WHAT MADE JESUS ANGRY ?
By Dr . Alan Pue
Anger is not a word we often associate with Jesus . When we think of the Prince of Peace , anger is not the emotion that comes most readily to mind . Indeed , some would say that we should never respond with anger at the evil we see ; to experience anger , they say , is always inappropriate for a follower of Christ . Yet even a cursory glance at the life of Christ would suggest that anger is a fitting response to certain situations .
One event that quickly comes to mind is Jesus disrupting the commercial efforts of vendors who , in pursuit of profit , have desecrated the Temple . Using a whip while toppling tables covered with money and product qualifies as anger , righteous anger certainly , but anger nonetheless .
Then there were the running verbal battles with the Pharisees and Sadducees described in Matthew 21-23 . If you doubt that Jesus was angry , consider the number of times he declared woe , a particularly caustic word of condemnation , on those religious leaders . The response of the Pharisees and Sadducees was equally angry : “ The chief priests and elders . . . plotted to arrest Jesus by stealth and kill him .” Sometimes speaking truth to power comes with painful consequences .
We could explore other occasions , but I want to focus on something that directly relates to our children in today ’ s cultural environment . This event most likely takes place in Capernaum . A group of disciples gathered and posed this question to Jesus , “ Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven ?” In response , Jesus calls a child to His side and observes , “ Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven .”
That is an interesting but typical response from our Lord . Rather than give the expected reply , He does what He so often does and uses the moment to make an additional , related observation . Through this observation , I want you to consider my question : What made Jesus angry ? Ponder what Jesus says next .
“ It is better [ Jesus observes ] for you to have a millstone tied around your neck and be cast into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble .”
Try using that line at the next local public school board meeting you attend . Seriously , try using such language to criticize a decision to implement a curriculum you see as challenging the very nature of truth or what it means to be human and see what happens . I suspect you would become the next online sensation as your words are uploaded to YouTube . Yet Jesus did not hesitate . Rather He took advantage of a critical question to clarify what He considered essential regarding how we must equip our children for life in a fallen world .
In doing so , He also did not waver in expressing how strongly He feels about those who , by word or deed , would cause “ one of these little ones to stumble .” 1 Jesus is not speaking here of the periodic times when we , as adults , might inadvertently say something in error or anger . Rather the word employed is skandalizo which means “ to cause to fall , to speak with the intent of enticing , trapping , or influencing [ someone ] in any way that leads him into sin or in any way makes it easier for him to sin .” 2
The Apostle Paul makes a similar observation in his letter to the church of Ephesus . He instructs his readers that the primary responsibility given those called to lead the church is to
36 THE RENEWANATION REVIEW