Anger is a complex emotion that everyone experiences from time to time. The Bible has a lot to say about anger, providing wisdom and insights into how to deal with it in a godly way.
The Bible makes it clear that anger in and of itself is not sinful (Eph 4:26). Jesus himself expressed anger at times, like when he drove the money changers out of the temple (John 2:13-17). There are even examples of God’s anger in the Old Testament, often directed at sin and rebellion against Him (Ex 32:10-11).
However, the Bible repeatedly warns about the dangers of uncontrolled anger. “Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil” (Ps 37:8). Anger that is allowed to flare up and remain unresolved can lead to resentment, damaged relationships, rash decisions, and even violence (Prov 29:22).
Some key principles on anger that arise from Scripture include:
- Be slow to anger (Prov 14:29, 15:18, James 1:19)
- Anger should be short-lived; don’t let the sun go down on your anger (Eph 4:26)
- Consider the underlying reasons for anger and address them (Matt 5:22-24)
- Use self-control; don’t erupt in rage (Prov 16:32, 25:28)
- A gentle answer turns away wrath (Prov 15:1)
- Seek forgiveness when anger leads to sinful words or actions (Eph 4:31-32)
- Let go of grudges, resentments, and bitterness (Lev 19:18, Heb 12:15)
The Bible advises us to examine our own hearts and motivations when we become angry. Anger often flows out of selfish desires, pride, insecurity, or an unwillingness to forgive. We are instructed not to “give the devil a foothold” by harboring anger and nursing grudges (Eph 4:27).
As Christians, we are called to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit like patience, gentleness and self-control, rather than anger and temper (Gal 5:22-23). But we also need God’s grace and the Holy Spirit’s help to overcome sinful patterns of anger.
Common Sources of Unrighteous Anger
The Bible provides insights into common root causes of destructive anger that we should seek to avoid:
1. Selfishness and wounded pride
“What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel” (James 4:1-2).
When our desires and expectations go unmet, it can result in heated anger. We let selfishness and pride wound us. This causes us to lash out at others or God.
2. Impatience and intolerance
“Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly” (Prov 14:29).
When we grow impatient with people’s flaws and limitations, it often leads to outbursts of anger. As Christians, we are called to bear with one another in love (Eph 4:2).
3. Unforgiveness
“See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled” (Heb 12:15).
Holding on to bitterness and refusing to forgive others’ offenses can kindle anger deep in our hearts. God is gracious and merciful to us, so we must choose to extend forgiveness to others also.
4. Injustice and wrongs committed against us
“Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Eph 4:26).
There are certainly times when injustice should rightly make us angry. But we must be careful not to let that turn into rage or hatred. As Christians, we can bring these matters to God in prayer and trust Him for comfort and justice in His timing.
Overcoming Sinful Anger through the Gospel
On our own strength, no one can fully overcome sinful anger. We need God’s grace and the gospel’s transformative power. Jesus died for our sins so that in Him we might have victory over all sin, including anger (Rom 6:1-14).
In Christ, we are new creations (2 Cor 5:17). The Holy Spirit leads us into righteousness, peace and joy as we walk in His ways (Rom 14:17). Key ways the gospel equips us to overcome sinful anger include:
1. Realizing anger’s true cost
“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” (James 1:19-20).
Seeing how our anger grieves God and hurts others motivates us to change. The gospel reminds us that Christ bore God’s wrath for sin so that we would not face judgment (Rom 5:9).
2. Finding identity and security in Christ
“But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth” (Col 3:8).
In Christ, our value and worth is secure. We don’t need to protect our pride through anger. He gives us spiritual blessings and every reason to stay gentle, patient and loving (Eph 1:3).
3. Walking by the Spirit
“But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. For the desires of the flesh are against the Spirit…” (Galatians 5:16-17).
We have power through the Holy Spirit to put sinful passions like rage to death. We can choose to live by the Spirit and say no to temper’s pull (Rom 8:13).
4. Embracing forgiveness
“Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive” (Col 3:13).
Knowing how profoundly Christ has forgiven us compels us to forgive others. This releases anger’s grip. We can’t fully receive God’s mercy while withholding it from others.
Learning from Christ’s Example
As Christians, we have a perfect model for righteous anger in Jesus Christ. He expressed anger at sin, hypocrisy and injustice. But He did so in a controlled, godly way and was never overtaken by rage or bitterness.
We see Christ’s example in passages like Mark 3:1-5 where He confronts Pharisees but “looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart.” Even in righteous anger, Jesus maintained self-control and a heart of compassion.
As the classic verse says, “Be angry and do not sin…” (Eph 4:26). Following Christ’s model involves:
- Anger over the right things (sin and injustice, not just personal offense)
- Being motivated by love and concern, not just rage
- Expressing anger at the right time and in the right measure
- Avoiding harmful words, actions and bitterness
- Moving toward solutions and reconciliation
Walking in Christ’s steps and producing the fruit of righteousness requires dying to selfish anger daily and walking by the Spirit. As we grow in godliness, we can learn to use anger productively instead of destructively.
