Man, this anger thing can get real intense...there are so many ways to approach it. But for me, I am going to "keep the reins tight", and keep these thoughts with anger to a minimum.
First, my Pastor sent me a couple of thoughts that are worth noting on the subject of anger. He writes: " Some people think what makes anger a "holy anger" is...if the person who is angry is in the right or not. Has a real sense of justice been violated?"
He then goes on and shares this: " The difference between our own self anger and a "righteous anger" is whether: 1) the wrong that has been done is against yourself, 2) is the wrong against someone else, or 3) is the wrong against the Lord Himself?'
He concludes with these thoughts: " There is really no such thing as a "righteous anger" if its only goal is to make things right for your own self. True "righteous anger" only comes when it is directed to assist and help others, or if it simply to confirm what God says in the Scriptures."
I like that...because for me it singles out what is a consistent theme throughout the Sacred Scriptures...we live to serve and help others, and to honor God. Notice too, he did not say we "defend" God in a righteous anger, we simply confirm to others what God has proclaimed. God is quite capable of defending Himself, yet we can express a "righteous anger" when we see God's Word being used for evil.
Now, on to Jesus and the Cleansing of the Temple....
The big question!! Did Jesus cleanse the Temple twice? Numerous Bible scholars point out the "Temple Story" is told in John 2 at the beginning of His ministry and then in Matthew 21, at the end of His earthly ministry.
Personally, I think it was once, because of this reason. The Jewish writing of that era was one that would "build a case" and gather the facts. Chronological order wasn't a priority....the facts were. So, whether He cleaned out the Temple once, twice, or even numerous times...the real question for me is...why? What caused Jesus to get angry?
At this time in Jerusalem, during Passover the place was "packed". The Temple itself had been enlarged by Herod, to make the event more of a financial success and take in more income...to produce more "tax money".
The Sadducees of the Jewish hierarchy had "priestly authority" over the events going on at the Temple, and for example, to offer the sacrifice of a dove or lamb, there was a 1/2 shekel Temple tax to perform this offering.
Often people brought sacrificial animals with them, but the one big requirement, they could not have any blemish. A number of animals would be rejected by the Temple priests...but there were "pre-approved" animals at the Temple a person could purchase. (Reminds me of auto-sales jokes and stories...."I'm sorry we found a blemish on your animal...but we can help you still get what you want!) The problem?...the unblemished animals for sale were a little "pricey"... some Bible historians claim they were up to 20 times the going rate. (Have you ever gone to a professional sports game, like baseball or football... and bought food or merchandise...kind of the same thing.)
Also, because of various nationalities coming to Jerusalem for the Passover, money exchange was necessary. Tyrian coinage was preferred, Roman coins were rejected. The charge for exchanging your money money to be used in the Temple...could be as high as a 25 to 30% charge to do the exchange.
All this money exchange and purchase of animals were being done in the outer court of the Temple...known as the court of the Gentiles. It was in this place a Gentile could come and make himself right before the Lord through prayers, while the Jewish people could go into other places within the Temple.
So, what had basically happened was the "outer court" wasn't that important to the "Jewish place of sacrifice", so they used the area to conduct business.
In Mark 11:17, Jesus response to what was going on...that is after He had drove all this "business" out of the outer Temple was: "The Scriptures declare My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations, but you have turned it into a den of thieves."
This is the real root cause, at least to me, what caused Jesus to get angry. The buying and selling of animals, the taxes imposed, or the money exchange were not what really triggered His anger (although this was "sickening" as well)...it was the fact a Gentile could not enter a "house of prayer" because of all the "business" that was going on.
Did Jesus actually hit anyone? The Scriptures do not say He did...what He did do was knock over the tables of the merchants, knock over the benches of those selling doves, and did use a type of leather strap...to drive out the animals. Also, it is worth noting He drove out both the buyers at the moment this all took place as well as those selling.
Was Christ anger under control?...yes, it certainly was! How do I know...look at the results right after He had done this. When a person is mad or out of control on anger...he needs to be pulled away..get out of the situation...at least for the moment. Look what Jesus did!
Was His action justified?...well, going back to my own pastor's earlier comments...who is getting the glory? Was Jesus acting selfless? Did others benefit from this action? I think the answer to these questions are: yes...yes...and yes.
Here then is a Gleaning from Matthew 21: 12-14:
"Jesus went straight to the Temple, entered, and began to drive out everyone who was selling or buying...because they were doing this in a Sacred place.
He turned over the 4 foot tables of the moneychangers as well as benches being used by merchants to sell doves.
He said, "My House is designated as a house of prayer, but this is nothing more than a hangout for thieves."
Now, after Jesus had done this, there was now room for the blind...for the cripple...to get in. They came to Jesus...and He healed them."
Notes:
1. Doves were offerings given by the poor.
2. Earlier in Matthew, chapter 10, verse 16...it reads:
" Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves: be wise as serpents...and innocent as
doves."
3. A few verses later in Matthew 21, the priestly authority of the Temple were "MAD" at Jesus because they could hear children in the outer Temple (where the money changers and sellers had been) singing praises...to God!
