Monday of Holy Week
The Cleansing of the Temple
12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.
-Matthew 21:12
Mark 11 Adds:
16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’[ISAIAH 56:7]? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’[JEREMIAH 7:11]”
-Mark 11:16-17
This Painting below is from the 1st Cleansing of the Temple at the Beginning of Jesus’
Ministry at Passover - John 2:13-15
“When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.”
-John 2:13-15
Back to Matthew 21
The 2nd Cleansing
“House of prayer… but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” 14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 BUT when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children [12 yr old and older “boys” ] shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” [This is what the children heard the Adults say before on Palm Sunday] they were indignant. 16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
SEE PAINTING by James Tissot
16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” [PSALM 8:2]
-Matthew 21:14-16
Back to Mark 11
18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. 19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.
-Mark 11:18-19
Q: Was Jesus ever angry?
Q: Is anger a sin?
Q: Was Jesus ever angry?
A: Yes.
(As far as what is known as “Righteous Anger”, when the Bible gives us a legitimate reason to be angry.)
Righteous Anger
When you have the biblical “right” to be angry about anything sinful.
Note: We do not have the right to wrongly express that anger.
So, it follows that, in and of itself Anger is NOT sin.
Q: Is anger a sin?
A: In and of itself, NO.
“In your anger do not sin” [Do not wrongly deal with it] : Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, [Be in the process of working through forgiveness. Have a plan.] 27 and do not give the devil a foothold.”
-Ephesians 4:26-27
YES - If we don’t have a biblically “Righteous” reason, unless it is acted out in a sinful way. It is an emotion like other emotions that
Righteous Anger
Q: Was Jesus guilty of “Destruction of property”?
Q: In his anger, did Jesus sin?
Righteous Anger
Q: Was Jesus guilty of “Destruction of property”?
A: NO – It was His property – “My House…”
Jesus is angry at anything that goes against who He is and the good that He intends to do.
He is angry at evil.
Q: What evil “Should” you be more angry at then you currently are?
Q: Where have you been de-sensitized?
What To Do About Our Anger
1. Get more angry if you need to.
2. Determine whether your anger is:
“Righteous Anger”
or
“Sinful, Selfish Anger”
What To Do About Our “Righteous Anger”
(Pray for self-control and God’s direction in properly expressing it)
What To Do About Our “Sinful, Selfish Anger”
(Confess and safeguard for the future)
One thing that can help you deal with anger better is to remember that God will get justice in the end.
‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”
-Romans 12:17-21
Psalm 7:11
"God is a righteous judge,
a God who displays his wrath
every day.”
(New International Version)
“God is a just judge,
And God is angry with the wicked
every day.”
(New King James)
“God is a righteous judge
and a God who has indignation
every day.”
(New Revised Standard)
“The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayer. BUT the face of the Lord is against those who do evil… But even if you should suffer for righteousness' sake, you will be blessed. Have no fear of them, nor be troubled.”
- 1 Peter 3:12-14
“Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. [Forgiven] All we like sheep have gone astray… and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all… Yet it was the will of the Lord to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt,”
-Isaiah 53:4-6,10
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.”
-Proverbs 15:1
“Let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger…”
– James 1:19
Trust God
“Do not repay evil for evil… but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.”
-1 Peter 3:9
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