Anger is often considered an 'unholy' emotion, and one that Christians should avoid. Of course, we need to keep it in check, but righteous anger is repeatedly referenced throughout scripture. Here are 10 verses to show what the Bible has to say about it.
Ephesians 4:26
"In your anger do not sin": Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold."
Psalm 37:8
"Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret—it leads only to evil."
James 1:19-20
"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires."
Ecclesiastes 7:9
"Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools."
Galatians 5:19-21
"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Colossians 3:8-13
"But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.
"Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
John 2:13-16
"When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people 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 courts, 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! Stop turning my Father's house into a market!'"
Psalm 7:11
"God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day."
Proverbs 15:18
"A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel."
Ephesians 4:31
"Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice."
