Over the next few weeks, I'd like for us to take an in-depth look at the fifth chapter of the book of Romans, which contains some of the most powerful scripture ever written by the apostle Paul by inspiration of the Holy Spirit. We'll begin our study with the first five verses, Romans 5:1-5...
"Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience. And patience, experience and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us."
Verse one begins with Paul's declaration that we are justified by our faith, and that it is our faith which brings us into a state of peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. So, what does it mean to be justified by faith? We know that without faith it is impossible to please God, but here, Paul adds another dimension to faith by directly linking it with our justification. It is our sin which causes enmity and separation between ourselves and God, and it is justification which removes the guilt of sin, thereby making way for us to be at peace with God. However, we need to bear in mind that without the sacrifice that Jesus made for us on the cross, we would be without hope. We read in Ephesians 2:14-16..."For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; And that he might reconcile both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby..." It is our faith in His death, burial, and resurrection that provides our justification in the eyes of God.
"By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." With verse two, Paul tells us that our faith in Jesus grants us access to God's grace. Such a beautiful and sacred privilege to be given access to the grace of God, for it is grace which saves us. Paul writes later in Ephesians 2:8..."For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God." Our faith affords us access to God's grace, by which we are saved, but even our faith is a gift from God. Even the very faith which we claim as our own has been given to us freely by the merciful hand of God. The wonderful gift of God's grace is what we are to cling to, and rejoice in, and through His grace we have hope of life eternal when this life has ended. God's grace provides us with blessings which we could never hope to earn, or be worthy of, on our own. Paul finishes the second verse with a stirring reminder of the reason for our joy, as he tells us to "rejoice in hope of the glory of God." We should find contentment, peace, and happiness in the fact that we have been given an assurance of future glory.
"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;" Paul issues a challenge here, telling us that we are to glory in tribulations, because trials are God's way of refining our patience. Although the concept is not hard to understand, actually implementing this in our everyday lives can prove to be exceedingly difficult. When problems arise in our life, we need to try to focus on the fact that there is a lesson here to be learned, and that our character is being tested, and like a trial by fire, God is working on us, improving us, making us stronger, and preparing us for the future. Paul was led by the Spirit, and as such, he was able to see things as they truly are. This is the reason why Paul was able to withstand being shipwrecked, imprisoned, and beaten. He understood that God was refining his character, making him into what God wanted him to be, and this is what Paul is trying to convey to us. With prayer, the Spirit will lead us into this same mindset, and help us to see problems as they are, as an opportunity for growth, as well as a chance for us to be closer to what God would have us to be.
"And patience, experience; and experience, hope:" Verse 4 continues this thought, as Paul links patience to experience, and experience to hope. On the surface, these seem to be a natural progression, one into the next. However, if we look a little deeper, we can see that each trial that we go through, that is, each test that God gives us, gives us that much more experience which we can draw on during our next trial. Experience also tells us that there will always be another trial, another test. Though we can never hope to attain perfection as long as we are in the flesh, we should strive to see trials as evidence that God has not given up on us. He is longsuffering in His efforts to perfect His children, because He loves us. This is a sure reason for lasting hope.
"And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us." Paul here reassures us that hope does not bring shame, because our hope is anchored on the never-ending love of God, our Creator, Sustainer, Redeemer, and Friend.
Paul concludes the fifth verse by acknowledging the work of the Holy Spirit, telling us that the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us. We need to be mindful of this magnificent gift, and ever thankful for His work in our life. Not only does the Spirit lead us, but He also fills us with the love of God, and encourages us to share it with the rest of the world.
I'd like for us to take a look at the concept of forgiveness, as Jesus explained it to Peter in Matthew 18:21-35, in a parable about debt and compassion...
"Then Peter came to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was very wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses."
