Jesus does not condemn all anger. Scripture testifies that the Lord himself is slow to anger (Exodus 34:6–7), implying that there is a time where anger is perfectly appropriate (see Psalm 76:1–12). Likewise, Saul was filled with anger (1 Samuel 11:6) when he heard the news of what Nahash the Ammonite was planning for the people of Jabesh-Gilead. Jesus also seems to have been angry when he found merchants in the Gentile court of the temple (see Matthew 21:12–13; John 2:13–17). Finally, both the psalmist and the apostle Paul affirm that it is possible to be angry without such anger resulting in sin (see Psalm 4:4; Ephesians 4:26). Taking things together, it seems as if anger may be appropriate when it is focused on furthering God’s agenda rather than that of the individual. 1
22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brotherwill be liable to judgment; whoever insultshis brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, ‘You fool!’ will be liable to the hellof fire.