When Jesus evaluated the seven churches of Asia in Revelation chapters two and three, He gave the Church of Ephesus a commendation regarding how they could not bear them which are evil.  Though the Ephesians got rebuked over a major problem they had as a group which they were (of course) required to repent of and fix, their commendations remain and are no less applicable to us.

Jesus told the Church of Ephesus in Revelation 2:2-3: “I know thy works, and thy labor, and thy patience, and how thou canst not bear them which are evil: and thou hast tried them which say they are apostles, and are not, and hast found them liars: And hast borne, and hast patience, and for my name’s sake hast labored, and hast not fainted.”

Anger is a God-given emotion.  Any emotion can be exercised properly or improperly.  Any emotion can be used for righteous or unrighteous ends.  

The Bible even says of Jesus Christ Himself in Hebrews 1:8-9: “But unto the Son he saith, Thy throne, O God, is for ever and ever: a scepter of righteousness is the scepter of thy kingdom.  Thou hast loved righteousness, and hated iniquity; therefore God, even thy God, hath anointed thee with the oil of gladness above thy fellows.”

Anger seems particularly destructive when it is exercised improperly and directed towards unrighteous ends.  Yet if that is so, it also must be fair to say that it is especially useful and productive when used properly towards righteous ends.

Consider Isaiah 9:6-7: “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counselor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father (that is, the Father of eternity), The Prince of Peace.  Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even for ever.  The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.”

Zeal and jealousy are basically interchangeable Biblically.  The word translated as “zeal” in Isaiah 9:7, which was just read, could have been translated as “jealousy.”  The Hebrew word used in Exodus 34:14 where God calls Himself a jealous God has the same root in Hebrew, and is almost the very same word, as the one translated as “zeal “ in Isaiah 9:7.  How would Jesus’ Government prevail, established with judgment and justice, apart from Him executing His zeal for judgment and justice according to God’s Law in anger upon the unrighteous?  It would not.  It could not.

Revelation 19:11-16: “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.  His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself.  And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.  And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.  And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.  And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, King Of Kings, And Lord Of Lords.”

Some might say that righteous anger is only for God.  When it comes to ultimately judging mankind and condemning people to hell, yes, that is only for God.  Yet when it comes to man walking in line with God’s commandments, and to man exercising the dominion God has given to him upon earth, that is definitely not the case.  

No one can be Christ’s disciple in truth who walks in line with His Supreme Authority unless hatred of iniquity (that is, hatred of transgression of God’s Law) characterizes them (without partiality and without hypocrisy).  

We read in Amos 3:3: “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”

We also read in Revelation 2:26-27 how Jesus says: “And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father.”

Those who overcome will have done so because they walked in line with Christ in this life and showed forth the principles of His Government in this life according to the circumstances they found themselves in and according to the jurisdiction which they had.

Did not Jesus call the weary and heavy laden to take His yoke upon them and learn of Him in Matthew 11:29?  He surely did.  In the very next chapter (Matthew chapter 12) we see how the Pharisees condemned Jesus’ disciples for violating the Sabbath when they were actually guiltless.  They had not violated the basic principle in why the Sabbath ought to be kept when they plucked the ears of corn and ate on the Sabbath Day.  

It is also possible to condemn the guiltless over righteous anger that is in line with the heart and mind of God.  We are supposed to be angry at God’s name being dishonored in the incredibly many ways this happens, angry regarding the lies abounding everywhere, and angry at people being so brutally victimized by others in the incredibly many ways this happens.

When someone assumes that another person has sinned just because they are angry, or because they might seem a bit angry at least, it is very possible that the one making the accusation is guilty themselves and is shifting the blame on one who rightfully opposes them in their sin.  It is also possible that they have issues with unrighteous anger themselves and are projecting their own slavery to their carnal passions onto another.  

Though I don’t rule out that things could be more nuanced and complicated, I see 3 qualities of righteous anger from the Bible.  Anger which has these qualities is not likely sinful.  Anger which doesn’t have these 3 qualities is indeed sinful.  Even then, it is possible still, in the case of the latter two qualities being absent (that we’ll get to), that there is yet something to be rightfully angry about.  The one who is the object of the anger could still be greatly guilty, yet the one who is angry needs to get in line themselves.  

Here are three key and essential qualities of righteous anger.

One)  For anger to be righteous it must be directed at something that is actually unrighteous.  

Every sinner who is at enmity with God has some controversy with God (at least one- perhaps a multitude of controversies).  Otherwise, they wouldn’t be sinners.

Isaiah 59:1-2: “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save; neither his ear heavy, that it cannot hear: But your iniquities have separated between you and your God, and your sins have hid his face from you, that he will not hear.”

Psalm 66:16-20: “Come and hear, all ye that fear God, and I will declare what he hath done for my soul.  I cried unto him with my mouth, and he was extolled with my tongue.  If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me: But verily God hath heard me (this was a righteous man praying); he hath attended to the voice of my prayer.  Blessed be God, which hath not turned away my prayer, nor his mercy from me.”

Sinners get angry when the sins they are attached to get diagnosed and reproved.  It is surely even worse for them if they cast off restraint when that happens.

Proverbs 12:16: “A fool’s wrath is presently known: but a prudent man covereth shame.”

