What does the Bible teach about anger?

from the old testament

• We know that not all anger is sin because God gets angry (Psalm 7:11). For example, God was angry at the Israelites for worshiping the golden calf they created instead of worshiping Him (Exodus 32:1–14).
• When Moses became angry with the Israelites for their persistent rebellion and idolatry, he struck the rock at Meribah to bring forth water instead of speaking to it as God commanded (Numbers 20:7–12). His anger misrepresented God. As a consequence of this disobedience, God told Moses that he would not enter the Promised Land, illustrating the serious repercussions of allowing anger to cloud judgment (Deuteronomy 32:51–52).
• Anger becomes sinful when it is motivated by pride and allowed to escalate into agitation or a “boiling" state. Proverbs 29:11 says, "A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back."

from the new testament

• Some anger is righteous in nature because it is prompted by seeing things that go against God. Jesus, for example, got angry when He was at the Temple and saw it being used as a place of business rather than as the house of God (John 2:13–17).
• It can be right to be angry when injustice occurs or when God's Word is maligned or when people attempt to steal His glory. However, we are also wise to remember God's call to humility (Philippians 2:3–11; 1 Peter 5:5) and to recognize that not everything we might categorize as an "injustice" truly is, or is worthy of anger.
• Ephesians 4:26–27 says, "Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil." How we handle anger matters.
• While we should handle things that anger us, we must also remember that as God has forgiven us, we must also forgive others. Forgiveness will make you free, leaving no room for a root of bitterness to keep you stuck in your anger. "Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you" (Ephesians 4:31–32).
• Anger that does not come from God’s righteous anger can thwart God's purposes because it lingers and multiplies the negative emotions of the situation without offering a solution: "for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God" (James 1:20).
• Regardless of the situation, one way to avoid sinning in anger is to look for God at work in our own trials and the trials of others. Even if things are unjust right now, God promises that He will ultimately enact His justice, so we are not to take enacting justice into our own hands: "Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord'" (Romans 12:19).

implications for today

The best way to handle our anger is to acknowledge it and do something about it. When we allow our anger to simmer or cherish grudges, we only save up more trouble for tomorrow. Instead, we need to examine our anger and handle it in a healthy way. Anger alerts us to something amiss. When we are angry, we need to ask ourselves why we are. If it is for a righteous reason, we should seek God's wisdom in whether He is asking us to intercede in the situation in some way. If it is for an unrighteous reason, we need to confess it to God and ask for His help. Take the energy produced by anger to the problem itself instead of taking it out on the people involved. Any situation over which we might be angry is ultimately a result of the fallen nature of our world. The solution to the human problem of sin is Jesus. Jesus has also defeated Satan on the cross and will one day finally destroy Him. So rather than fight against one another, we do well to fight against our own sin, stand firm in faith, share the gospel of Jesus Christ, and wait in hopeful expectation for Jesus’ return. Ask God to help you process your anger in a healthy way without it turning to sin. The more you practice healthy methods to process your anger, the easier it will become.