Did Jesus Ever Get Angry?
Yes — and His anger reveals the fierce love of God.
You might be surprised by the question. Did Jesus — the kind, compassionate, forgiving Son of God — ever get angry?
If you’ve felt overwhelmed by injustice, frustrated with hypocrisy, or sickened by what people do in God’s name, you’re not alone. Maybe you’ve even wondered: Would Jesus care about this? Would He get angry too?
The world often portrays anger as something to avoid or suppress. And for good reason — much of human anger is selfish, destructive, or abusive. But there’s another kind of anger. A holy anger. One that burns not out of ego, but out of love for what is good and hatred for what destroys.
And yes — Jesus had this kind of anger.
In this article, we’ll explore one powerful truth:
Jesus did get angry — but His anger was never sinful. It was the holy expression of His love, justice, and truth.
And if we understand why He got angry, we may see not only His heart more clearly… but our own need for Him more deeply.
✨ One Central Truth: Jesus’ Anger Was Love on Fire
Let’s be clear: Jesus never lost control. He never sinned in His anger.
The Bible says:
“In your anger do not sin.”
— Ephesians 4:26
That verse alone implies something profound: Not all anger is sinful. And when it came to Jesus, His anger was always rooted in righteousness, not resentment. It was never about wounded pride or personal offense. It was always about defending the glory of God and the dignity of people.
Jesus’ anger shows us that true love doesn’t stay silent in the face of evil. His holy indignation is a window into the zeal, grief, and purity of His heart.
Let’s look at the key moments when Jesus got angry — and why they matter eternally.
🧹 Jesus Cleanses the Temple: Anger for God’s House
One of the most dramatic moments in the Gospels is when Jesus walks into the temple — and turns it upside down:
“Jesus entered the temple courts 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.”
— Matthew 21:12
Why was Jesus so angry?
Because the temple — the very place meant for prayer and worship — had been corrupted by greed. Religious leaders were exploiting the poor, charging inflated prices for sacrifices. The sacred had become a scam.
In John’s Gospel, Jesus quotes Scripture as He does it:
“Zeal for your house will consume me.”
— John 2:17, quoting Psalm 69:9
This wasn’t a violent outburst. It was a righteous confrontation. Jesus wasn’t defending Himself — He was defending the holiness of God and the dignity of the people who had come to seek Him.
His anger was worship.
It was passion for purity. Love for the Father. Grief for the people.
And it still speaks today.
🛑 Angry at Hypocrisy: When Religion Hardens the Heart
Another moment of anger is recorded in Mark 3:
“He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts…”
— Mark 3:5
Here, Jesus was about to heal a man with a shriveled hand. But the Pharisees — religious leaders — were watching closely, hoping to catch Him breaking the Sabbath rules.
Instead of rejoicing at healing, they were cold, critical, and calculating.
Jesus’ response? Anger. Grief. Pain.
Why?
Because they had no mercy. They were more committed to their rules than to the healing of a human soul.
And that made Jesus righteously angry.
He wasn’t lashing out. He was mourning the death of compassion in people who claimed to know God. It broke His heart.
Still today, Jesus is angry at religion that hurts more than heals — that shames the broken, that hides behind rules while ignoring love.
🐍 Woe to the Hypocrites: Jesus’ Fierce Words to the Pharisees
Some of the strongest language Jesus ever used was directed at religious hypocrites:
“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the door of the kingdom of heaven in people’s faces…”
— Matthew 23:13
Read Matthew 23, and you’ll find seven “woes” — scathing, sorrowful indictments of those who pretend to serve God but actually serve themselves.
- They tithed herbs but neglected justice.
- They made converts only to burden them.
- They cleaned the outside, but inside were full of greed.
Jesus didn’t rant. He wept.
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem… how often I have longed to gather your children together… but you were not willing.”
— Matthew 23:37
His anger was not detached. It was personal. Because He loved them — and their hard hearts broke His.
Jesus is angry not because He hates us — but because He loves us enough to call out the sin that separates us from God.
💔 The Grief of Holy Anger: At Lazarus’ Tomb
One of the most mysterious verses in Scripture comes at the tomb of Lazarus:
“Jesus wept.”
— John 11:35
But just before that:
“When Jesus saw her weeping… He was deeply moved in spirit and troubled.”
— John 11:33
The Greek word used here (ἐμβριμώμενος) can mean “to be moved with indignation.” Jesus wasn’t just sad — He was angry.
Why?
Because death — the result of sin — had ravaged the ones He loved.
Because the people He came to save were trapped in sorrow and unbelief.
Even as He prepared to raise Lazarus, Jesus felt the pain and injustice of death. He felt the ache of a broken world.
This is the anger of a God who hates death. Who steps into our grief.
And who would soon go to the cross to destroy death’s power forever.
🔥 Jesus’ Anger Is Still Burning — Against Sin
Make no mistake: Jesus is still angry.
The book of Revelation shows Jesus as a Lamb — and a Lion.
“He treads the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God Almighty.”
— Revelation 19:15
This is not petty anger. This is perfect justice.
Jesus is not indifferent to:
- Human trafficking
- Religious abuse
- Hypocrisy
- Hatred
- Self-righteousness
- Murder, racism, deception, and cruelty
He will bring every evil into judgment.
But here’s the good news:
Before Jesus brings wrath, He offers mercy.
He was angry at sin — but He took the penalty of sin on Himself.
✝️ The Cross: Where Righteous Anger Meets Radical Mercy
The most incredible truth is this: Jesus bore the wrath of God for us.
“God made Him who had no sin to be sin for us…”
— 2 Corinthians 5:21
He didn’t just get angry at sin — He died to destroy it.
He didn’t just call out hypocrisy — He took the punishment of liars, thieves, and rebels.
At the cross, God’s justice and mercy kissed.
His holy anger against sin met His unbreakable love for sinners.
🪞 Why This Matters to You
You may be wondering: So what?
Here’s why it matters:
- If you’ve been hurt by religious people — Jesus gets angry too.
- If you feel the weight of injustice — Jesus sees it, and He will make it right.
- If you’ve played religious games — Jesus calls you to repent and come clean.
- If you’ve sinned — as we all have — Jesus took the wrath you deserved, so you could receive grace instead.
His anger is not against you — it’s against the sin that separates you from life.
📣 Come to Jesus
Friend, Jesus sees everything — and He’s not indifferent.
He’s grieved by what you’ve suffered. He’s angry at what’s been done to you — and by you.
But He didn’t come just to expose sin. He came to save sinners.
“For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through Him.”
— John 3:17
So here’s the invitation:
Turn from your sin.
Stop hiding behind religion.
Come to the Savior who loves you enough to weep — and get angry — and die for you.
You don’t need to fix yourself.
You don’t need to pretend anymore.
You need Jesus.
🙏 A Simple Prayer
If your heart is stirring, talk to Him now:
Jesus, I believe You are the Son of God. You hate sin, and You love me. You died for my sin and rose again. I turn from my old life and trust in You. Forgive me. Heal me. Make me Yours. Amen.
Next Steps
- 📖 Read the Gospel of John — start with chapter 1.
- 🙏 Talk to God every day. Be honest.
- 🛐 Find a Bible-teaching church where you can grow.
- 📥 Reach out to someone who knows Jesus — or send us a message.
Yes, Jesus got angry. But His anger is not the end of the story — His love is.
And today, He’s calling you not to fear His anger… but to run into His arms.