John 2:13–17
Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”
Both Ephesians 4:31 and Colossians 3:8 tell us that anger is wrong. According to Paul we must put it away from us. It is also included in a list of despicable sins in 2 Corinthians 12:20. But what about Psalm 4:4 and Ephesians 4:26, which say, “Be angry and do not sin”? That implies there is a way to be angry and yet not sin, that there is a kind of righteous anger. Is that really true, and what then are its characteristics?
Since everything that the Lord does is holy and good, considering His actions can help us understand whether certain activities are evil in and of themselves. The Father and the Son get angry (Ps. 7:11–13; Rev. 14:14–20), so we know that anger is not inherently sinful because God can do no wrong (James 1:13). However, is the Almighty alone capable of righteous anger?
Both Ephesians 4:31 and Colossians 3:8 tell us that anger is wrong. According to Paul we must put it away from us. It is also included in a list of despicable sins in 2 Corinthians 12:20. But what about Psalm 4:4 and Ephesians 4:26, which say, “Be angry and do not sin”? That implies there is a way to be angry and yet not sin, that there is a kind of righteous anger. Is that really true, and what then are its characteristics?
Since everything that the Lord does is holy and good, considering His actions can help us understand whether certain activities are evil in and of themselves. The Father and the Son get angry (Ps. 7:11–13; Rev. 14:14–20), so we know that anger is not inherently sinful because God can do no wrong (James 1:13). However, is the Almighty alone capable of righteous anger?
We can answer this question by looking at the example of Jesus. Our Lord and Savior is truly God and truly man. He came as the last Adam to redeem us from our sin through the offering of Himself as a perfect, sinless substitute. If He had sinned, He could not have earned the righteousness that we need to be justified, and He could not have atoned for our sin. The Father raised the Son for our justification, proving His sinlessness (Rom. 4:23–25; see also 1 Peter 2:22). He never failed to obey God perfectly, so we know that He always did what is right in His earthly ministry. Thus, His anger, as recorded in John 2 (above), was a holy and righteous anger.
The anger Jesus displays here was a consequence of His position as both the Son of God who is jealous for His worship and the perfect human being who has the right priorities and is zealous for the house of the Lord. It was right for Him to be angry at the money-changers and animal traders for defiling the holy temple, exploiting the Passover pilgrims, and taking up the one space where the Gentiles could pray to the Creator under the old covenant. Christ possesses a true human nature just like we do, albeit without sin. If He can get angry without sinning, then there are times when we can do the same.
Righteous anger must be anger as a result of a perception of evil—a violation of God’s law. Righteous anger focuses on God’s will and Him being offended rather than our will and our own feelings. Righteous anger is also self-controlled. It never results in hate or revenge.
Getting angry without sinning is hard for us to do as fallen creatures, but Jesus’ example shows us that it is possible. We should feel a righteous anger when we see the worship of God defiled, and His law violated. That should motivate us to righteous action and to pray for the souls of those who do not treat the Lord with reverence. If we feel no anger at all when we witness false worship of our Creator, then we must ask Him to create in us a zeal for His praise on the earth.
Let us also be wary of that coming day of the wrath of God prophesied about in Revelation 14:14–20. Christ’s anger is something to be feared, which is why we must “kiss the Son, lest he be angry” (Ps. 2:12). We can only be rescued from His eternal judgment if we show Him due honour—if we repent of our sins and worship Him as Lord and Saviour.
Jesus came first as the world’s Saviour, but He will come again as the world’s Judge (John 3:16–18; 2 Tim. 4:1). On that day, all people will kneel before Him (Isa. 45:22–23; Phil. 2:9–11). For some, it will be a genuflection of honour, worship, and love. Others, however, will remain obstinate, refusing to submit to the King of kings and Lord of lords. These individuals will be struck with a “rod of iron” by Christ Himself, and they will be dashed to pieces (Ps. 2:9).
The anger Jesus displays here was a consequence of His position as both the Son of God who is jealous for His worship and the perfect human being who has the right priorities and is zealous for the house of the Lord. It was right for Him to be angry at the money-changers and animal traders for defiling the holy temple, exploiting the Passover pilgrims, and taking up the one space where the Gentiles could pray to the Creator under the old covenant. Christ possesses a true human nature just like we do, albeit without sin. If He can get angry without sinning, then there are times when we can do the same.
Righteous anger must be anger as a result of a perception of evil—a violation of God’s law. Righteous anger focuses on God’s will and Him being offended rather than our will and our own feelings. Righteous anger is also self-controlled. It never results in hate or revenge.
Getting angry without sinning is hard for us to do as fallen creatures, but Jesus’ example shows us that it is possible. We should feel a righteous anger when we see the worship of God defiled, and His law violated. That should motivate us to righteous action and to pray for the souls of those who do not treat the Lord with reverence. If we feel no anger at all when we witness false worship of our Creator, then we must ask Him to create in us a zeal for His praise on the earth.
Let us also be wary of that coming day of the wrath of God prophesied about in Revelation 14:14–20. Christ’s anger is something to be feared, which is why we must “kiss the Son, lest he be angry” (Ps. 2:12). We can only be rescued from His eternal judgment if we show Him due honour—if we repent of our sins and worship Him as Lord and Saviour.
Jesus came first as the world’s Saviour, but He will come again as the world’s Judge (John 3:16–18; 2 Tim. 4:1). On that day, all people will kneel before Him (Isa. 45:22–23; Phil. 2:9–11). For some, it will be a genuflection of honour, worship, and love. Others, however, will remain obstinate, refusing to submit to the King of kings and Lord of lords. These individuals will be struck with a “rod of iron” by Christ Himself, and they will be dashed to pieces (Ps. 2:9).
Psalm 2:12:
Kiss the Son, lest He be angry,
And you perish in the way,
When His wrath is kindled but a little.
Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
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