What Does the Bible Say About Anger?
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How does God want us to deal with anger?
It’s silly to assume that being a Christian automatically makes us immune to emotions like anger. I wish it were that way, but we can tell based on instruction in the Bible that anger is something even God’s people have to deal with.
There are going to be things in this life that upset us; some things more than others, but the point is, anger happens. It’s always because we lack the leadership or communication skills required or because we’re lousy people persons (although that can be true of some). Sometimes it boils down to the fact that the way Christians are instructed to live doesn’t fit into the majority of cultural norms.
Where there are differences and opposing views, conflict is likely to follow. Where there is conflict, there is likely to be hurt, confusion, and anger. That creates questions.
What is the root of anger?
Is anger a sin according to the Bible?
How does God want us to deal with anger?
What does the Bible say about anger and rage?
In this article, we are going to explore how to deal with anger according to the Bible. I’ll provide you with courageous and grace-filled steps for working through anger in a way that honors God as well as Scripture on anger and resentment, their consequences, and how to keep anger from being a stumbling block. I also provide a printout of biblical steps for dealing with anger for you to print, save, and reference later. Scroll down for the pdf!
Ok! Let’s get started.
What Is the Root of Anger?
Anger is a cue is that there is something going on in the spirit that needs to be addressed; a pain or heart-ache, an injustice, a weariness, fear, sometimes even stress. It’s a clue that there is a mending that needs to take place. That understanding in addition to the foundation David laid in Psalm 4:45 teaches us that though it is often a stumbling block, anger in and of itself is not sinful.
There are two primary types of anger in the Bible: righteous anger and unrighteous anger. You’ll get plenty or examples of unrighteous anger in the sections to come. It’s prideful and destructive.
The reality is that anger does have a place in this battle between light and dark, right and wrong, righteousness and wickedness. It can spur us on to do good things such as stand against injustice and stand up for the oppressed. This is what we call righteous anger. The danger comes when we allow anger to rule our spirit and serve our pride instead of our being sober-minded and dealing with anger in a manner that honors God.
Is Anger A Sin According to the Bible?
What does the Bible say about anger and bitterness? Most people will agree that nothing good comes from sitting and stirring in anger. But is anger in and of itself sinful? David spoke to this briefly in Psalm chapter 4,
Be angry and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed and be still. Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.
Psalm 4:4-5
One of three things usually happens when anger surfaces in a person. We either give it more authority than we should and it pulls us out of Christ-like character; we ignore it, OR draw near to God and allow Him to lead us in righteousness despite our upset.
Many assume that being slow to anger is a mark of weakness. That assumption is far from true. God describes Himself in the Bible as slow to anger (Exodus 34:6). If God is slow to anger and a fruit of His Spirit (Holy Spirit) is patience – that shows me that being slow to anger is a mark of strength in the Lord.
Scripture also provides plenty of verses that show us the consequences of anger in the Bible when left unchecked.
- Anger leads to trouble (from Psalm 37:8).
- Anger and quick tempers lead to quarreling and fighting (from Proverbs 29:22).
- Harsh words stir up anger (from Proverbs 15:1).
- Anger can lead to sin (from Ephesians 4:26).
- People with a hot temper do foolish things (from Proverbs 14:17).
- Cain allowed his anger to lead him to murder (Genesis 4:5).
- Levi and Simeon (from the 12 tribes of Israel) lost out on the family blessing because of the choices they made in their anger – even though their anger was a response to an injustice (see Genesis 49:5-7).
- Saul’s anger led him to hate his own son, lose his anointing and his kingdom, and tempted him to attempt to murder Israel’s future king (1 Samuel chapter 19, 1 Samuel 20:30, 1 Samuel chapter 15).
The consequences of anger in the Bible seem pretty heavy. They can be just as heavy in present-day life. Anger can damage relationships, cause us to act foolishly, miss out on family blessings, lose appointments, authority, and influence both now and in the future. It can damage and weaken our Christian witness.
Unchecked anger is not good for us. This leads us to the next question, how does God want us to deal with anger?
Click to download and save a printout of this What Does the Bible Say About Anger Bible Lesson
How Does God Want Us to Deal With Anger?
This is where dealing with anger takes courage. Instead of sitting and stirring in anger or trying to overlook it, we’re going to face it head-on and sort through it using the wisdom of Psalm 4:4-5. We have already learned through this Scripture what not to do (do not sin in your anger). The remainder of this article will teach you what you should do. I’ll list the steps for you briefly here and will dig deeper into each step as you continue reading.
How does God want us to deal with anger?
- Take time to process it.
- Offer a sacrifice of righteousness (this is so key)!
- Let God order your steps.
- Be courageous.
What Is the First Step In Dealing With Anger? Take Time to Process It.
The Bible is a really practical place to go for anger management advice. What does the Bible say about anger management? Let’s start with this:
“Be angry and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed and be still…” Psalm 4:4
The word meditate means to consider or think deeply or carefully about something.