The first thing that we notice is that Peter inquires of Jesus concerning the extent of forgiveness that he is expected to extend to his brother. "How oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?" Peter understands that he is expected to be of a forgiving nature, but he questions at what point his mercy can be revoked, when he can, in good conscience, turn his back on his brother, after having forgiven so many trespasses. The question itself says a lot about Peter's state of mind at the time. He had the reputation of being rather impulsive, of not always thinking things through. Although his heart was in the right place, his emotions sometimes betrayed him, as they do all of us. Jesus clarifies his confusion as he explains..."I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven." Jesus would have us to be ready to forgive at all times, always ready and willing to extend an olive branch to those who have wronged us. There should never come a time when we close our hearts to people, and write them off forever. We may choose not to have contact with those who have proven themselves to be toxic to us, but we should never allow this self-preservation to turn into bitterness. Our own efforts to protect ourselves and those that we care about can betray us if they are allowed to give way to hatred. We must depend on Jesus to cleanse and purify our hearts in order to avoid the damaging effects that bitterness and hatred can incur. One cannot simply "have a forgiving spirit", we must be led by the Spirit of God, and changed by His power, before we can be all that he would have us to be.
With these thoughts in mind, let's take a closer look at the parable that Jesus used in this instance, and how it applies to us. Beginning with verse 23, we read..."Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants." This tells us that we are to equate the parable with the kingdom of heaven, that the parable itself is representative of the way in which God will deal with each of us. "And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and his children, and all that he had, and payment to be made." In the time of Jesus, ten thousand talents was an astronomical amount of money. In fact, by first century standards, the typical day's wage for a laborer was one Denarius, which was a silver coin about 4 grams in weight. In stark contrast, one talent, which was equivalent to about 30 kilograms of gold, would be about 16 year's wages, so it is plain to see that it would be impossible for anyone to repay ten thousand talents. By comparison, in today's currency, it would equate to several hundred million dollars, certainly more debt than any of us could ever hope to repay. "The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all." This man was certainly aware of the fact that he could never repay all that he owed, and so this was merely an acknowledgement of the debt, as well as a plea for mercy. We ourselves must come to this point of reckoning, the acceptance of a debt which we cannot pay, and the seeking of forgiveness and mercy. "Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt." The king was moved with compassion, and, realizing that he could not be satisfied by payment of the servant's debt, he decided rather to be glorified in the pardon of it. How reminiscent of the great love and mercy by which God has forgiven us! The terrible liability of our sin being a debt which we ourselves could never repay, He gave His only begotten Son, in order to pay the price for us. Such a beautiful sacrifice for those so unworthy! We go on to read in verse 28..."But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest." Sadly, this man was so unappreciative of the mercy and compassion shown to him that he went out and demanded repayment of a relatively small debt from one of his peers, going so far as to take the man by the throat. How quickly we seem to forget all that we have been forgiven. "And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all." It would seem that this man's plea for mercy should have reminded the servant of his own debt, and the fact that so much more had been forgiven of himself, but instead, he exacts revenge upon his debtor. "And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt." It is all too easy for us to turn a blind eye to our own sin, and yet expect perfection from others. "So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done." Just as these fellowservants, who were sorrowful for the wickedness and oppression shown to this man, so also we should take our cares and concerns for ourselves as well as for others before the Lord, and lay them at His feet. "Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? And his lord was very wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses." This man's insurmountable debt had been forgiven, simply because he had humbled himself and asked for mercy, but then he refused to show compassion to another who owed much less than himself. Because of this, the full weight of his own debt was reinstated, and notice here that he was not sold or cast into prison, but rather, he was delivered to the tormentors. A far worse fate awaited him because of his own cruelty and indifference.
We read in James 2:13..."For he shall have judgment without mercy, that hath shewed no mercy; and mercy rejoiceth against judgment." Furthermore, Jesus tells us in Matthew 6:14-15..."For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you: But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your heavenly Father forgive your trespasses." The simple fact is, we all have trespasses, we all owe a sin debt that we can never hope to repay on our own. Thanks be to God for the supreme sacrifice which Jesus made for us on the cross! May we never forget the fact that our debts were paid by the blood which He shed, and may our hearts ever be filled with compassion and mercy for others. God's forgiveness of our vast debt should inspire and precede the forgiveness of any petty debts which we owe to one another. Finally, we read in Ephesians 4:31-32..."Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."
