What does it mean to give no place to the devil (Ephesians 4:27)?

WHAT DOES THE BIBLE SAY?

Ephesians 4:26–27 warns against harboring anger, as it provides an inroad for the devil. This Ephesian passage is one of many in the Bible that teaches against acting on and fostering anger because it leads to sin. In Genesis, God admonishes Cain for his anger and warns him against falling into sin (Genesis 4:6–7). Cain doesn’t heed that warning, which leads to him murdering his own brother (Genesis 4:8). The book of Proverbs associates anger with foolishness and warns of the harmful consequences of angry words and actions (Proverbs 16:32; 29:11; 29:22). The New Testament communicates similar warnings. Jesus taught about the sinfulness of anger and the importance of resolving disputes (Matthew 5:21–24). Many of the New Testament epistles advise believers not to harbor anger (Ephesians 4:26–27; Colossians 3:8; James 1:19–20). These warnings must be distinguished from what the Bible presents as justified anger—i.e., God’s wrath toward sin (Exodus 32:9–10) and Jesus’s concern with God’s holiness (John 2:15–16). Those exceptions aside, the Bible teaches us to avoid acting on our anger. By keeping our focus on Christ, we can avoid allowing anger to take root and grow into sin (Colossians 3:1–2).

FROM THE OLD TESTAMENT

• In Genesis 4:6–7, God warns Cain that his anger will lead to sin: “The LORD said to Cain, ‘Why are you angry, and why has your face fallen? If you do well, will you not be accepted? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door. Its desire is contrary to you, but you must rule over it.’” In His conversation with Cain, God connects anger to sin. Sadly, Cain did not “rule over” his anger; instead, he cultivated it, which led to him murdering his brother.
• Proverbs 16:32 presents the wisdom of controlling our anger: “Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.” Solomon contrasts worldly power with power over ourselves, with the latter being more important. Mastery over our anger helps us to live in a way that glorifies God.

FROM THE NEW TESTAMENT

• Ephesians 4:26–27 acknowledges that becoming angry is human, but nurturing it leads to sin: “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil” (KJV). In chapter four of Ephesians, Paul discusses the unity among believers and the manner in which we should live. He warns that holding onto anger gives Satan the opportunity to sow unrighteousness in us.
• In Matthew 5:22, Jesus remarks on the seriousness of anger: “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hell of fire.” Jesus goes on to say believers should prioritize resolving conflict (v. 23–25).
• James 1:19–20 indicates that those who anger easily are not showing the righteousness God wants of us: “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.”

IMPLICATIONS FOR TODAY

Modern psychology encourages people to express their anger. Much of society seems to have taken that advice: Angry social media rants have almost become a cliche. It’s tempting to follow suit when we’ve been wronged (or think we have). Our first instinct is to "get even" with the offender. But Christians must resist. We must process our anger in biblical, godly ways. The devil uses our anger as a "foothold" (NIV) to sow hatred and discord (Ephesians 4:27). If we have something against someone, we should seek to resolve the issue, not harbor resentment about it. The offender may reject our attempt—but that doesn’t excuse us from making it. Our first priority is pleasing God. When we don’t act as the world does, when we prioritize resolving anger, rather than cultivating it, we not only please the Lord, but we become a living testimony to others. People may wonder why we don’t lash out like so much of the world. And we can let them know that Jesus is the reason. By keeping our focus on Christ, we can avoid allowing anger to take root and grow into sin (Colossians 3:1–2).

UNDERSTAND

• Unresolved anger gives the devil a foothold, which can lead us into sin.
• We are not to cultivate anger but to find godly ways to process what makes us angry.
• Believers are to prioritize reconciliation and peace, dealing with anger in godly ways.

REFLECT

• How do you usually respond when you feel angry, and how might that response give the devil a foothold in your life?
• In what situations do you find it hardest to let go of anger, and what steps can you take to process that anger in a more godly way?
• Are there unresolved conflicts in your life that you need to address, and how can you prioritize reconciliation according to God’s will?

ENGAGE

• How can we support our churches to not let anger take root and lead to division?
• What are some practical ways to seek reconciliation when the other person is not open to it, and how does this demonstrate Christ-like love?
• How does focusing on Christ help us to overcome the temptation to harbor anger, and how can we encourage others to keep their focus on Him?