Continuation of the Gospel of John -
Righteous Anger

John 2:13-25, Isaiah 56:1-8

When were you last angry and why?  What is the place of anger in a Christian's life?  The account of Jesus cleansing the temple is told in all four gospels.  He may have cleansed the temple on more then one occasion.  Why was Jesus so passionate about the activity going on in the temple?

A little background.  The activity was taking place in the outer court yard of the temple.  This was supposed to be a place where foreigners, non Jews, could come and worship.  By replacing their area of worship with commercialism the Jewish leadership was eliminating the place for foreigners to come and worship God.  The temple was to be a house of prayer, not a den of robbers.  (Matthew 21:13)  Therefore Jesus, God son, had every right to set things in order.

Points to Ponder:

• Den of robbers - Jesus was angry at the commercialism that was taking place.  We are not to be intermediaries that take a cut on religious activity.  Everyone deals directly with God.  Genuine worship includes joy for all.  Godliness with contentment is great gain.  (I Timothy 6:6)

• House of prayer - Irreverence of the temple was to desecrate it.  It is to be a place of sanctification, worship, and adoration.  We are to worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.  (Psalms 29:2)

• For all Nations - The outer court yard was for the gentiles but this system of commercialism kept them out.  God's plan is for all people to be gathered to Him.

Jesus Responds:

When confronted by the authorities as to why he drove out the cattle and upset the money-changers tables he responded to their request for sign.  He said them destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.  They were thinking about the stone temple which took 46 years to build but he was referring to his body and the resurrection three days after his crucifixion.  It wasn't long afterwards that he was crucified and three days later rose from the dead thus proving that he had the right to do what he did.

Concluding Points Regarding Anger:

• We are always to show love to the sinner but call the action what it is sin.

• We must remember that as humans we can not love perfectly as God can nor can we hate sin perfectly as He does.

• Therefore we are admonished to Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger.  (Ephesians 4:26)