anger a permanent home in your heart.

Today, take inventory of your anger. What are you angry about? Is it righteous anger over injustice, or is it selfish anger over wounded pride? Have you let it linger past sunset—maybe for days, months, or years? The new self you’re becoming in Christ has the power to deal with anger redemptively. Don’t give the devil an opportunity. Address it today.

Thought for Today: 
What anger am I carrying that needs to be resolved before sunset today, and what steps will I take to address it?