A Biblical view of AngerA Biblical view of Anger

James 1:19-25 19 My dearly loved brothers, understand

this: everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, 20 for man's anger does not accomplish God's righteousness. 21 Therefore, ridding yourselves of all moral filth and evil excess, humbly receive the implanted word, which is able to save you.

Key PointsKey Points

A biblical view of A biblical view of AngerAnger

2 views2 viewsRighteous AngerRighteous AngerUnrighteous AngerUnrighteous Anger

Righteous AngerRighteous Anger

Can anger be righteous? Yes.Can anger be righteous? Yes.God gets angryGod gets angry

Psalm 7:11 (ESV)Psalm 7:11 (ESV)1111God is a righteous judge, God is a righteous judge, and a God who feels and a God who feels indignation every day.indignation every day.

Jesus got angryJesus got angry Mark 3:1-6 (ESV)Mark 3:1-6 (ESV)

11 Again he entered the synagogue, and a man Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there with a withered hand. was there with a withered hand. 22And they And they watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal watched Jesus, to see whether he would heal him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him on the Sabbath, so that they might accuse him. him. 33And he said to the man with the withered And he said to the man with the withered hand, "Come here." hand, "Come here." 44And he said to them, "Is it And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do lawful on the Sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. silent. 55And he looked around at them with And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 66 The Pharisees went out and immediately held The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.destroy him.

Believers are commanded to get angryBelievers are commanded to get angry Ephesians 4:25-26 (ESV)Ephesians 4:25-26 (ESV) 2525Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one

of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. members one of another. 2626 Be angry and do not sin; Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, do not let the sun go down on your anger, 2727and give and give no opportunity to the devil.no opportunity to the devil.

When is anger appropriate?When is anger appropriate? In the face of hypocrisy – Galatians 2:11-14 (Paul In the face of hypocrisy – Galatians 2:11-14 (Paul

confronts Peter)confronts Peter) In the face of injustice – 2In the face of injustice – 2ndnd Samuel 12 (David gets Samuel 12 (David gets

angry at Nathan’s report of injustice in the kingdom)angry at Nathan’s report of injustice in the kingdom) When the gospel is being compromised – John 2:13-When the gospel is being compromised – John 2:13-

18 (Jesus gets angry at the money changers in the 18 (Jesus gets angry at the money changers in the temple)temple)

Unrighteous Unrighteous AngerAnger The problem that The problem that

James presents James presents however is that however is that most of our anger most of our anger can be categorized can be categorized as unrighteous. A as unrighteous. A lot of anger can lot of anger can become sinful. become sinful. Unrighteous anger Unrighteous anger can lead to…can lead to…

Results of Unrighteous Results of Unrighteous AngerAnger

Distortion of the GospelDistortion of the Gospel

This happens when our own desire for justice This happens when our own desire for justice takes over God’s desire for justice.takes over God’s desire for justice.

11stst Corinthians 10:31 Corinthians 10:31

3131So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.do, do all to the glory of God.

Lingering angerLingering anger

Ephesians 4:26-27Ephesians 4:26-27

26 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 27and give no opportunity to the devil.

Results of Unrighteous Results of Unrighteous AngerAnger

Misuse of our wordsMisuse of our words

Our words are meant to address the problem at hand. Our words are meant to address the problem at hand. Too often however, we use our words to attack the Too often however, we use our words to attack the people we feel are responsible for our issue. Instead of people we feel are responsible for our issue. Instead of creating a “growing body”, unrighteous anger feeds an creating a “growing body”, unrighteous anger feeds an unhealthy soul.unhealthy soul.

Ephesians 4:16-19Ephesians 4:16-19

1515Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, 1616 from whom the whole body, joined and held from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.grow so that it builds itself up in love.

Results of Unrighteous Results of Unrighteous AngerAnger Poisonous speechPoisonous speech

We are warned in We are warned in scripture to not scripture to not give “full vent of give “full vent of our spirit - our spirit - Proverbs 29:11”Proverbs 29:11”

When we speak When we speak unrestrained, unrestrained, oftentimes we oftentimes we multiply our own multiply our own hurt & end up hurt & end up speaking poison to speaking poison to those around us - those around us - Romans 3:13-14Romans 3:13-14

Results of Unrighteous Results of Unrighteous AngerAngerBitterness can occur Bitterness can occur when…when…

The angry person The angry person refuses to be refuses to be pacified, holds a pacified, holds a grudge, or keeps it grudge, or keeps it all inside - all inside - Ephesians 4:26-27. Ephesians 4:26-27.

This can cause This can cause depression and depression and irritability over little irritability over little things, often things things, often things unrelated to the unrelated to the underlying problem.underlying problem.

QuestionsQuestions

In what ways have you sinned in your anger? In what ways have you been sinned against? Consider this statement: “God is sovereign and

in complete control over every circumstance and person that enters our path. Nothing happens to us that He does not cause or allow.”

Do you trust that God is sovereign in your situation?

James tells us to be quick to hear, slow to speak & slow to anger. To who will you apply this biblical advice?