God’s Righteous Anger: A Warning to the Unrepentant

As parents, we express deep love for our children, but we also become angry when they disobey us. Some parents even go as far as yanking them and correcting their children to bring them back into order. In a similar way, our Heavenly Father—Jesus Christ—shows love, but also righteous anger when we go astray.

God’s anger is especially stirred by two things:

1. Hypocrisy – When we pretend to be righteous while living in sin, it grieves and angers Him.

2. An unrepentant heart – When we refuse to turn from our wrongdoing, His heart is deeply troubled.

In Matthew 23, Jesus proclaims “Woe to you” more than seven times, primarily addressing the hypocrisy of the religious leaders. Hypocrisy is something He utterly despises.

Another instance of God’s righteous anger appears in Matthew 12. In this reflection, we’ll explore the reason behind God’s anger in these passages and what steps we must take to align our hearts with His will.

[Matthew 11:20-24 NIV] 20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent. 21 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. 22 But I tell you, it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on the day of judgment than for you. 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."

Here we read Jesus begins to denounce the towns where he did his ministry

1. Capernaum - Jesus based His ministry here (Matthew 4:13). Many miracles are recorded here: More than 4 miracles recorded in Gospel

   1. Healing a centurion’s servant (Matthew 8:5–13)

   2. Healing Peter’s mother-in-law (Matthew 8:14–15)

   3. Healing a paralyzed man lowered through the roof (Mark 2:1–12)

   4. Casting out a demon in the synagogue (Mark 1:21–28)

2. Bethsaida

   1. Jesus healed a blind man here (Mark 8:22–26).

   2. It’s also the hometown of Peter, Andrew, and Philip (John 1:44).

   3. It’s Possibly where the feeding of the 5,000 took place (Luke 9:10–17).

3. Chorazin

   1. No specific miracles are recorded in the Gospels, but Jesus says He did miracles there, As the Bible has many more that’s hidden from our eyes.

When we read Matthew 11:20, we see a sobering moment:

[Matthew 11:20 NIV] 20 Then Jesus began to denounce the towns in which most of his miracles had been performed, because they did not repent.

Jesus had performed countless miracles in these towns—Capernaum, Bethsaida, and Chorazin—yet the people refused to turn from their sinful ways. His response was one of righteous anger, a deep sorrow and judgment toward unrepentant hearts.

How does this relate to us today ?

• We are not so different from the people in those towns. Like them, we’ve experienced God’s blessings, deliverance, and miracles in our own lives—yet many continue to live as if nothing has changed.

• Reflect back :

  • How many times has God protected you from danger or rescued you from the enemy’s schemes?

  • How often has He healed you, provided for you financially, or answered your cries for your family, job, or studies?

• Yet, after receiving His help, how quickly do we return to old habits, clinging to worldly patterns instead of seeking His heart?

• We often ask God for more—more blessings, more favour, more provision—but we rarely pause to pray: “Father, with all You’ve given me, how can I be used by You? Can I be a vessel for Your purposes? I surrender my weakness and my life to Your will.”

• These are the prayers God longs to hear—prayers of repentance, surrender, and availability.

• The truth is, God can only use us when we repent and walk in purity. The enemy prowls like a roaring lion, seeking to destroy, and we cannot serve God effectively while harbouring sin. God’s anger is righteous, and it stands against hypocrisy, pride, and unrepentant hearts.

• Yet even in His anger, God gives us a path to restoration. In Matthew 11:21, Jesus calls out the need for repentance—not just as a warning, but as an invitation to return to Him fully.

How should we repent ?

[Matthew 11:21 NIV] 21 "Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida! For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.

He asks us to repent using Sack cloth and ashes. Olden days when a prophet comes and warns of the people Sin’s they repented in that manner.

We see two examples of how people repented

King Ahab (1 Kings 21)

King Ahab was the seventh king of Israel. He is remembered for his evil reign, his marriage to Jezebel, and how he led the people into idol worship. Jezebel pushed him to do wrong, and Ahab even went against God’s prophets, especially Elijah. One of his worst actions was stealing Naboth’s vineyard, which led to a strong warning from God.

• When you read 1 Kings 21, he was one of the wicked king , who invited God’s wrath – [1 Kings 21:25-26 NIV] 25 (There was never anyone like Ahab, who sold himself to do evil in the eyes of the LORD, urged on by Jezebel his wife. 26 He behaved in the vilest manner by going after idols, like the Amorites the LORD drove out before Israel.