When we discipline ourselves to be still and think carefully about our circumstances, feelings, and actions; we’re giving ourselves time and opportunity gain a new perspective and process things through a spiritual lens. This is a key step in dealing with anger in a way that honors God. Paul reminds us in his letter to the believers in Ephesus,
“For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12.
The devil doesn’t need an invitation to disrupt our lives; he needs only an opportunity. We can shut the door on that opportunity by being slow to speak and taking the time to process what we’re feeling and thinking. Here are 5 questions that help me process anger in a healthy way.
- Is this anger warranted?
- Did this situation hurt my pride? Or did it convict my heart? (Conviction and rebuke aren’t always pleasant to receive and if we aren’t quick to humble ourselves, unrighteous anger can rise up in us. Learn to recognize where anger is coming from.
- What is most important; the conflict itself or your relationships with the people in the conflict?
- What is God revealing about my heart and character in this situation?
- What is God revealing about the heart and character of the offender in this situation?
Offer A Sacrifice of Praise and Righteousness
…Offer the sacrifices of righteousness…
Psalm 4:5
I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.
Romans 12:1
Both David and Paul make the connection that our body, our actions, and how we live are to be considered living sacrifices to God.
A sacrifice is an act of worship. A sacrifice of righteousness is a sacrifice offered with the right motives in accordance with God’s laws. What laws do we have from Scripture that instruct our conduct and worship?
Jesus said to him, “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
Matthew 22:37-39
This perspective radically changes things. We realize that in order to honor God while dealing with anger we have to make some sacrifices. We have to let go of everything our flesh wants to hang onto and everything thought our mouths want to spew out and move forward with an attitude of worship.
This article provides practical tips for guarding your words and thoughts when angry.
Let God Order Your Steps
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
James 1:5
If the conflict you’re in requires a solution, trust God for it.
If it requires reconciliation, trust God for it.
If you’re needing help to move forward because you just don’t know how or it seems too complicated or too big to manage, ask God. He’ll provide all the wisdom you need.
And if your heart needs healing, know that true healing is a gift from God and that He is your source and provision.
Be Courageous & Do The Good Work
And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
Galatians 6:9
The world teaches that a hard heart is a sign of strength. The Bible teaches us to trust God with our hearts and to keep doing good even when it hurts (see the above Bible verse). Give grace where it’s not merited; to overlook offenses (see Proverbs 19:11). Love those who hate and persecute you (Matthew 5:44). Forgive as you’ve been forgiven (see Ephesians 4:32).
Why? Because that is a reflection of God’s love in action. We are expected to be witnesses of that love and also to GIVE that love. Jesus taught that followers of Jesus will be known by our love for each other (John 13:35) and by our fruits (Matthew 7:16 and Matthew 12:33). It’s God’s love and the fruits of His Spirit in us that reveal the truth about God to those around us. We can not let anger be the thing that stops us from loving and serving well.
Every conflict, hurt, anger, frustration, and even injustice should be approached with the understanding that we are ministers of the gospel, and EVERY situation we are placed in is an opportunity to point people to Jesus.
“Be strong and courageous and do the work…” 1 Chronicles 28:20
This is the instruction King Solomon was given when he received his assignment and appointment to be Israel’s new king. Moses passed those same words onto Joshua when he stepped into his new role as leader of Israel (Deuteronomy 31:7). Jehoshaphat spoke the same words as he appointed new priests and leaders to join Him in living for the Lord (2 Chronicles 17:11). Now I’m passing those encouraging words on to you. Be courageous. Be gracious.
As far as the situations in your life that stir up anger, don’t ignore them but work through them. Invite God to walk you through them. Allow them to be opportunities for good work to take place, truth to be made known, and His name to be glorified.
What Does God Say About Anger in Marriage?
Most of the advice the Bible gives about anger management can be applied to marriage relationships as well. Let’s look at some additional scripture to answer the question, what does the Bible say about anger and resentment in marriage?
Paul wisely instructs us in Ephesians 4:26 to deal with our anger before nightfall. Why? Because when angry unchecked is an open door for the devil. It prompts us to react harshly, speak cruelly, and cater to the whim of our emotions. When we’re in that state, we can’t produce the righteousness and love God asks of us. Anger left unchecked can cripple a marriage.
On the other hand, a gentle response can turn anger away (see Proverbs 15:1). The best move we can make when we’re angry at a spouse is to respond respectfully with gentleness and trust God to deal justly with you and your spouse.
We can guard against anger by being slow to speak and get angry (James 1:19-20), allowing grace to filter our speech (Colossians 4:6), being kind, forgiving, and tenderhearted (Ephesians 4:32), and conducting your marriage with mutual respect out of reverence for Christ (Ephesians 5:21).
Anger doesn’t have to be a stumbling block for us! Use these tips and scripture verses above to guard against unrighteous anger and prioritize honoring God in heated moments!
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