The phrase, “Sinners in the hands of an angry God” was pinned as part of a sermon by Jonathan Edwards on July 8th, 1741. His message sparked an emotional repentance in those who heard it and appears to have helped trigger the Great Awakening Revivals (1734-1750) that swept through the American Colonies.
The sermon declared that God, in His righteous anger, sends sinners to a horrible hell. It really scared people and motivated them to seriously repent of their sinful ways. A printed copy also helped spark revivals throughout the English speaking world. While Scripture does not contain such a phrase, this type of message is still used today. So we ask – could there be a righteous anger?
Righteous Zeal
As justification for acting out in anger, many today are quick to reference the only event where Jesus is thought to have acted in anger. Many ministers and pictures of the event depict Jesus as a very angry man. Let’s examine the text to see if this is how Scripture actually describes the demeanor of Jesus.
At 30 years of age, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River and was anointed by the Spirit of God for ministry. Following the miracle of turning water into wine, he went into the Temple in Jerusalem. (a) [see endnotes for Scriptures] People honored the Temple as the house of God. It was built and dedicated as a holy place and was intended to be a place of prayer and sacrifice. (b)
This was the first of two Temple visits. On this occasion Jesus observed that the Temple had become a den of robbers, as people were buying and selling merchandise for sacrifice. (c) Jesus was recorded as making a scourge of cords (a whip), overturning the business tables, and driving them out of the Temple.
The event reminded the disciples of David’s Psalm: “Zeal for Thy house has consumed me.” (d) The Hebrew word that David used for “zeal” means jealousy. The New Testament Greek means a bubbling, uprising stir or an emotional stirring. Scripture uses the Greek word two other times to reference a good stirring about the purposes of God. (e) Zeal can spark good and favorable behaviors.
What about the whip? A whip was commonly used to perform official public rebukes. The one using the whip did not act in anger but was simply doing their job. Jesus even proclaimed his intent: “Stop making my Father’s House a house of merchandise.” (f) This event does not record Jesus as angry and there is no indication the whip was used to strike anyone. The rebuke was regarding the practice.
Zeal can spark good and favorable behaviors.
The Second Temple Visit
At the end of his ministry, Jesus came to Jerusalem a second time, to fulfill a prophecy: “Behold your King is coming to you…gentle and mounted on a donkey…The multitudes going before Him and those who followed after were crying out…hosanna…hosanna in the highest.” (g)
In this visit, the crowds were in 
joyous praise, acknowledging Jesus as their delivering Messiah. Upon entering the Temple, Jesus saw they were still conducting business, so he chased them out. This time no whip is mentioned. His zeal this time obviously was not in anger because people are not drawn to an angry man. Instead, “the blind and the lame came…and he healed them.” (h)
When the chief priests and scribes saw he was healing people, they became indignant. Jesus responded to ‘their’ anger by simply and calmly quoting a Scripture about children praising God, then he left. (i) There is not even a hint of anger indicated in the words or actions of Jesus.
Since this is the only place in Scripture that is used to indicate Jesus was angry and acted in anger, we can confidently say Jesus did not provide any justification for anyone to act in anger.
There is not even a hint of anger indicated in the words or actions of Jesus.
Understanding Anger and Sin
Becoming angry is not identified in Scripture as sinful. However, we are instructed to “Be angry, and yet do not sin; let not the sun go down on your anger.” (j) Actions that are a result of anger are sinful. We are encouraged to not act in anger or remain angry beyond daylight. If Jesus acted in anger, he would have sinned. Scripture reports Jesus was “tempted in all things, as we are, yet without sin.” (k)
Yes, we can become angry when we experience contrary situations and harmful actions. God created us with the emotional component that can feel displeasure and get angry. Anger is “a created human emotion.” Our anger only becomes a sin when we function or act out in anger.
The Old Testament reports God was occasionally angry (emotionally stirred). He is said to be angry so we, as humans, could relate to His displeasure. God does not get angry nor can He act out in anger. (l) The New Testament continually speaks of God’s everlasting and merciful love for all of us. (m)
Anger was not even indicated when God responded to the destructive sin of Adam and Eve. He simply sent them out of the Garden to experience the relational separation they chose. The first time anger is mentioned in Scripture, it is an emotion in Cain. God instructed Cain to do well, to do what is right, lest he sinned. Unfortunately Cain did not heed the advice, acted out in anger, and killed Abel. (n)
An example is found in the discipline of a child. When children act inappropriately, a corrective word of instruction is fitting. Correcting in love tends to encourage restoration. If a child continues in the error, a stronger corrective action may be appropriate. However, if we administer punishment while angry, the corrective intent can be received as destructive to the child’s perception of righteousness.
God’s purpose in our lives is to draw us out of our erroneous ways. Since we can’t see God with our natural eye, His spoken word (logos) came into this natural world to live as a son, (o) and provide a visual for us to follow. (p) Thus, Jesus is our example, pattern, and role model to follow in this life.
While the Old Testament record occasionally indicates God can be angry, His restoring action always functions with all the attributes of the Fruit of the Spirit: “Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” (q) The Eternal One is not able to negate or delete any part of His nature. He is always motivated by restoring love. His correction seeks to bring restoration.
Rather than labeling our sinful actions as righteous anger, when angry, let us be quick to ask God for help so we do not sinfully act out in our anger. Doing the ‘right thing’ in anger is never the right thing.
What a difference this insight can make in our life and in the lives of those around us.
God is always motivated by restoring love. His correction seeks to bring restoration.
a) John 2:13-15; b) 2 Chronicles 7:11-15; Isaiah 56:7; c) Jeremiah 7:8-11; d) John 2:13-17; Psalm 69:9; e) 2 Corinthians 9:1-2; Romans 10:2-3; f) John 2:16; g) Matthew 21:5- 9; h) Matthew 21:12-15; Luke 19:46; i) Matthew 21: 16-17; j) Ephesians 4:26-27; k) Hebrews 4:15; l) John 3:17; m) Isaiah 54:8; Jeremiah 31:3; Romans 8:38-39; n) Genesis 4:5-8; o) John 1:1, 14, 18) p) John 1:1, 14, 18; q) Galatians 5:22-23
Keith Carroll, “The Relationship Guy”
Relational Gospel Founder
Created To Relate author