Speaking on the topic of righteous anger, Saint Paisios the Athonite said the following:
There is a righteous, divine indignation, and only this indignation is justifiable in man.
When Moses saw the people sacrificing to the golden calf, he got very angry and threw down the tablet of stone with the commandments given to him by God, and they broke (cf. Ex. 32:1-20).
Phinehas, the grandson of the high priest Aaron, had committed two murders and yet God established a covenant whereby the perpetual priesthood of Israel would derive from him and his descendants. When he saw the Israelite man Zimri sinning with the Midianite Cozbi before Moses and all the Israelites, Phinehas could not control himself; he rose and slew both of them, putting an end to God's anger. Had he not slain both of them, the wrath of God would have befallen all the people of Israel (cf. Num. 25:1-15). What a fearful thing!
When I read in the Psalter the verse: "Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed" (Ps. 105 LXX/106:30), I kiss his name many times.
There is a righteous, divine indignation, and only this indignation is justifiable in man.
When Moses saw the people sacrificing to the golden calf, he got very angry and threw down the tablet of stone with the commandments given to him by God, and they broke (cf. Ex. 32:1-20).
Phinehas, the grandson of the high priest Aaron, had committed two murders and yet God established a covenant whereby the perpetual priesthood of Israel would derive from him and his descendants. When he saw the Israelite man Zimri sinning with the Midianite Cozbi before Moses and all the Israelites, Phinehas could not control himself; he rose and slew both of them, putting an end to God's anger. Had he not slain both of them, the wrath of God would have befallen all the people of Israel (cf. Num. 25:1-15). What a fearful thing!
When I read in the Psalter the verse: "Then stood up Phinehas, and executed judgment: and so the plague was stayed" (Ps. 105 LXX/106:30), I kiss his name many times.
Even Christ Himself, when He saw in the temple courtyard merchants selling calves, sheep, doves, and the money changers, took a whip and drove everybody out (cf. Jn. 2:14-15).
- From the book Spiritual Counsels 2: Elder Paisios of Mount Athos - Spiritual Awakening (2008, Holy Monastery "Evangelist John The Theologian") p. 57.
- From the book Spiritual Counsels 2: Elder Paisios of Mount Athos - Spiritual Awakening (2008, Holy Monastery "Evangelist John The Theologian") p. 57.
