MATTHEW 21

When we think about Jesus there are many images, which immediately come to mind.  Around Easter time we usually spend a lot of time think about either the Cross or the Resurrection. If you teach children's ministry maybe the image that comes to mind involves Jesus in a perfectly white robe with a red sash surrounded by children.  If you like to party a bit, maybe you think about Jesus turning water into wine.  Maybe your image of Jesus is a miracle worker, helper to the helpless, teacher, theologian, or counter-cultural revolutionary.

Most people don't think of an angry Jesus, but all four gospels record an incident where Jesus became very angry.

Matthew 21

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. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”

The synoptic gospels (Matthew, Mark & Luke) all tell this event by sharing similar details.  However John's gospel adds a small detail, which gives an even more intense image.

John 2

13 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...

 This event has to cause you to rethink the image of Jesus which comes to mind.  Literally it should add an image into your head of what Jesus was like.  I did a quick Google search to see how many images came up for "Jesus with a whip" and I discovered a witty internet meme which should be relevant for anyone who was a WWJD fan back in the 90's.

So when on earth was Jesus outraged by people selling doves at the Temple? Was this a church fundraiser gone terribly wrong?  

To fully understand His rage, you have to understand the full context of what was going on. These merchants were selling animals to be sacrificed most likely for a tremendous profit.  People would come to the Temple looking for atonement and forgiveness for their sins, and these merchants were profiting off of selling them forgiveness. Worse, the religious leaders allowed them to setup shop and abuse the Old Testament law for a profit.  

Jesus walked into the Temple and saw merchants and religious leaders leveraging God's name and His Law for their own profit at the expense of His people.  Even the religious leaders were using God's Temple for their personal gain.  He was furious!

So Jesus went outside and made Himself a whip.  Then filled with a righteous anger cleared their Temple of swindlers!

Jesus was so angry He brandished a weapon to threaten people, but unlike most of us, His anger was righteous.  

Stop and consider the things, which cause you to lose your temper:

• Your favorite team lost
• Your kid broke your favorite coffee mug
• Someone cut you off on the way to work
• One of your employees keeps making the same mistake over and over

When you consider what made Jesus to get mad, most of the things, which cause us to lose our tempter, seem very insignificant.  

The incidents, which induce our anger, reveal what we value!

Jesus valued His Father, the sanctity of the Temple, and justice for His people. When the things He valued were being defiled, a righteous anger was released.

What does your anger reveal about what you value?

PRAYER

God help me to value you what you value and be angered by what angers you.  Give me the wisdom and discernment to channel my emotions in a direction, which honors you.  

Amen

Sean Chandler | Associate Pastor

Sean has been a part of the association of Hill Country Bible Churches for over twenty years. He received Christ as a youth while attending Hill Country Bible Church Austin. He attended Hill Country Bible Church NW from 1989 to 2002. At that time he began attending HCBC Pflugerville. He served as a student ministry intern there for two years. In 2008, Sean graduated from Columbia International University with a double major in Bible and Bible teaching. Sean married his wife, Jennifer, in 2006. Their first child, Liam, was born in 2012, and their second, Chloe, was born in 2014.

He blogs regularly at seanchandler.net.