James 01:19-20 Slow to Wrath – audio

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Text: James 1:19-20

Introduction

1. We find a threefold injunction in James 1:19-20:

a. Swift to hear

b. Slow to speak

c. Slow to wrath

2. From the context, it appears that these admonitions are given in regards to our reception of the Word of God – James 1:18; James 1:21

a. Therefore, they are qualities needed especially in times of trial when we need most the Word of God

b. In other words, we need to humbly and calmly be receptive to what the Word of God has to say

3. In this lesson, I wish to concentrate our attention on the third admonition: slow to wrath

a. Especially in view of James 1:20 – For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God

b. And also because wrath (and its close cousin anger) are too often excused as minor sins

Body

I. AN OVERALL LOOK AT ANGER AND WRATH

A. DEFINING ANGER AND WRATH

1. ANGER – (Greek, orge)

a. Indignation which has arisen gradually and become more settled – THAYER

b. ORGE suggests a more settled or abiding condition of mind, frequently with a view to taking revenge – VINE

c. Anger, then, is a lingering, seething emotion

2. WRATH – (Greek, thumos)

a. The sudden outburst of passionate anger

b. The blaze of temper which flares into violent words and deeds, and just as quickly dies

c. Today we would call this blowing off steam

B. THE OLD TESTAMENT BOOKS OF WISDOM SAY MUCH ABOUT ANGER AND WRATH

1. In the Psalms: Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm – Psalms 37:8

2. In the book of Proverbs:

a. A quick-tempered man acts foolishly – Proverbs 14:17

b. He who is slow to wrath has great understanding, But he who is impulsive exalts folly – Proverbs 14:29

c. A wrathful man stirs up strife, But he who is slow to anger allays contention – Proverbs 15:18

d. He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty, And he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city – Proverbs 16:32

e. A man of great wrath will suffer punishment; For if you rescue him, you will have to do it again – Proverbs 19:19

f. Better to dwell in the wilderness, than with a contentious and angry woman – Proverbs 21:19

g. Make no friendship with an angry man; and with a furious man thou shalt not go: Lest thou learn his ways, and get a snare to thy soul – Proverbs 22:24-25

3. In the book of Ecclesiastes: Do not hasten in thy spirit to be angry: for anger rests in the bosom of fools – Ecclesiastes 7:9

C. THE NEW TESTAMENT ALSO SAYS MUCH AGAINST ANGER AND WRATH

1. To the brethren in Rome, Paul wrote: Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “VENGEANCE IS MINE, I WILL REPAY,” says the Lord – Romans 12:19

2. It is included with those things Paul lists as the works of the flesh in Galatians 5:19-21

3. To the Ephesians Paul writes: Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice – Ephesians 4:31

4. In a similar vein to the Colossians: But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth – Colossians 3:8

D. HAVING SAID ALL THAT, WE MUST ALSO NOTE THAT:

1. Paul seems to concede that there is a place for a certain kind of anger: Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath – Ephesians 4:26

2. On several occasions Jesus expressed anger

a. Towards the money changers in the temple – John 2:13-17

b. Towards the hypocritical scribes and Pharisees – Matthew 23:13-36

3. In both testaments, God is presented as a God of anger as well as a God of love

a. In the Old Testament:

1) Psalms 78:49-51

2) Psalms 78:58-61

3) Therefore the anger of the LORD is aroused against His people; He has stretched out His hand against them And stricken them, And the hills trembled. Their carcasses were as refuse in the midst of the streets. For all this His anger is not turned away, but His hand is stretched out still – Isaiah 5:25

b. In the New Testament:

1) For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness – Romans 1:18

2) Romans 2:4-11

4. How do we then reconcile those passages which demand that anger and wrath is folly and something to be put away, with those that speak of anger on the part of God, Christ and even the Christian?

II. A CLOSER LOOK AT ANGER AND WRATH

A. CONCERNING THE ANGER OF GOD

1. God’s anger is ALWAYS A JUST REACTION TO EVIL – Romans 1:18-2:11

a. Being Divine, and all-knowing, His wrath is NEVER MISGUIDED

b. He is therefore capable of properly directing anger and wrath

2. Man, with his imperfections, is not so capable!

a. Man’s anger is often misguided (through ignorance, misunderstanding, etc.)

b. Haven’t we all been angry about something, later regretting it when we realize we were in error?

3. Therefore, just because God may display wrath and anger, this does not necessarily justify man doing so!

B. CONCERNING THE ANGER OF CHRIST

1. What has already been said of God could also be said of Christ

a. Especially in light of His ability to read the hearts of men – John 2:24-25

b. With such divine knowledge, He could not mistakenly direct wrath and anger

2. Also, in the examples of His anger

a. There is nothing of self-interest

b. Only HOLY ANGER against unrighteousness which is abhorrent to God

3. He was angry, but only for God’s honor!

a. When personally abused, He said nothing – 1 Peter 2:21-23

b. But when it was against God, He displayed righteous anger

4. Again, man with his imperfections often uses anger improperly

a. For example

1) We remain silent when sin is exalted and GOD is dishonored

2) But then get angry when someone offends US personally!

b. Too often, therefore, what we justify as righteous indignation is really SELF-righteous indignation!

C. CONCERNING THE ANGER IN EPHESIANS 4:26

1. Whatever our understanding, it needs to be in harmony with the context

2. Especially with what Paul writes just a few verses later: Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice – Ephesians 4:31

3. I understand this passage, rather than justifying anger, to be directing us how to deal with it when it arises in our heart:

a. First, DO NOT SIN

1) The emotion must be CONTROLLED

2) Don’t allow it to manifest itself in a sinful way

3) Such as saying or doing something that is wrong

b. Then, DO NOT LET THE SUN GO DOWN ON YOUR WRATH

1) The emotion must be DISPELLED BEFORE NIGHTFALL

2) Otherwise, we may be giving Satan ample opportunity to tempt us to sin – Ephesians 4:27

4. In view of what Paul actually says in Ephesians 4:26 and then later in Ephesians 4:31, it seems highly unlikely that he is justifying anger and wrath

Conclusion

1. Concerning the subject of anger and wrath, we would do well to take James’ admonition to heart and to be slow to wrath

2. For though the wrath of God may on occasions accomplish the righteousness of God, it is clearly stated that the wrath of man does not: For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God – James 1:20

3. Following the example of Christ, there may be a place for anger, but if so, ONLY in things pertaining to the honor and will of God!

4. In all other things, we would do well to remember another admonition:

And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all [men], apt to teach, patient, In meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; And [that] they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will – 2 Timothy 2:24-26

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to Wrath – James 1:19