This week, I'd like for us to take a look at the subject of joy, or more specifically, the unspeakable joy that Peter spoke of in reference to our salvation. Though we'll look at several verses in order to get different inflections on joy from multiple sources, our main reading for this study is found in 1 Peter 1:3-9, where we read...
"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible, and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:
that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls."
The first thing that we take note of here, apart from the message itself, is the fact that these do not sound like the writings of an unlearned fisherman. These are the thoughts of a man whose heart and mind has been changed, transformed, by his interaction with Jesus. We read in Acts 4:13..."Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marvelled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus." Peter's experience with Jesus, coupled with the gift of the Holy Ghost, had changed and matured him, insomuch that he had become a bold and eloquent speaker. Jesus has the power to change us, and to make us into what He would have us to be, if we are willing to give ourselves fully to Him.
Now, let's take a closer look at our reading. With verse 3, Peter begins his discourse by thanking God, by whose mercy we have been given hope through the resurrection of Jesus. This is the beginning of our joy. Jesus tells us in John 15:9-11..."As the Father hath loved me, so have I loved you: continue ye in my love. If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father's commandments, and abide in his love. These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full."
Peter then goes on to describe our inheritance as being incorruptible and undefiled. He eludes to the fact that our inheritance will not fade away, because it is reserved in heaven for us, and kept by the power of God until the appointed time. Paul affirms this in Romans 8:14-18 as he writes..."For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit that we are the children of God: And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may also be glorified together. For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us."
This is certainly a reason for joy, although Peter goes on to tell us in verses 6 and 7..."...though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: that the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ..." Although we have an incorruptible inheritance, and we cannot be plucked out of the hand of Jesus, we are still flesh and blood, and we are prone to weakness. As long as we are here, in this earthly body, we will be tempted and tried. However, even this fact should not take away our joy. We read in James 1:2-4..."My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." Even our trials and temptations have a purpose, and are ultimately meant for our good, in order that our faith may be perfected. Though at times it may seem as though things are out of control, we need to bear in mind, as Paul wrote in Romans 8:28..."And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
We come now to verses 8 and 9 of our reading, as Peter expresses the reason for our joy, and why nothing will ever be able to take it from us..."Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory: Receiving the end of your faith, even the salvation of your souls." It is Jesus who provides us with this joy unspeakable, an inward peace which the world cannot steal away. He has given us the gift of the Holy Spirit, our Comforter, as well as the assurance of a home in heaven when the trials of this life have ended. He tells us in John 14:27..."Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." May we never become so enthralled in the turmoil of our day to day lives that we lose sight of the unspeakable joy and peace that Jesus died on the cross to provide us. May our hearts overflow with joy and gratitude as we reflect on the sacrifice that Jesus made for us, as we read in 2 Corinthians 9:15..."Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift."
This week, I'd like to take a look at a topic which can, at times, be hard for us to understand, due to the fact that it has multiple meanings and is filled with paradox. The fear of the Lord is a subject which can be interpreted in different ways. Its meaning can change, dependent upon the context, and there are many verses which refer to the fear of the Lord in various ways. We'll take a look at several of these verses in an attempt to come to terms with exactly what it means to have the fear of the Lord, and what benefits we obtain from it.
The first thing that we need to grasp is the fact that it is God's desire for us to have understanding and wisdom. Psalms 111:110 tells us..."The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom:
a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever." We also read in Proverbs 1:7..."The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." The importance of wisdom and understanding in our life simply cannot be overestimated. We are to value it above earthly possessions, and seek it diligently, as a treasure. Solomon wrote in Proverbs 8:11..."For wisdom is better than rubies; and all the things that may be desired are not to be compared to it." He goes on to write in Proverbs 15:16..."Better is little with the fear of the Lord than great treasure and trouble therewith."
