Jesus and Anger - When It's Right to Be Upset
Jesus and Anger – When It’s Okay to Be Righteously Upset
We’ve all been told, "Good Christians shouldn’t get angry." But then we read the Bible and see Jesus flipping tables in the temple (John 2:13-17).
Wait—what?
If Jesus got angry, does that mean anger itself isn’t sinful? And if so, when is anger actually right?
Let’s break down what Scripture really says about holy anger—and how to tell the difference between righteous fury and destructive rage.
1. The Day Jesus Lost His Temper (And Why It Mattered)
Picture the scene (Mark 11:15-17):
The temple courtyard, packed with pilgrims
Money changers scamming poor worshippers
Animal sellers price-gouging those who came to sacrifice
And then Jesus walks in.
He doesn’t just sigh at the injustice. He:
Flips tables
Drives out animals
Yells "My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers!"
This wasn’t a mild rebuke. This was white-hot, righteous anger.
Why Jesus Was Right to Be Angry:
✔️ Injustice was happening – Poor people were being exploited
✔️ God’s purpose was being twisted – Worship had become a money-making scheme
✔️ He acted for others – Not because He was offended, but because they were being hurt
2. The Difference Between Holy Anger and Human Rage
Paul writes:
"In your anger, do not sin." (Ephesians 4:26)
This means anger itself isn’t the sin—it’s what we do with it that matters.
Righteous Anger vs. Sinful Rage
| Righteous Anger (Like Jesus) | Sinful Rage (Like Cain) |
|---|---|
| Responds to injustice | Reacts to personal offense |
| Seeks restoration | Seeks revenge |
| Controlled | Out of control |
| Ends with peacemaking | Ends with bitterness |
Example:
Righteous anger: Getting upset when you see someone bullied
Sinful rage: Screaming at your spouse because they forgot to take out the trash
3. When Is Anger Actually Good?
Jesus showed us three times when anger is justified:
A. When the Vulnerable Are Hurt
Jesus was furious when religious leaders:
Burdened people with impossible rules (Matthew 23:4)
Neglected justice for the poor (Luke 11:42)
Today, this looks like:
Getting angry at corruption that hurts the poor
Being upset when children or the elderly are mistreated
B. When God’s Truth Is Twisted
Jesus called religious hypocrites:
"Whitewashed tombs" (Matthew 23:27)
"Snakes" (Matthew 23:33)
Today, this looks like:
Being upset when false teachings exploit people
Calling out hypocrisy in the church
C. When Love Requires Toughness
Sometimes, love gets loud.
Jesus rebuked Peter when he tried to stop the cross (Matthew 16:23)
He called out Judas before his betrayal (John 6:70)
Today, this looks like:
A parent disciplining a child to protect them
A friend confronting addiction before it destroys
4. How to Be Angry Without Sinning
Jesus never sinned—but He did get angry. So how can we follow His example?
Step 1: Pause Before Reacting
Jesus waited before cleansing the temple (He didn’t do it the first day)
Ask: "Is this worth my anger?"
Step 2: Check Your Motives
"Am I angry because they’re wrong, or because I didn’t get my way?"
Step 3: Act—Don’t Just Explode
Jesus did something about injustice (flipped tables)
He didn’t just yell and walk away
Step 4: Don’t Let Anger Fester
"Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry." (Ephesians 4:26)
Righteous anger moves us to fix problems
Sinful anger stews into bitterness
5. What If I’ve Misused Anger?
Maybe you’ve:
Blown up at your kids
Held grudges for years
Let bitterness take root
Here’s the good news: Jesus forgives and redeems.
Peter denied Jesus in anger—but was restored (John 21)
Paul persecuted Christians—but became an apostle (Acts 9)
How to reset:
Confess (to God and anyone you hurt)
Repair (ask, "How can I make this right?")
Redirect (use that passion for good)
Final Thought: Anger Is a Tool—Not a Weapon
Jesus proved that anger itself isn’t evil—it’s a God-given emotion meant to:
Defend the weak
Stand for truth
Fuel love in action
So the next time you feel that fire in your chest, ask:
"Is this anger for me—or for others?"
Because the world doesn’t need more rage—it needs more righteous anger that flips tables, defends the weak, and makes wrong things right.
When was the last time you felt righteously angry? Share below—let’s talk about how to channel it well.