A question often asked is, “Is it a sin to be angry?” In short, the answer is, no. A person can come to that conclusion because the Bible informs us that the Lord Himself got angry. “And when He had looked around at them with anger, being grieved by the hardness of their hearts, He said to the man, ‘Stretch out your hand.’ And he stretched it out, and his hand was restored as whole as the other” (Mark 3:5 NKJV). Yes, Jesus was angry, and yet, according to Hebrews 4:15, He was “without sin.” Further, the apostle Paul wrote, “Be angry, and do not sin…” (Ephesians 4:26). It would seem the Scriptures give allowance for anger, yet those same Scriptures reveal the purpose for anger and instructions on how a person should exhibit or demonstrate his anger.
Purpose
When God made man and saw the whole of creation, the Bible says, “it was very good” (Genesis 1:31). That would necessarily include the range of emotions (including anger) God created man to have. Anger has a purpose. When a person sees sin, wickedness, injustice, abuse and other such things, anger should prompt him to intervene and bring justice and correction. When Jesus saw His Father’s house being used to take advantage of those seeking to worship, Jesus sprang into action and cleansed the Temple by turning over tables and driving out the money changers. Anger should be used to bring about righteous change.
Demonstration
First, a person should be self-controlled and slow to anger. “A wise man fears and departs from evil, But a fool rages and is self-confident. A quick-tempered man acts foolishly, And a man of wicked intentions is hated” (Proverbs 14:16–17). James wrote, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:19-20).
Second, a person should be so governed (led or controlled) by the Word of God that he does not allow his anger to push him into sin. “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice. And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:31–32).
Remember, Cain (Genesis 4:1–8) and Moses (Numbers 20:8–12) yielded to anger and committed sin. When unchecked, anger can create great problems in a person’s life. The wise King Solomon even warned against being friends with easily angered people. “Make no friendship with an angry man, And with a furious man do not go, Lest you learn his ways And set a snare for your soul” (Proverbs 22:24–25).
Conclusion
While it may not be a sin to be angry, anger must have its place and be properly checked, lest a person sins. “Do not hasten in your spirit to be angry, For anger rests in the bosom of fools” (Ecclesiastes 7:9).
