6 Things That Made Jesus Angry

The Bible says, “be angry and do not sin,” and during Jesus sinless life He expressed righteous indignation at pivotal moments to teach His us all eternal lessons. Here are six heart issues that incited His anger.

Hypocrisy

Jesus dealt harshly with those who appeared pious on the outside but had hearts that were far away from God. Referring to a crowd He says, “How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when there is a plank in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye and then you will clearly see to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.” Before we accuse others, we must first examine ourselves and then deal with others graciously.

Greed

Nothing is more telling of Jesus’ outward expression of anger than when He drove out the money changers. Using the church as a vehicle for economic activity, instead of promoting spiritual vitality demonstrates a wrong heart that idolizes money. Jesus saw into their hearts and saw that they weren’t in the temple to encounter God, but to make a profit from those coming to make an offering unto The Lord.

Lukewarm Living

It is Christ’s desire that people burn deeply in their spiritual life and not be straddling the fence as He says, “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold or hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth.” Jesus desires a level of spiritual intensity that is always progressing in the life of God. Middle of the road faith is off putting because it demonstrates a believer unwilling to prevail in spiritual matters…becoming like stagnant water.

Hard Heartedness

In Mark 3:5 it reads “And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand.” Instead of the discussion being around the power of God’s miracle for healing, the onlookers accused Jesus of doing ‘good works’ on the Sabbath. Their loyalty to legalism prevented them from having a right heart before the powerful presence of God.

Superiority

The Scribes and Pharisees were in particularly on bad terms with Jesus during His ministry because they were placing a spiritual demand on people that they themselves were unable to meet, “They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but they themselves are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger.” The heart that lord’s expectations over others that are not of God, exalts the doctrines of men and not the Holy Word of God.

Spiritual Pride

Jesus challenged the people to give their spiritual offering of prayer, fasting and tithes/offering in secret to God. He warned them not to be like those who only demonstrated these practices to be seen and praised by others. Self-righteousness clogs the flow of Kingdom power from flowing through your life because it diminishes our ability to be humble and yielded under the Father’s power.