So, what is the fear of the Lord? Is it fear in the traditional sense of the word, or does it refer to something entirely different? The word "fear" is also used in the bible to convey a sense of awe, or an attitude of reverence. I'd like to suggest that it is actually a combination of the two. This may seem to be a contradiction in terms, but it is actually more of a paradox than a contradiction. Those who seek to put God first, knowing that He loves them, while at the same time, understanding that their eternal destiny is dependent upon His mercy and grace, will have wisdom as their reward. Conversely, those who seek only for the fulfillment of their own pleasures, and have no sense of who God is, or how great His love is for them, will ultimately find themselves empty and unfulfilled. Jesus tells us in Matthew 10:28..."And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." This is more than simply a stern warning given by Jesus, it also serves as a chilling glimpse into the future for the unrepentant sinner. This shows us that the wrath of God is indeed something that we should fear. In Hebrews 10:30-31 we read..."For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." So we see that fear of the Lord in this sense is very real, and is, in fact, necessary, because it leads the sinner to repentance. The fear of the Lord is the first step in the changing of the heart, for without consequences, what would be the motivation for change? Just as children learn rules by discipline, or the fear of it, so we, as God's children, must understand that there are consequences which accompany our actions.
However, God does not want us to live in a state of fear. In fact, there are 365 separate instances throughout the bible in which God specifically tells us not to fear, one for every day of the year. It is not fear in the traditional sense, but rather, a humble attitude of reverence, along with a yearning for wisdom, that God desires from us. We read in Proverbs 2:1-5..."My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and hide my commandments with thee; So that thou incline thine ear unto wisdom, and apply thine heart to understanding; Yea, if thou criest after knowledge, and liftest up thy voice for understanding; If thou seekest her as silver, and searchest for her as for hid treasures: Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and find the knowledge of God." Simply put, if we have the fear of the Lord, then we will have nothing else to fear.
With these thoughts in mind, let's take a look at 1 John 4:17-19, which looks at fear from a very different perspective..."Herein is our love made perfect, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment: because as he is, so are we in this world. There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love. We love him, because he first loved us." This is a beautiful message of love given to John by the Holy Spirit in order to reassure those of us who have given our hearts to Jesus for safekeeping, and trusted in Him for our salvation. We no longer have to be fearful of God's wrath, because we know and believe that it was expended upon the body of Jesus as He hung on the cross. The penalty for our sins was paid in full as all the weight of our iniquity came crashing down upon Jesus as He cried, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" God cannot look upon sin, and in that moment, Jesus became sin on our behalf. He took our sins upon Himself, and the ultimate price was paid as our Savior cried out "IT IS FINISHED!" This is why we no longer have anything to fear. The torment that fear brings is not meant for those who have been made perfect in love, but for those whose hardened hearts must be softened, who must face the fact that there is a heaven, and there is a hell, and that there is an eternal choice which must be made. Fear is for those who have not obeyed the gospel, who have not accepted Jesus and been washed in His blood. For them, yes, it is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God, but for those of us washed in His blood, it is an eternally joyous thing to fall into the arms of a loving Jesus.
I'd like for us to take a look at the concept of righteous indignation, which pertains to the appropriate times and ways in which anger is to be manifested. We'll look at several different verses from the bible, but our main focus will be on Jesus Himself, and on times in which He became angry. Jesus is to be our example in all things, and anger is a very real emotion, one that we all have to deal with. By looking closely at the way that Jesus dealt with anger, we can learn a lot about how to deal with it in our own lives.
