When he missed an easy shot, he became angry and stomped and whined. For the next three years he never lost control again. This doctrine or command from the Lord presupposes agency and is an appeal to the conscious mind to make a decision. The Lord expects us to make the choice not to become angry. Nor can becoming angry be justified.
Anger is a yielding to Satan's influence by surrendering our self-control.
It is the thought-sin that leads to hostile feelings or behavior. It is the detonator of road rage on the freeway, flare-ups in the sports arena, and domestic violence in homes. Unchecked, anger can quickly trigger an explosion of cruel words and other forms of emotional abuse that can scar a tender heart. Physical abuse is anger gone berserk and is never justified and always unrighteous. Anger is an uncivil attempt to make another feel guilty or a cruel way of trying to correct them.