“my house shall be called the house of prayer” matthew 21:12-17
TRANSCRIPT
I. Righteous indignation in action vs 12
This is the second time Jesus had done this and the first time He used a whip to chase everyone away! (see John 2)
Righteous indignation defined by the modern world
A reactive emotion of anger over perceived mistreatment, insult, or malice. It is akin to what is called the sense of injustice.
Righteous indignation defined by the Scriptures
Although the actual term does not appear, the content most certainly does. It contains much of the same attributes as the modern worlds definition, but it mainly has to do with defending our faith and the things of God.
How did Jesus justify His anger in the temple?
By referring to the Scripture in Isa 56:7
“It is written”Jesus had complete confidence in the Scripture!
Isa 56:7
Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people.
Romans 2:2
But we are sure that the judgment of God is according to truth against them which commit such things.
Judging by appearance? Wrong!
for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart. I Sam 16:7
Judging what we don’t know fully understand. Wrong!
He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him. Prov 18:13
Matthew 26:7,8
There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat.
Judging between what is right and wrong? Right!
In II Samuel 12:7 Samuel told King David who had Uriah killed so that he could take Bathsheba that what he had done was wrong.
Cold Hard Truth
Usually when we claim to have righteous indignation, we are just angry. In Matthew 5:22 Jesus warns us not to be angry “without a cause”.
Pauls great advice in Ephesians is…“Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil”.
A few more thoughts on anger from Proverbs.
Pro 14:17 He that is soon angry dealeth foolishly: and a man of wicked devices is hated.
Pro 14:29 He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding: but he that is hasty of spirit exalteth folly.
Jas 1:19 Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: Jas 1:20 For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God.
We can confess our unrighteous anger and start fighting the right fight, which is the good fight of faith!
III. The results of the temple being restored were immediate vs 14
The restoration of the temple even for a brief moment brought back the presence and power of Almighty God!
Something to ponder..
What could God do in our house of worship and private homes, if He was allowed to fully restore the order and chase away things that do not belong there?
Nehemiah 2:17
Then said I unto them, Ye see the distress that we are in, how Jerusalem lieth waste, and the gates thereof are burned with fire: come, and let us build up the wall of Jerusalem, that we be no more a reproach.
II Chronicles 7:14
If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.
Let’s put it all together and summarise.
A. Righteous indignation should always produce righteous works. Perhaps a more accurate statement is that truly righteous indignation will always produce righteous works.
B. Unrighteous anger always produces risks.1.To our reputation2.In our relationships3.To our heavenly rewards
C. If we as His individual temples or the collective body of Christ lose our rightful identity at times or struggle to establish it, the Lord has given us a reliable Word to depend on for clear instruction. He depended on it, we can too!
1Co 6:19 What? know ye not that
your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.