The first thing that we must realize concerning anger is that it is a necessary emotion. When we see injustice done, or when those that we love are taken advantage of, the anger that we feel is very real. If we choose to ignore it, or worse, to internalize it, we are only hurting ourselves. We need to understand that there are constructive, and even healthy, ways in which our anger can be expressed, and that there is a big difference between anger and rage. We read in Ephesians 4:26-27..."Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: neither give place to the devil." Paul is telling us that we can have anger without allowing it to become sin. It is only when anger is allowed to fester within us that it becomes malignant like a cancer. The longer we hold onto it, the more we relinquish control. This is what Paul means by not giving place to the devil. Anger left to smolder within us is a breeding ground for hatred. Psalm 37:8-9 tells us..."Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the Lord, they shall inherit the earth." When we allow anger to overtake us, it will cloud our judgment, and it can lead us to do or say things that we later come to regret. Great contentment and peace of mind is found when we come to the realization that God will fight our battles for us. Exodus 14:14 tells us..."The Lord shall fight for you, and ye shall hold your peace." Furthermore, Paul tells us in Romans 12:19..."Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord."
We find wise counsel in James 1:19-20, where we read..."Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." So many times, we speak without thinking, we become angry without a cause. May the Spirit of God keep us in a state of peace, and lead us to listen more than we speak, that our tempers and our tongues would be held in check.
There are many instances of Jesus rebuking the scribes and the Pharisees, and referring to them as hypocrites. Perhaps one of the most scathing instances is found in Matthew 23:23-33, as Jesus says..."Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye pay tithe of mint and anise and cummin, and have omitted the weightier matters of the law, judgment, mercy, and faith: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone. Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men's bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous, and say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets. Wherefore ye be witnesses unto yourselves, that ye are the children of them which killed the prophets. Fill ye up then the measure of your fathers. Ye serpents, ye generation of vipers, how can ye escape the damnation of hell?" Is it any wonder, then, that the scribes and Pharisees sought to kill Him, as He exposed the darkness that was thinly veiled behind their pretentious veneer? Under the guise of righteousness, they proliferated their schemes and furthered their own illicit causes, which leads us to the main point of our study. We read in John 2:13-17..."And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to
Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
and when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changer's money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." As Jesus enters the city of Jerusalem, the first place that He goes is the temple, and He finds there sellers of sacrificial animals. This was a marketplace where those who had come to Jerusalem to sacrifice, but were unable to bring their own animals, would purchase sacrificial animals. This marketplace would normally have been situated on the outskirts of the city, but for purposes of greed and profit, the chief priests had allowed this buying and selling to take place inside of the temple. They were undoubtedly charging rent to the sellers and fees for certifying their animals as being "without blemish", which would have given them considerable revenue. No wonder, then, at the righteous indignation that Jesus feels as He sees His Father's house being abused in this way. Jesus then proceeds to make a scourge, or whip, out of small cords, probably the cords used to lead the animals into the temple. There is no evidence to suggest that Jesus used the whip on the people, only that it was used to drive the animals out, with their owners following behind. A Dutch scholar and philosopher by the name of Grotius wrote, concerning this event, "Not by this slender whip, but by divine majesty, was the ejection accomplished, the whip being but a sign of the scourge of divine anger." The anger that Jesus felt, and acted upon, was righteous indignation, referring to the outrage that accompanies the realization that something, or someone, is misusing or abusing the name, likeness, or instruments of God for their own purposes.
After He had driven out the sheep and oxen, along with their owners, He proceeded to overturn the moneychanger's tables, and pour out their money onto the ground, and proclaim to the sellers that they "Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise." The anger of Jesus, His righteous indignation, was displayed in this instance in order that the scripture might be fulfilled, in Psalm 69:9, as David prophesied of Jesus..."For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me."
As we strive to follow the example of Jesus in our own lives, to "take up our cross", let us also follow His example of using anger as a tool to further the kingdom. Rather than becoming consumed and overwhelmed by our anger at situations that God has already promised to handle, let us instead use our anger in constructive ways. May our peace remain undisturbed, and may our souls only be vexed when we are witness to reproaches of God's Holy name or injustices done to His people. Then, and only then, may we rise up in righteous indignation and do whatever is necessary to set things right once more, in order that we may restore to God the glory that only He deserves.
