13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. 15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?” 21 But he was speaking about the temple of his body.
- What indication(s) do you see that Jesus was angry?
- How long does it take to make a whip of cords?
- What was Jesus' purpose in doing what he did?
- As an obedient Jewish boy, how many times had he been to temple for Passover?
- How many times had he seen the "house of trade"?
- Why violence now?
I can see where people would conclude Jesus was in a fit of rage here. Unfortunately a fit of rage is about being out of control and acting without thinking. That is sinful. Jesus took the time to make the whip, which he probably needed to drive out the sheep and cattle. Was Jesus angry about what he saw? I think he could have been, but it does not say so. I know scholars have argued if this is the same event as the cleansing after the triumphant entry. I believe this was the first time Jesus went to Passover after the Holy Spirit came down on him. I believe the sense of offense was greater than previous visits to the temple. This passage does NOT give us permission to be full of rage, even "righteous rage". This was about the physical temple of God. That building does not exist today. Blowing up abortion clinics because Jesus cleaned the temple cannot be justified. Blowing up at a person who dares question our belief in Jesus cannot be justified. Anger happens. You can choose what causes anger and you can choose what to do with the anger. Do not let Satan use either side of your anger.
2 comments:
i've learned at the church located on my college campus that emotion is the indicator of one's heart. why was Jesus angry? what was the cause of his anger? i think Jesus was angry because what he experienced conflicted with what was on his heart. i wonder if my heart matches with Jesus's and i realize i am so far from his holiness. His righteousness leads me to repentence...(though i barely repent so selfish in my daily walk)
In John 2:13-21 was apparently the first time Jesus entered the Temple and drove out those who were selling. If he was angry as you have stated, it would seem logical to me that he would have also been angry the second time he drove out those who exploiting those who came to worship. He certainly could not have been pleased! I believe Jesus was angry in John 2 and also angry in the accounts in Matt. 21, Mark 11, and Luke 19. Jesus was angry with those who exploited those who came to the Temple to worship. I believe it is OK to be angry about sin. Anger and joy are emotions God gave me at birth. I believe there are correct and incorrect ways to use them. I am stll saddened by what I witness in my daily walk in this world. Notice I used the word "sad." I am sad because many of those I come in contact with are lost and their condition makes me sad. There are also those I see on occassion who just plain anger me because of what I hear and see. The point is that I control my anger and do not let it get the best of me.
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