Bringing Righteous Anger Before God
The Bible encourages bringing our anger to God in prayer instead of taking matters into our own hands. David frequently wrote psalms expressing his complaints and anger over injustice. He brought them to the Lord, often leaving vindication to God (Psalm 139:19-22).
We see this modeled in other psalms as well, like Psalm 4:4-5 – “Be angry, and do not sin; ponder in your own hearts on your beds, and be silent. Offer right sacrifices, and put your trust in the LORD.”
When we feel anger stir over sin or injustice, it’s wise to go immediately to God and say:
- Lord, I commit this situation to You
- Rule my heart and keep me from sin
- Empower me to respond in the right way
- Work in this situation for Your purposes
As James 1:20 reminds us, human anger cannot accomplish God’s righteous purposes. But He is able to use situations that anger us to bring conviction, make wrongs right, and conform us to Christ’s image.
Cautions Regarding Anger
The Bible includes many warnings about the dangers of unchecked anger. Here are some key verses of caution:
- “Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.” (Proverbs 14:29)
- “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.” (Proverbs 15:18)
- “Make no friendship with a man given to anger, nor go with a wrathful man.” (Proverbs 22:24)
- “Wrath is cruel, anger is overwhelming, but who can stand before jealousy?” (Proverbs 27:4)
- “Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.” (James 1:19)
Unresolved anger often escalates to destroy relationships, divide people, and even lead to violence. The Bible often portrays anger and strife as works of the flesh incompatible with God’s kingdom (Gal 5:20, Prov 30:33, 2 Cor 12:20).
We must heed these warnings by not excusing or nursing anger. The Holy Spirit can empower us to respond to injustice and wrongs in a righteous, godly way instead of with uncontrolled rage.
Managing Family Anger Issues
Within families, parents and children can both struggle with anger problems that create strife in the home. The Bible offers guidance for wisely handling anger on both sides.
For parents:
- Don’t provoke your children to anger by injustice, lack of compassion, or overbearing demands (Eph 6:4, Col 3:21)
- Control your own temper; children often follow parents’ examples
- Discipline in love and with self-control; avoid impatient, raging reactions (Prov 15:18, 17:27)
- Work quickly to resolve conflicts before anger escalates (Eph 4:26-27)
- Ask forgiveness when you respond sinfully in anger
For children:
- Honor and obey parents; don’t mock or provoke them to anger (Eph 6:1-3)
- If parents are prone to anger, avoid pushing their buttons
- Speak to parents respectfully, not in rage or insult (Prov 15:1)
- Forgive parents’ angry failures and do not resent them
- Seek counsel from godly mentors if home anger seems abusive
Creating a healthy family culture around anger requires humility, forgiveness and God’s grace from all members. Parents especially set the tone. The gospel provides power to break destructive cycles of family anger passed between generations.
Overcoming Anger at Others through Love
We often feel the temptation to anger most in relation to difficult people who frequently provoke or wrong us. But the Bible instructs us to overcome evil with good and leave room for God’s justice and wrath, not our own (Rom 12:14-21):
- “Do not rejoice when your enemy falls, and let not your heart be glad when he stumbles.” (Proverbs 24:17)
- “Do not say, ‘I will do to him as he has done to me; I will pay the man back for what he has done.’” (Proverbs 24:29)
- “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” (Matthew 5:44)
- “Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath.” (Romans 12:19)
- “Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Romans 12:21)
As Christians, our anger should be motivated by love and concern, not personal retaliation. We can choose to forgive those who wrong us just as Christ has forgiven our sins (Col 3:13).
And we can pray for God to deal justly and mercifully with those who deserve consequences for harm done. He knows their hearts and motives perfectly.
Rather than obsessing over others’ wrongs against us, the Bible tells us to focus on our own sins and need for grace. This keeps our anger in check and makes us compassionate, as God has been toward us (Matt 7:1-5).
Anger Toward God
At times believers may also struggle with anger toward God when faced with bitter disappointments, grief or unanswered prayers. Scripture offers counsel for grappling with these difficult emotions.
The book of Job provides an extended example of wrestling with anger and confusion over suffering. Job brings his complaint before God but is reminded that God’s ways are higher than our own (Job 40:1-5).
The Psalms also give examples of honestly bringing anger and grief to the Lord. Yet the psalmists ultimately choose to trust in God’s righteous purposes (Psalm 13:1-6).
As Christians, we have assurance of God’s complete wisdom, sovereignty and love even in the midst of suffering. He promises to work all things together for our good (Rom 8:28). So we can freely share our heartaches with Him while also surrendering to His will, knowing His plans are best (Phil 4:6-7).
Conclusion
Anger is a difficult, complex emotion we all face at times. With God’s wisdom and Spirit’s help, the Bible provides us clear guidance for overcoming sinful anger with righteousness, justice and love. May we humbly walk in His light rather than being ruled by unchecked emotions.