The concept of God's anger against impenitence is a recurring theme throughout the Bible, illustrating the divine response to human stubbornness and refusal to repent. Impenitence, or the persistent state of unrepentance, is met with God's righteous indignation, as it signifies a rejection of His grace and commandments.

Old Testament References

In the Old Testament, the anger of God against impenitence is vividly depicted. The prophets frequently warned the Israelites of the consequences of their hardened hearts. In Jeremiah 5:3 , the prophet laments, "O LORD, do Your eyes not look for truth? You struck them, but they felt no pain; You crushed them, but they refused correction. They made their faces harder than stone and refused to repent." This passage highlights the stubbornness of the people and God's response to their refusal to turn back to Him.

Similarly, in Isaiah 1:4 , the prophet declares, "Woe to a sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a brood of evildoers, depraved children! They have forsaken the LORD; they have despised the Holy One of Israel and turned their backs on Him." The impenitence of the nation leads to divine anger, as they continue in their sinful ways without seeking forgiveness.

New Testament References

The New Testament continues this theme, emphasizing the necessity of repentance to avoid the wrath of God. In Romans 2:5 , the Apostle Paul warns, "But because of your hard and unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of wrath, when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed." Here, Paul underscores the danger of impenitence, as it leads to the accumulation of divine wrath.

Jesus Himself addresses the issue of impenitence in the Gospels. In Matthew 11:20-24 , He reproaches the cities where He performed miracles, yet they did not repent: "Then Jesus began to denounce the cities in which most of His miracles had been performed, because they did not repent." The passage continues to describe the severe judgment awaiting those who remain unrepentant despite witnessing His works.

Theological Implications

The anger of God against impenitence is not arbitrary but is rooted in His holiness and justice. God's desire is for all to come to repentance, as stated in 2 Peter 3:9 : "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise as some understand slowness, but is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." However, when individuals persist in their impenitence, they reject the opportunity for reconciliation and invite divine judgment.

The biblical narrative consistently presents repentance as the pathway to restoring a right relationship with God. The anger of God against impenitence serves as a sobering reminder of the seriousness of sin and the necessity of turning back to Him with a contrite heart.Psalm 7:12
If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he has bent his bow, and made it ready.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Proverbs 1:30,31
They would none of my counsel: they despised all my reproof.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Isaiah 9:13,14
For the people turns not to him that smites them, neither do they seek the LORD of hosts.
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Romans 2:5
But after your hardness and impenitent heart treasure up to yourself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God;
Torrey's Topical Textbook

Bourdaloue -- the Passion of Christ
... the curses which one such imprecation has drawn upon them, the anger of heaven ... shall
not cry louder than the blood of Abel against Cain; then, O God of my ...
/.../various/the worlds great sermons vol 2/bourdaloue the passion of.htm

Third Sunday after Trinity Humility, Trust, Watchfulness ...
... are laid to our account, by which we anger God and merit heavy ... But if, in hardened
impenitence, we defy and oppose him, he cannot but rise up against us. ...
/.../luther/epistle sermons vol iii/third sunday after trinity humility.htm

The Assyrian Captivity
... the Lord referred to the Assyrian hosts as "the rod of Mine anger." "The staff ...
Grievously had the children of Israel "sinned against the Lord their God, . ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 23 the assyrian captivity.htm

An Index to Find any Hymn by the Title or Contents of It.
... Passions, see Christ, Sufferings, Anger, Love ... 1:48; 2:129; and love, 1:14; for the
gospel, 1:103; 2:3; the want of it, 2:25; against sin, 2:106; for God, 2:116 ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/watts/hymns and spiritual songs/an index to find any.htm

Sixteenth Day. Grief at Sin.
... He looked round on them with anger!" Never did He ... knowledge of the deep and obdurate
impenitence of those ... can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?". ...
/.../christianbookshelf.org/macduff/the mind of jesus/sixteenth day grief at sin.htm

Jeremiah
... he will be enticed, and we shall prevail against him, and ... me, but with judgment;
not in Thine anger, lest Thou ... Lord," he recalled the providences of God in his ...
/.../white/the story of prophets and kings/chapter 34 jeremiah.htm

Indexes and Tables
... convey not grace, i. [2080]99. Passion, see Christ, Sufferings, Anger, Love. Passover,
Christ is ours, ii. ... [2410]25; against sin, ii. [2411]106; for God, ii. ...
/.../watts/the psalms and hymns of isaac watts/indexes and tables.htm

The Doctrines of Salvation A. Repentance. B. Faith. C. ...
... receive the gift of the Holy Ghost." Impenitence keeps back ... be considered as the
cessation of the moral anger and resentment of God against sin; or ...
/.../evans/the great doctrines of the bible/the doctrines of salvation a.htm

Repentance
... Shall I sin against a gracious Father, and abuse that love ... Lord, and I will not cause
mine anger to fall ... yet upon thy repentance, the sea of God's mercy can ...
//christianbookshelf.org/watson/the ten commandments/4 2 repentance.htm

The Cause and Cure of Earthquakes
... for want of room, were continually striking against each other, and ... How slow is the
Lord to anger! ... Yet the merciful God said, "Hitherto shalt thou come, and no ...
/.../wesley/sermons on several occasions/sermon 129 the cause and.htm

What does the Bible say about anger? | GotQuestions.org

What does it mean to not let the sun go down on your anger? | GotQuestions.org

What does the Bible mean when it says in your anger do not sin (Ephesians 4:26)? | GotQuestions.org

Anger: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.com

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