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1. From the context. The worst thing that we can bring to a religious controversy is anger. The context speaketh of anger occasioned by differences about the word. Usually no affections are so outrageous aa those which are engaged in the quarrel of religion, for then that which should bridle the passion is made the fuel of it, and that which should restrain undue heats and excesses engageth them. However, this should not be. Christianity, of all religions, is the meekest and most humble.

2. "Worketh not the righteousness." Anger is not to be trusted; it is not so just and righteous as it seems to be. Anger, like a cloud, blinds the mind, and then tyrannises over it. When you are under the power of a passion, you have just cause to suspect all your apprehensions; you are apt to mistake others, and to mistake your own spirits. Passion is blind, and cannot judge; it is furious, and hath no leisure to debate and consider.

3. From that "anger of man" and "righteousness of God." Note the opposition, for there is an emphasis in those two words "man" and "God." The point is, that a wrathful spirit is a spirit most unsuitable to God. God being the God of peace, requireth a quiet and composed spirit. Wrathful men are most unfit either to act grace or to receive grace.

4. The last note is more general, from the whole verse: that man's anger is usually evil and unrighteous. I shall therefore endeavour two things briefly —

1. Show you what anger is sinful.

2. How sinful, and how great an evil it is.First, to state the matter, that it-is necessary, for all anger is not sinful; one sort of it falleth under a concession, another under a command, another under the just reproofs of the Word.

(1) There are some indeliberable motions, which calleth propassions, sudden and irresistible alterations, which are the infelicities of nature, not the sins; tolerable in themselves, if rightly stinted (Ephesians 4:26). He alloweth what is natural, forbiddeth what is sinful.

(2) There is a necessary holy anger, which is the whetstone of fortitude and zeal (2 Peter 2:7; Mark 3:5; Exodus 11:8).

(a) The principle must be right. God's interests and ours are often twisted, and many times self interposeth the more plausibly because it is varnished with a show of religion; and we are more apt to storm at indignities and affronts offered to ourselves rather than to God.

(b) It must have a right object: the heat of indignation must be against the crime, rather than against the person: good anger is always accompanied with grief; it prompteth us to pity and pray for the party offending.

(c) The manner must be right. See that you be not tempted to any indecency and unhandsomeness of expression.

(3) There is a sinful anger when it is either —

(a) Hasty and indeliberate. Rash and sudden motions are never without sin.

(b) Immoderate, when it exceedeth the merits of the cause, as being too much, or kept too long.

(c) Causeless, without a sufficient ground (Matthew 5:22).

(d) Such as is without a good end. The end of all anger must be the correction of offences, not the execration of our own malice.Secondly, how sinful it is.

1. Nothing more makes room for Satan (Ephesians 4:26, 27).

2. It much wounds your own peace.

3. It disparages Christianity.

(T. Manton.)

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KJV: Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:

WEB: So, then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger;