READING • GENESIS 34
Anger is powerful
Anger is a strong human emotion. The Bible does not pretend that disciples will never feel it. Instead, Scripture warns us about anger that controls our thoughts, words and actions, and teaches us how to prevent it from becoming sin.
Anger is an ancient human problem
Anger is not a modern problem. Genesis 4 records it in the first family. Cain and Abel both brought offerings to the LORD, but Cain’s offering was not accepted. His reaction was immediate and visible.
“But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.”
Genesis 4:5 • King James Version
God warned Cain before the situation became worse (Genesis 4:6–7). Cain did not master the anger growing within him. He killed his brother Abel. The lesson is severe: anger may begin in the mind, but if it is fed by jealousy, pride or resentment it can lead to terrible actions.
Simeon and Levi — anger that became cruelty
Genesis 34 records another dark episode. After Dinah had been wronged, Simeon and Levi used deceit and violence against the men of Shechem. Years later Jacob still remembered what their uncontrolled anger had produced.
“Cursed be their anger, for it was fierce; and their wrath, for it was cruel: I will divide them in Jacob, and scatter them in Israel.”
Genesis 49:7 • King James Version
Jacob did not excuse their violence because they had been offended. A genuine wrong had occurred, but anger did not give them the right to answer it with treachery and slaughter.
What makes us angry?
People become angry for many reasons: disappointment, frustration, jealousy, hurt, fear, humiliation or a sense that something is unfair. Sometimes anger is directed at a person; sometimes it grows because we feel that another person has been badly treated.
The danger is that we can quickly convince ourselves that, because our cause is right, everything we say or do in anger must also be right. Scripture repeatedly separates the reason for our anger from the way we respond to it.
A soft answer can stop a quarrel
Proverbs gives practical wisdom for the moment when tempers are rising. The first response does not have to match the anger of the other person.
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness. The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”
Proverbs 15:1–3 • King James Version
A calm answer is not weakness. It can prevent a disagreement from becoming a battle. Verse 3 also reminds us that God sees not only the public argument, but the words, motives and behaviour of everyone involved.
Do not be quick to anger
“Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools.”
Ecclesiastes 7:9 • King James Version
People differ in temperament. Some react quickly; others take longer to become angry. Whatever our natural temperament, a disciple is called to learn self-control.
When anger rises
WHEN ANGER RISES
A WISE RESPONSE
Before speaking
Pause. A sentence spoken in seconds can take years to repair.
When facts are unclear
Ask what actually happened before deciding another person’s motives.
When voices rise
Lower your own voice rather than competing in volume.
When you may say something cruel
Step away long enough to regain self-control, then return to the issue.
Before sending a message
Do not send an angry email, text or online post merely to release emotion.
When you have done wrong
Admit it promptly, apologise sincerely and try to put the matter right.
A new life should produce a new response
Paul wrote to baptised believers who had begun a new life in Christ. Colossians 3 starts by telling those who are “risen with Christ” to seek the things that are above. That new direction must affect ordinary behaviour, including the way we deal with anger.
“But now ye also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth.”
Colossians 3:8 • King James Version
The picture is of taking off old clothing. Anger is linked with wrath, malice and harmful speech because one emotion can quickly feed the next. The disciple does not simply try to look calmer; the aim is a changed mind and changed conduct.
“Be ye angry, and sin not”
“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”
Ephesians 4:26 • King James Version
A clarification to the older lesson
Ephesians 4:26 does not give permission for uncontrolled anger. It recognises that anger may arise, but commands that it must not become sin or be allowed to linger. Paul immediately continues with warnings about corrupt speech, bitterness, wrath, anger and malice (Ephesians 4:29–31).
The instruction about sunset gives the lesson urgency. Do not nurse resentment for days, weeks or years. Where possible, deal with the matter quickly, honestly and peaceably.
Not soon angry
When Paul described the character required of an elder, he included the words “not soon angry”. Leadership in the ecclesia requires more than knowledge or ability; it requires a character that is not controlled by a quick temper.
“For a bishop must be blameless, as the steward of God; not selfwilled, not soon angry, not given to wine, no striker, not given to filthy lucre;”
Titus 1:7 • King James Version
Replace anger with kindness
Ephesians does not merely tell us what to remove. It tells us what should replace it: kindness, tenderheartedness and forgiveness. Christian self-control is therefore more than suppressing an outburst; it is learning a better way to treat people.
Jesus goes to the heart of the problem
In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus moved beyond the outward act of murder to the attitudes that can grow in the heart. He warned about anger without cause and about contemptuous words spoken against a brother.
“But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment...”
Matthew 5:22 (excerpt) • King James Version
The point is not that every use of the word “fool” is automatically the same offence. Jesus is dealing with contempt — anger that despises another person and treats him as worthless. The words we choose reveal what is happening within us.
Make peace quickly
Jesus then turns from warning to action. If a relationship has been damaged, do not treat reconciliation as unimportant.
“Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him...”
Matthew 5:24–25 (excerpt) • King James Version
Reconciliation may require us to apologise, listen, correct something we have said, repay what is owed, or simply begin a difficult conversation. We cannot control another person’s response, but we can control whether we ourselves seek peace.
Forgiveness breaks the cycle
“Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.”
Luke 17:3–4 • King James Version
Forgiveness is not pretending that no wrong occurred. Jesus allows the wrong to be named: “rebuke him”. But when there is repentance, the disciple must not keep the offence alive merely to punish the other person.
Four questions before you react
ASK
WHY IT MATTERS
What actually happened?
Separate facts from assumptions about motives.
Am I trying to solve the problem or win the argument?
Pride can turn correction into conflict.
Will these words help?
Truth can be spoken firmly without cruelty.
What would reconciliation require from me?
Peace often begins when one person chooses to act differently.
Is there such a thing as righteous anger?
God’s anger is always just because His judgement is perfect. The Lord Jesus also showed anger when he was grieved by the hardness of human hearts.
“And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts...”
Mark 3:5 (excerpt) • King James Version
Be cautious about calling our own anger righteous
Unlike God and His sinless Son, we are affected by pride, incomplete knowledge and wounded feelings. A cause may be right while our reaction is wrong. We should therefore test our anger by Scripture and by the character of Christ.
God’s anger and God’s mercy
Hosea records both judgement and a call to return. Israel had turned from the LORD to idols and trusted human rulers instead of God.
“O Israel, thou hast destroyed thyself; but in me is thine help... I gave thee a king in mine anger, and took him away in my wrath.”
Hosea 13:9, 11 • King James Version
“I will heal their backsliding, I will love them freely: for mine anger is turned away from him.”
Hosea 14:4 • King James Version
God’s anger is not uncontrolled temper. Hosea also shows His mercy, healing and restoration for those who return to Him.
What have we learned?
1. Uncontrolled anger can grow into cruel words, broken relationships and violence.
2. A right grievance does not make every angry response right.
3. A soft answer, careful speech and self-control can stop conflict from growing.
4. Disciples are called to put away anger, wrath and malice, and to practise kindness and forgiveness.
5. Jesus teaches us to deal with anger in the heart and to seek reconciliation quickly.
6. God’s anger is perfectly just; our own anger must be tested carefully.
Passages to read
Genesis 4:1–16 • Genesis 34 • Genesis 49:5–7 • Proverbs 15:1–18 • Ecclesiastes 7:8–9 • Ephesians 4:17–32 • Colossians 3:1–15 • Matthew 5:21–26 • Luke 17:1–4 • Hosea 13–14
VERSE TO LEARN • PSALM 37:8
“Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.”
CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION • 5
CHRISTADELPHIAN BIBLE MISSION • 5