The anger of the people of Sodom was inherently wicked because they were defending their sin.  Likewise, with the idolatrous rioters in Ephesus in Acts chapter 19.  

It is no wonder if those in this category of unrighteous anger match with the other ways which unrighteous anger can be diagnosed.  It is also especially no wonder if those in this category display a few, many, or all of the bad fruits which might accompany unrighteous anger.

Two)  For anger to be righteous it must act within righteous boundaries. 

Romans 12:21 says: “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”

Though the Pacifists twist this verse that was just read, not accounting that the following verses speak of honoring God-ordained powers which are channels of His vengeance on evildoers in this life, we should make sure not to take vengeance on people, even people who really are doing wrong, outside of God-ordained channels of vengeance.  When Jesus spoke about not resisting evil and how we shouldn’t take eye for an eye, He wasn’t saying that the judicial authorities shouldn’t take an eye for an eye nor was He saying we shouldn’t seek to bring evildoers to justice through the judicial authorities.  He was saying that it is unrighteous to track people down and take the law into our own hands.  Violence is only appropriate in defense of yourself or of another in immediate danger, or when done through appropriate authorities who are doing the violence as a result of the due process of law being carried out.  It is being overcome by evil to give into the temptation to attempt to harm someone otherwise (and it is possible to seek to harm others through ways that don’t involve the use of physical violence- remember that).

When Phinehas, in the Book of Numbers, thrust the man of Israel and the Midianitish woman he was fornicating with through with a javelin in the Book of Numbers, he did so as a Judge of Israel who was deputized by Moses (the political leader of his people).  If you read Numbers chapter 25, you’ll see how Moses commanded the judges of Israel to slay those whom they were in charge of who were involved in the idolatrous fornication which had become prevalent among the Israelites.  That is why God commended and blessed Phinehas for his action.  

With this in mind, something can always be done to stand against evil- even if we don’t have the authority to take the drastic measures that sometimes ought to be taken.  That might involve a word of rebuke and/or separating from a group (maybe even of family members) who are committing, promoting and/or defending sin.  There is always a way to somehow confront a grievous evil and disassociate ourselves from evil.  Not availing oneself of righteous options in that regard is wrong.  Failing to have righteous anger like one ought to could very well be the reason many lack the driving force to do what they need to do in order to righteously confront evil according to their jurisdiction.  When one doesn’t confront evil according to their jurisdiction in the ways it truly is appropriate for them to do, they become guilty of enabling evil.

Proverbs 28:4: “They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.”

Three)  Righteous anger doesn’t cause one to lose self-control.

This is an especially an area where even an authentic Christian might especially struggle and have to grow and gain a lot of wisdom in order to not be shaken by things that are really evil which they really have to do something over.  The emotional stability to process and react to evil consistently like a mature Christian ought to surely does not come overnight.  There are also always new and unexpected situations which might cause anyone to be confused or agitated so that they need to take a deep breath and get alone for a few minutes occasionally so that they don’t have an emotional breakdown.  Though every now and then a sinner will maintain self-control for wicked ends, maintaining self-control can be a very hard thing.  Yet anyone, even a brand new Christian, who is being led by the Spirit of God and following Christ in truth will be checked and reminded that they can’t lose control of themselves no matter how outrageous the evil that has attacked them or been brought to their knowledge is.  

That doesn’t mean they will never, ever be unsparingly vicious and cruel to evildoers, if and when, they are in a position to take vengeance on heinous behavior that is in their jurisdiction to avenge.  It does mean though that they will use inappropriate timing and maintain the self-control to start when it is fit that they start and stop when it is fit that they stop.  

They will not get carried away.

Many think of a dangerous person as someone who has lost all self-control  Yet a person who is fully in control of themselves might be even more dangerous.  That is especially true of Jesus Christ.  This was even seen in a limited way at His first coming.  Note that His cleansing of the Temple wasn’t due to Him losing control of Himself.  It was rather the opposite. 

Mark 11:8-17: “And many spread their garments in the way: and others cut down branches off the trees, and strawed them in the way.  And they that went before, and they that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna; Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord: Blessed be the kingdom of our father David, that cometh in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest.  And Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve (note the patience).  And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry: And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet.  And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of thee hereafter for ever.  And his disciples heard it.  And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves; And would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.  And he taught, saying unto them, Is it not written, My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer?  but ye have made it a den of thieves.”

Someone whose normal mode of operation involves anger is in the flesh- and hence, in sin.  

There is a very narrow set of circumstances where righteousness demands anger, and where that anger also ought to be expressed in a forceful, heavy way.  

The principles which are given here are set forth to help those who have ears to hear discern when anger is appropriate/when and how anger is righteous.  This is important not only for knowing how we should act in the various circumstances of life, but it’s also important to discern whether criticism we receive is valid or not.  Those who are rightfully angry and need to express righteous anger will receive opposition and criticism.  Yet unrighteous anger should be criticized and possibly opposed as well.  We need discernment.  

We also need to discern between true servants of God from false ones.  These things should be able to help with that also for those who will be honest.  

Matthew 7:13-17: “Enter ye in at the strait (constricted) gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait (constricted) is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.  Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.  Ye shall know them by their fruits.  Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?  Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.”

If we can’t discern good fruit from corrupt fruit, that is a big problem.

Aaron’s email is: [email protected]

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