Did Jesus Ever Get Angry?

[Guest]

Did Jesus have a temper? Ever get angry? Can we honestly say that He ever was violent, even a little bit--righteously so, without sin? (We know the Bible is clear, He never sinned; He was always in control.) The answer may be surprising:

Early in His ministry (He was still only 30), one day He seemed to the people around Him as One possessed, so unlike Himself. It was so strange, someone could have asked Him, "What's eating You?" While they watched Him in this uncharacteristic mode, His disciples remembered that it was written (in Psalm 69:9), "The zeal of Thine house hath eaten Me up."

What "ate Him up"? His holy concern for the Jews' Temple, which was then the house of His Father "for all people." They were desecrating it with profane, hard hearts. It was His first Passover since beginning His ministry. As He watched the worldly, selfish, commercial bargaining in the holy House itself, the selling of the cattle and doves, He was overcome by the horror of this massive hypocrisy at the very headquarters--heart of the true church of God in all the world for that day. All the righteous indignation that will flare forth in the final Day of Judgment blazed in His human eyes (He was "Emmanuel, ... God with us"!). He "made a scourge of small cords" with which He never touched a soul physically, but brandishing it He "drove them all out of the temple" and in the process grabbed their tables, turned them upside down, scattered all their money helter-skelter all over the floor. Get out of here! "Take these things hence." Strangely, no one could argue or linger; all ran for their lives (John 2:13-21).

A display of temper? You better believe it! Divine temper, yes. You and I don't want ever to face it--either now or in the last Day. Let's walk softly.

Such holy fear is not sinfully selfish. It's common sense. How can we say we believe in Jesus unless the "zeal of [His] house hath eaten [us] up" too? His agape "constraineth us ... henceforth" to live not for self but for Him (see 2 Cor. 5:14, 15). Total oneness with Him. Anything short of that is sin to be deeply ashamed of at last.

[skyblue888]

Yes this is called righteous indignation which is not to be confused with anger as we humans know it.

There is no unrighteousness in Him.

sky

[olger]

Dittos.

g

[teresaq]

How can we say we believe in Jesus unless the "zeal of [His] house hath eaten [us] up" too? His agape "constraineth us ... henceforth" to live not for self but for Him (see 2 Cor. 5:14, 15). Total oneness with Him. Anything short of that is sin to be deeply ashamed of at last.

i would say that all depends on whether we believe our unholy temper is like Christs or not.

if we have a picture of God getting angry just like we do when we are angry, id say we are in deep, deep, trouble.

aside from that, i would have to see an example of where any of Christs disciples felt that gave them license to behave, ever, in the same manner.

[Gerr]

If Jesus doesn't get angry when a young girl or boy is sexually molested and murdered, then I say He is not touched by our infirmities.

[Guest]

Amen

[John317]

There's no sin in anger itself. The Bible says, "Be angry, and do not sin." (Eph. 4: 26) About Jesus, it says, "when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts..." (Mark: 3: 5)

As Gerry pointed out, there are times when anger is the only correct response. There's a good reason that God made us with the ability to get angry.

I think the main difference between mere human anger and God's anger is that God's anger is motivated by agape/love and leads to righteousness, whereas people's anger is usually motivated by selfishness and leads to sin and doing harm to others.

[Guest]

I agree

[Stewart (SDA)]

One thing I am confident about is that Jesus' "zeal never led Him to become passionate..." (Ev 636.)

Danger comes close, I think, when we begin to think that Divine anger resembles the earthly name-sake. Of course those two things are as far apart as the heavens and the earth.

When it comes to worldly "anger", the words of Scripture are very relevant:

"An angry man stirs up strife, and a furious man abounds in transgression." (Prov 29 22)

And so,

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamor... be put away from you, with all malice." (Eph 4:31)

In my view, Jesus was never "angry" in the way that the world becomes angry. That kind of anger was always "put away" from Him.

Stewart.

[Tom Wetmore]

Good point. And further I am afraid we too easily let this justify our own anger. If Jesus was angry, it's OK if I get angry...

The endless "wrath of God" "God the destroyer", debates seem also a means to displace our own anger and thirst for revenge and sanctify it as God's righteous judgment. It seems that there are too many that seem delighted that God will punish those evil doers in the end. And the resistnece to the idea that God could forgive Hitler or even Satan tneds to reinforce this observation. I think there will be some who will be rather disappointed if they don't get to witness the screaming and agony of their personal enemies burning for a long time in a real lake of fire...

[John317]

And the resistnece to the idea that God could forgive Hitler or even Satan tneds to reinforce this observation.

