EmotionsSample

Jesus Got Righteously Angry 

Are Christians allowed to get angry? Maybe you’ve wondered that—especially as your temper was starting to flare up. But anger itself is rarely the problem. Our reactions to anger are what can get us in trouble. 

Jesus Himself got angry. So being angry isn’t wrong—especially if you get angry about something that breaks the heart of God. When we get mistreated—or when someone we love gets mistreated—anger is a natural response. 

God is a just God, and even though He is slow to get angry, He still gets angry. 

In fact, Jesus often displayed righteous anger. In Matthew 21, we see Him literally turn over tables after people started abusing the temple as a place to trade and sell animals for sacrifices. And Jesus’ anger was justified. When we see people doing wrong to others, we should feel righteously angry, and we should do something about it. 

That doesn’t mean we seek revenge. It doesn’t mean we behave recklessly or unlovingly. It does mean that when we see injustice, it should make us mad and break our hearts. 

Often, the things we get angry about reveal what we care about. Maybe if you see children growing up without families, it makes you righteously angry, so you decide to start fostering or serving foster families. Maybe you can’t stand it that some people don’t have access to a Bible in their language, so you give to Bible translation or study the translation process. What is it that makes you righteously angry? 

 Jesus threw down tables to disrupt corruption. He reclaimed and restored God’s temple to honor God. His anger invoked action that brought glory to God. So in your anger, do not sin. But do stand up for what’s right.

It’s okay to be angry. But when we’re angry, let’s invite God into the situation. Maybe there’s something that needs to change, so we champion the cause. Maybe it’s a sign that we’re called to be a part of the solution, so we find ways to help and support. No matter what, we go to God and ask Him what our next step is and what we can learn from our anger. 

Pray: God, thank You for showing us what it looks like to be righteously angry. Reveal to me anything in this world that You want me to be righteously angry about, and show me my next step to bring justice. Help me not to sin in my anger but to come to You humbly. I surrender any unjust anger I’m carrying to You. In Jesus’ name, amen.