Did you know that feeling angry isn’t a sin? That’s right– even Jesus felt angry at times during His life on Earth! Anger is a natural emotion that we all experience at one point or another, a feeling that can lead to sin and cause destruction OR lead to growth. That is why as Christ followers, it is vital to learn how to handle anger in a healthy, spiritually mature way. 

Fortunately, the Bible has something to say about both God’s righteous anger and human anger. So, check out the list of Bible verses about anger below, and by seeing the similarities and differences between God’s righteous anger and human anger, we can learn to control our anger before our anger controls us!

EPHESIANS 4:26-27 (NIV)

“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… Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

JAMES 1:19-20 (NIV)

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.

1 CORINTHIANS 13:4-7 (NIV)

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does no evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always preserves. 

PSALM 103:8 (NIV)

The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. 

ROMANS 12:17-19 (NIV)

Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everyone. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God’s wrath, for it is written: “It is mine to avenge; I will repay,” says the Lord.

PSALM 7:11 (NIV)

God is a righteous judge, a God who displays his wrath every day.

LEVITICUS 19:18 (NIV)

Do not seek revenge or bear a grudge against anyone among your people, but love your neighbor as yourself…

PROVERBS 14:29 (NIV)

Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly. 

ECCLESIASTES 7:9 (NIV)

Do not be quickly provoked in your spirit, for anger resides in the lap of fools. 

JAMES 4:1-2 (NIV)

What causes fights and quarrels among you? Don’t they come from your desires that battle within you? You desire but you do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: 

For more encouragement, support, and tools to equip you, we encourage you to check out these additional resources:

• MESSAGE: To watch Liquid Church's entire message on "How To Manage Your Anger” from Part Three of our Series, “Been There" click here.
• ARTICLE: How To Repair A Relationship - Where do you start when a relationship needs repair? Click here to find out.  
• MESSAGE: Every single person on earth has let someone else down. The truth is no matter what we do, someone won’t be pleased. Learn how to break free from trying to please everyone. Watch, “You Can’t Make Everyone Happy.”  Click here to find out why.