It's not a question of God's forgiveness. In Christ, God has already forgiven all human sinners. However, in order for that forgiveness to result in salvation, the forgiveness must be accepted and work repentance in people's hearts. God already forgave Hitler but did Hitler accept God's forgiveness and is Hitler willing to give up his sins? That's the real question.

One of the main reasons for the resurrection at the end of the 1000 years is to demonstrate whether the wicked would change if given another chance. My understanding of the Bible is that the wicked will prove that they wouldn't change. Will Hitler be among them? It certainly appears that way. If he is, will it be because God refused to forgive him? No.

[Stewart (SDA)]

Good point. And further I am afraid we too easily let this justify our own anger. If Jesus was angry, it's OK if I get angry...

The endless "wrath of God" "God the destroyer", debates seem also a means to displace our own anger and thirst for revenge and sanctify it as God's righteous judgment. It seems that there are too many that seem delighted that God will punish those evil doers in the end. And the resistnece to the idea that God could forgive Hitler or even Satan tneds to reinforce this observation. I think there will be some who will be rather disappointed if they don't get to witness the screaming and agony of their personal enemies burning for a long time in a real lake of fire...

I agree with your thoughts, Tom. God's character comes into view in all these areas.

I share your thought that God can forgive Hitler and even Satan, as I believe that God loves every one of His creatures [even His most personal of enemies] with "an everlasting love."

I do not suggest that there is a possibility that either one can be saved, but I do hold that God's love does not "fail" for anyone. (As a structure can "fail" when it comes under sustained attack.)

And yes indeed Tom, if we are glad and rejoice at the prospect of an enemy falling and suffering, then... oh dear...

Stewart.

[Stewart (SDA)]

Thank you John 317, I am in agreement with all those principles.

[Gail]

Good point. And further I am afraid we too easily let this justify our own anger. If Jesus was angry, it's OK if I get angry...

The endless "wrath of God" "God the destroyer", debates seem also a means to displace our own anger and thirst for revenge and sanctify it as God's righteous judgment. It seems that there are too many that seem delighted that God will punish those evil doers in the end. And the resistnece to the idea that God could forgive Hitler or even Satan tneds to reinforce this observation. I think there will be some who will be rather disappointed if they don't get to witness the screaming and agony of their personal enemies burning for a long time in a real lake of fire...

It might seem like that, but there are some, like myself, who will simply let God do what He wants to do. If He wants to get angry, He is entitled to do whatever by merit of who He is. I trust that vengeance is His, whatever that means (the Bible just says it), and it doesn't make me want vengeance at all. That just says to me that I can trust those issues into His hands.

I can believe this and still be at peace. While we may at times become angry, there is no reason to hold anger. We can lift up that burden to Him who is all wise.

I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Why do some assume that I do?

[John317]

It might seem like that, but there are some, like myself, who will simply let God do what He wants to do. If He wants to get angry, He is entitled to do whatever by merit of who He is. I trust that vengeance is His, whatever that means (the Bible just says it), and it doesn't make me want vengeance at all. That just says to me that I can trust those issues into His hands.

I can believe this and still be at peace. While we may at times become angry, there is no reason to hold anger. We can lift up that burden to Him who is all wise.

I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Why do some assume that I do?

My sentiments exactly. Thank you.

[Stewart (SDA)]

Perhaps I should not say this, Gail, but I am touched by what you have said.

Stewart.

[Guest]

It might seem like that, but there are some, like myself, who will simply let God do what He wants to do. If He wants to get angry, He is entitled to do whatever by merit of who He is. I trust that vengeance is His, whatever that means (the Bible just says it), and it doesn't make me want vengeance at all. That just says to me that I can trust those issues into His hands.

I can believe this and still be at peace. While we may at times become angry, there is no reason to hold anger. We can lift up that burden to Him who is all wise.

I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked. Why do some assume that I do?

Amen Gail

[teresaq]

If Jesus doesn't get angry when a young girl or boy is sexually molested and murdered, then I say He is not touched by our infirmities.

on the surface that sounds right.

but it is forgetting the very important fact that each and every one of us is a child of God by creation. it is forgetting that God sees each of us as His children. it is forgetting that God is trying to save each one of us, not just the "good".

so for God it is more like one of His children has hurt another.

in that light it would seem to me that God is more in serious pain at the evil events taking place in our world than He is in anger.

[teresaq]

Good point. And further I am afraid we too easily let this justify our own anger. If Jesus was angry, it's OK if I get angry...

...I think there will be some who will be rather disappointed if they don't get to witness the screaming and agony of their personal enemies burning for a long time in a real lake of fire...

i sometimes get that impression also.

hopefully it is not an accurate one. :(