• Sins of King Ahab from God’s eyes

  • Idolatry – Worshipping false gods (1 Kings 16:31–33)

  • Persecuting God’s prophets (1 Kings 18:4)

  • Stealing and murder – Naboth’s vineyard (1 Kings 21)

  • Rejecting God’s truth (1 Kings 22)

• God Speaks thru Prophet Elijah to warn of his sin’s in 1 Kings 21

• Ahab’s blood would be spilled where Naboth’s was and licked by Dogs (1 Kings 21:19)

• His family line would be wiped out like Jeroboam and Baasha (1 Kings 21:21–22)

• Jezebel would also die a violent death  and dogs will devour her (1 Kings 21:23)

• When Ahab heard God’s judgment, he was deeply affected:  [1 Kings 21:27 NIV] 27 When Ahab heard these words, he tore his clothes, put on sackcloth and fasted. He lay in sackcloth and went around meekly.

  • He tore his clothes

  • He put on sackcloth

  • He fasted and walked around humbly

  • He sought God’s mercy (1 Kings 21:27)

• Because Ahab humbled himself, God showed mercy. He postponed the disaster [1 Kings 21:28-29 NIV] 28 Then the word of the LORD came to Elijah the Tishbite: 29 "Have you noticed how Ahab has humbled himself before me? Because he has humbled himself, I will not bring this disaster in his day, but I will bring it on his house in the days of his son."

  
  

Jonah and Nineveh (Jonah 3)

The people of Nineveh were living in great sin—violence, lies, greed, idol worship, witchcraft, pride, and oppression—and this made God very angry. So, He sent Jonah to warn them, giving them a chance to repent before facing destruction (Jonah 1:2).

• After running from God and spending time in the belly of a fish, Jonah obeyed and preached God’s message in Nineveh (Jonah 3:2–4).

• The people believed Jonah’s message. They fasted, wore sackcloth, and even their king humbled himself, calling everyone to turn from their evil ways (Jonah 3:5–9).

• Because they truly repented, God had mercy on them and did not destroy the city as He had warned (Jonah 3:10). [Jonah 3:10 NIV] 10 When God saw what they did and how they turned from their evil ways, he relented and did not bring on them the destruction he had threatened.

God’s Words of Warning (“Woe to You”)

• We are like Capernaum—God has blessed us with the chance to hear His Word, to serve Him, to bless others, to repent, and to grow as disciples, following His commands.

• But just receiving these blessings isn’t enough. We must listen to His voice and live in obedienceto His will.

• In [Matthew 11:23-24 NIV] 23 And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day. 24 But I tell you that it will be more bearable for Sodom on the day of judgment than for you."

• This shows that judgment day will be severe—even Sodom, a famously sinful city, will face less judgment than those who ignore God after experiencing His truth.

• Those who refuse to change despite knowing God’s Word will face serious consequences, even eternal separation from God.

How Should You Repent? — Throw It Off!

Jesus invites us in Matthew 11:28–30 to come to Him with all our burdens, and He promises to give us rest. He says His yoke is easy and His burden is light. So how do we truly repent and experience this rest?

Throw Off What Hinders You - [Hebrews 12:1 NIV] 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us,

We must let go off everything that holds us back—like tossing out garbage or cleaning off barnacles from a ship’s bottom that slow it down.

• Throwing off takes effort—we must be intentional and determined.

• Like slippery moss that causes us to fall, sin and burdens must be removed so we can walk strong in our faith.

What Should We Throw Off?

• Anything that weighs down your walk with God.

• Anxiety? Throw it on Jesus—He cares for you.

• Doubt? Surrender it—ask Jesus to strengthen your faith.

• Pride? Humble yourself before God.

• Sin? Confess it—He will forgive and set you free.

Who Should You Give It To?

• Give it all to Jesus. His promise is clear: Matthew 11:28-30 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest…”

• He already defeated sin on the cross and gives us victory when we come to Him with sincerity.

How Do You Receive God’s Mercy and Compassion?

Just like King Ahab and the people of Nineveh, humble yourself before God. Use the ABC of repentance:

A – Accept

• Admit you’re a sinner and that your best efforts fall short.

• Isaiah 64:6 reminds us that even our good deeds are like filthy rags without God.

• Accept with your heart, not just your words.

B – Believe

• Believe that Jesus is the only Savior who can free you from sin—no matter how bad it is.

• Hebrews 11:6 says we must have faith to please God and believe He rewards those who seek Him.

C – Confess

• Confess your sins honestly to God.

• Proverbs 28:13 says those who confess and turn from their sins find mercy.

• Confess your pain, your goals, and your plans—He will shape them for His glory (Proverbs 16:3-4).