Note 21 at Eph. 4:26: This has been one of the most misapplied scriptures in the Bible. This verse is commonly quoted to say that the Lord knows we are just human and will get angry from time to time. He just asks us to settle all our disputes before the sun goes down each day. In other words, we can be angry if we don't let it last longer than one day. That is not even close to what Paul is saying.

Paul is commanding us to have a righteous anger which is not sin (see ref. p at this verse). Jesus got angry without sinning and we should too (see notes 5-6 at Mk. 3:5, p. 161). We are commanded to hate evil (Ps. 97:10; Prov. 8:13; Amos 5:15; Rom. 12:9). Paul is speaking of a good type of anger-anger which is not directed at people but at evil. And we need to keep this righteous type of anger stirred up. Don't ever let it take a rest or go to sleep ("let not the sun go down upon your wrath"). We have to work at not being passive.

The next verse (v. 27) goes on to talk about not giving place to the devil. Being passive instead of angry at the devil gives place to the devil. We are supposed to resist (dict.-actively fight against) him, and this righteous anger is an important part of a violent attitude (see note 2 at Mt. 11:12, p. 177).