Is There Such a Thing as RIGHTEOUS ANGER?

We tend to look down on anger and for good reason in light of passages like these:

A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.

Proverbs 29:11

An angry person stirs up conflict, and a hot-tempered person commits many sins.

Proverbs 29:22

As such, the Bible discourages being a hot-tempered fool while emphasizing self-control (Proverbs 16:32) and the wisdom of turning away anger in tense situations (Proverbs 29:8).

However, there is a place for righteous anger on occasion, like when Christ was angry with the legalists who objected to his healing a man’s hand on the Sabbath:

1Another time Jesus went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, “Stand up in front of everyone.”

4Then Jesus asked them, “Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?” But they remained silent.

5He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus.

Mark 3:1-6

Another good example is when the Lord cleansed the Temple like a holy terror on two occasions (separated by three years):

13When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

John 2:13-17

15On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’ ? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ ”

18The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

Mark 11:15-18

Since the Messiah was “without sin” (Hebrews 4:15), he did not sin on these occasions despite his anger. In short, you can be angry and not sin (Ephesians 4:26).

The key is to 1. always be led of the Spirit (Romans 8:14) and 2. “do everything in love,” even when you’re doing something bold or radical:

13Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be courageous; be strong. 14Do everything in love.

1 Corinthians 16:13-14

This is in line with the law of Christ. To explain, the only law New Covenant believers are under is the law of Christ, which is the law of love (Galatians 6:2 & 1 Corinthians 9:21). This law corresponds to the two greatest moral commands of the Bible, as revealed here:

36“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?”

37Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ 38This is the first and greatest commandment. 39And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ 40All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.”

Matthew 22:36-40

There are three applications to these commands:

Love God
Love others
As you Love yourself

Anyone who does this automatically fulfills all the moral law of the Torah. As it is written: “Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law” (Romans 13:10).

Yet there is such a thing as walking in tough love when necessary and led of the Spirit. Thus when Christ radically cleared the temple it was an act of love – love for God and love for the people. It wasn’t a time for gentle, soft love; it was time to break out the whip and render tough love by the dynamite power of the Holy Spirit!

Make no mistake, Yeshua did those ungodly clods a favor when he sternly rebuked them and drove them out of the Temple on the two separate occasions. Those who possessed even an iota of wisdom learned an unforgettable life-changing lesson. Remember:

5Better is open rebuke
Than love that is concealed.

6Faithful are the wounds of a friend,
But deceitful are the kisses of an enemy.

Proverbs 27:5-6

There are other examples of biblical saints walking in righteous anger on relatively rare occasions, like Nehemiah (Nehemiah 13:23-27), Peter (Acts 8:18-24) and Paul (Acts 13:8-12).

While all this is true, it’s not an excuse to fly into a carnal fit of rage. After all, fits of rage – outbursts of carnal anger – are works of the flesh while self-control is a fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:19-23). We are discussing righteous anger here, not carnal anger.

So be careful not to sin when you experience righteous anger (Ephesians 4:26). Resist the temptation to be a hotheaded, reckless fool (Proverbs 14:16 & 14:17) and always shun the fleshly bent toward authoritarianism and machismo posturing, including authoritarian tactics like bluster, intimidation and unnecessary insults. Channel your righteous anger positively as led of the Spirit, like Christ, Peter and Paul.

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Jesus Christ — Milksop or Mighty Lord?

What Does Love “Always Protects” Mean?

Deny Yourself or Love Yourself — Which is It? (Both)

“Be Merciful, Just as Your Father is Merciful”

Ministerial Pitfalls and Abuses

Is Name-Calling Ever Appropriate?