4. This "MADNESS" of the Jewish priesthood caused them to think of a way to have Christ Jesus be put to death.
First, my Pastor sent me a couple of thoughts that are worth noting on the subject of anger. He writes: " Some people think what makes anger a "holy anger" is...if the person who is angry is in the right or not. Has a real sense of justice been violated?"
He then goes on and shares this: " The difference between our own self anger and a "righteous anger" is whether: 1) the wrong that has been done is against yourself, 2) is the wrong against someone else, or 3) is the wrong against the Lord Himself?'
He concludes with these thoughts: " There is really no such thing as a "righteous anger" if its only goal is to make things right for your own self. True "righteous anger" only comes when it is directed to assist and help others, or if it simply to confirm what God says in the Scriptures."
I like that...because for me it singles out what is a consistent theme throughout the Sacred Scriptures...we live to serve and help others, and to honor God. Notice too, he did not say we "defend" God in a righteous anger, we simply confirm to others what God has proclaimed. God is quite capable of defending Himself, yet we can express a "righteous anger" when we see God's Word being used for evil.
Now, on to Jesus and the Cleansing of the Temple....
The big question!! Did Jesus cleanse the Temple twice? Numerous Bible scholars point out the "Temple Story" is told in John 2 at the beginning of His ministry and then in Matthew 21, at the end of His earthly ministry.
Personally, I think it was once, because of this reason. The Jewish writing of that era was one that would "build a case" and gather the facts. Chronological order wasn't a priority....the facts were. So, whether He cleaned out the Temple once, twice, or even numerous times...the real question for me is...why? What caused Jesus to get angry?
At this time in Jerusalem, during Passover the place was "packed". The Temple itself had been enlarged by Herod, to make the event more of a financial success and take in more income...to produce more "tax money".
The Sadducees of the Jewish hierarchy had "priestly authority" over the events going on at the Temple, and for example, to offer the sacrifice of a dove or lamb, there was a 1/2 shekel Temple tax to perform this offering.
Often people brought sacrificial animals with them, but the one big requirement, they could not have any blemish. A number of animals would be rejected by the Temple priests...but there were "pre-approved" animals at the Temple a person could purchase. (Reminds me of auto-sales jokes and stories...."I'm sorry we found a blemish on your animal...but we can help you still get what you want!) The problem?...the unblemished animals for sale were a little "pricey"... some Bible historians claim they were up to 20 times the going rate. (Have you ever gone to a professional sports game, like baseball or football... and bought food or merchandise...kind of the same thing.)
Also, because of various nationalities coming to Jerusalem for the Passover, money exchange was necessary. Tyrian coinage was preferred, Roman coins were rejected. The charge for exchanging your money money to be used in the Temple...could be as high as a 25 to 30% charge to do the exchange.
All this money exchange and purchase of animals were being done in the outer court of the Temple...known as the court of the Gentiles. It was in this place a Gentile could come and make himself right before the Lord through prayers, while the Jewish people could go into other places within the Temple.
So, what had basically happened was the "outer court" wasn't that important to the "Jewish place of sacrifice", so they used the area to conduct business.
In Mark 11:17, Jesus response to what was going on...that is after He had drove all this "business" out of the outer Temple was: "The Scriptures declare My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations, but you have turned it into a den of thieves."
This is the real root cause, at least to me, what caused Jesus to get angry. The buying and selling of animals, the taxes imposed, or the money exchange were not what really triggered His anger (although this was "sickening" as well)...it was the fact a Gentile could not enter a "house of prayer" because of all the "business" that was going on.
Did Jesus actually hit anyone? The Scriptures do not say He did...what He did do was knock over the tables of the merchants, knock over the benches of those selling doves, and did use a type of leather strap...to drive out the animals. Also, it is worth noting He drove out both the buyers at the moment this all took place as well as those selling.
Was Christ anger under control?...yes, it certainly was! How do I know...look at the results right after He had done this. When a person is mad or out of control on anger...he needs to be pulled away..get out of the situation...at least for the moment. Look what Jesus did!
Was His action justified?...well, going back to my own pastor's earlier comments...who is getting the glory? Was Jesus acting selfless? Did others benefit from this action? I think the answer to these questions are: yes...yes...and yes.
Here then is a Gleaning from Matthew 21: 12-14:
"Jesus went straight to the Temple, entered, and began to drive out everyone who was selling or buying...because they were doing this in a Sacred place.
He turned over the 4 foot tables of the moneychangers as well as benches being used by merchants to sell doves.
He said, "My House is designated as a house of prayer, but this is nothing more than a hangout for thieves."
Now, after Jesus had done this, there was now room for the blind...for the cripple...to get in. They came to Jesus...and He healed them."
Notes:
1. Doves were offerings given by the poor.
2. Earlier in Matthew, chapter 10, verse 16...it reads:
" Behold, I send you out as sheep in the midst of wolves: be wise as serpents...and innocent as
doves."
3. A few verses later in Matthew 21, the priestly authority of the Temple were "MAD" at Jesus because they could hear children in the outer Temple (where the money changers and sellers had been) singing praises...to God!
4. This "MADNESS" of the Jewish priesthood caused them to think of a way to have Christ Jesus be put to death.
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