Seven Deadly Sins: Wrath

But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother 

without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. 

Matthew 5:22

 

anger (an' gər) n. ME>ON distress; a feeling of displeasure 

resulting from injury, mistreatment, opposition, etc., and 

usually showing itself in a desire to fight back at the supposed

cause of this feeling.

wrath (rath, räth) n.  1.intense anger, rage, fury

2.  any action carried out in great anger, especially for

punishment or vengeance.   

Anger is a normal emotion - just like sorrow and joy.  We get "mad" about all kinds of things - someone talking smack about us, the idiot on the freeway who can't drive, the doctor who makes us sit in the waiting room for hours, the milk that was fine last night but is sour this morning, the washing machine that suddenly goes on the blink.  In many ways, anger is really frustration at being powerless.  

I have always been fascinated by this verse in Matthew that warns against being angry with a brother "without a cause."  One could assume that it is not a sin to be angry if you are angry for a just reason.

Wrath, however, is an entirely different matter.  Wrath (rage, fury) is anger on steroids.  Wrath wants to hurt something or someone.  Wrath wants to inflict pain.  Wrath wants to throw things.  Wrath is forceful, often vindictive anger.  Wrath nurses a grudge and demands revenge.  Wrath is anger and hate combined into a towering inferno of rage.  Anger can be irritating.  Wrath is frightening and dangerous.

King Solomon said,  "Anger is cruel and fury overwhelming..."    When something or someone has made us angry, it is better to acknowledge it and deal with it at the time of the offense, rather than allow it to slowly simmer on the back burner until it reaches the boiling point of hatred and wrath.