I decided to take a rain check on the next chapter of Matthew and write about something that tugged at my heart today. Did Jesus ever get angry? The answer is yes. Except in his case, his anger was completely justified out of concern and passion for God's holiness. There are multiple places throughout the gospels of Jesus's anger recorded. I like reading all of the accounts because although they are in essence the same story, each account's details are a little different.
Matthew 21:12-13
Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. “It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.'"
Mark 11:15-17
On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.'"
John 2:13-17
When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
The difference between being angry and being zealous is the root of the intent. As Joe pointed out for us during large group bible studies, Ephesians 4:26 instructs us to "in your anger do not sin" and to not let the sun go down while you're still angry. Therefore, anger must be dealt in a proper and timely manner. Jesus's anger was not out of bitterness or hate or out of petty arguments, but it was purely out of the hate of the Jews' sinful behavior and the desecration of God's holy temple. His anger was timely and controlled, meaning that he did not let his anger stem into bitterness or a grudge. He did not let his emotions get the best of him. His anger was always checked and supported by the scripture, which shows that his reaction was on account of accomplishing God's will. When we get angry, we let our emotions control us, which usually leads to sin. Jesus did not show man's anger, but the righteous indignation of God.
