What are the seven deadly sins?

[Patriot]

What does the Bible say about controlling your temper?​

ANSWER

Many people struggle with a quick or fiery temper. Although society often encourages people to express themselves and not hold back, God’s Word teaches that giving in to one’s temper is a sin.

The Bible has a lot to say about the importance of controlling one’s temper. It calls a person who easily loses his temper a “fool” (Proverbs 29:11; Ecclesiastes 7:9) and describes someone who cannot control himself as a “city whose walls are broken down” (Proverbs 25:28). A person with a hot temper is often at odds with those around him, becoming easily offended and lashing out in anger for even the smallest slight (Proverbs 15:18a). As children of God, we are called to love others (John 13:35; Ephesians 4:2, 31-32) and to be at peace (James 1:19; Proverbs 19:11; James 3:17-18). “Love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). A person who maintains a calm, even temper is quicker to forgive and better able to live peaceably with others (Proverbs 15:1, 8b; 12:16; 19:11).

With the Holy Spirit in our lives, we will show the fruit of His work inside us. Some of the fruits of the Spirit are peace, patience, and self-control (Galatians 5:22–23)—these are essential to controlling the tendency to lose our temper. In fact, the Greek word translated “patience” (“longsuffering” in the KJV) carries the idea of “long-burning,” as in having a long fuse. As we grow in Christ, we should continue to deal appropriately with anger (no short fuses!) and react with love and patience (Colossians 3:8).

We may often feel justified in losing our temper, particularly when someone has hurt or offended us. But we are instructed to forgive (Matthew 5:44; 6:12; 18:21–22), not yield to anger or seek vengeance. It is ultimately God’s prerogative to punish evildoers (Deuteronomy 32:35; Romans 12:19). For an example of this forgiveness, we need only look to Jesus. When He was hanging on the cross, crucified for sins He did not commit, He did not release His wrath on the perpetrators. Instead, He asked God the Father to forgive them (Luke 23:34).

It’s important to note that anger is a valid emotion and is not always sinful. God allows for “righteous anger,” which is anger with the proper focus, the proper motivation, the proper control, the proper duration, and the proper result. Our problem is that our temper is often motivated by selfishness and directed toward other people instead of toward sin. That’s why God tells us to “let all bitterness and indignation and wrath (passion, rage, bad temper) and resentment (anger, animosity) . . . be banished from you” (Ephesians 4:31, AMP). With God’s help, we can keep our temper in check.

FOR FURTHER STUDY​

The Other Side of Love: Handling Anger in a Godly Way by Gary Chapman

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[Patriot]

Why was God so angry at David for taking the census?​

ANSWER

Second Samuel 24:1 says, “Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, ‘Go and take a census of Israel and Judah.’” The parallel account of the incident surrounding the census, however, reveals it was Satan who incited David to take the census: “Satan rose up against Israel and incited David to take a census of Israel” (1 Chronicles 21:1). This discrepancy is often explained by the understanding that, in order to achieve His purposes, sometimes God sovereignly permits Satan to act. God can use Satan in various ways, with the result being the refining, disciplining, and purification of disobedient believers (Luke 22:31–32; 1 Corinthians 5:1–5; 2 Corinthians 12:7–10). Such might have been the case with David. God allowed Satan to tempt him, and David sinned, revealing his pride, and God then dealt with David accordingly.

There are other considerations concerning the passages relating David’s sinful census. Here is 2 Samuel 24:1 in four translations:

“Again the anger of the Lord burned against Israel, and he incited David against them . . .” (NIV).

“Again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he incited David against them . . .” (ESV).

“And again the anger of the LORD was kindled against Israel, and he moved David against them . . .” (KJV).

“Now again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and it incited David against them . . .” (NASB).

Note that the New American Standard Bible says “it” (the anger of the Lord) is what caused David to take the census. The other translations say “he” (the Lord) did the inciting. The reason for the differences in translation is that, in the original language, there is no subject for the verb incited. The fact is we aren’t told who exactly moved David to take the census. To translate the verse literally, we would say, “There was who moved David against them” or “For one moved David against them.” The translations above have taken this to mean it was either God or His anger that caused David to take the census. But there are other options:

– The unstated thing that moved David to conduct the census could have been David’s own evil imagination.

– The “one” who moved David could be Satan, as 1 Chronicles 21:1 says.

– The “adversary” (the meaning of the word Satan) mentioned in 1 Chronicles could be someone other than the devil; it could have been an unnamed counselor to David who prompted him into a foolish (or sinful) action.

As to why God was angry at David, in those times, a man only had the right to count or number what belonged to him. Israel did not belong to David; Israel belonged to God. In Exodus 30:12 God told Moses, “When you take a census of the Israelites to count them, each one must pay the LORD a ransom for his life at the time he is counted. Then no plague will come on them when you number them.” It was up to God to command a census, and if David counted he should only have done it at God’s command, receiving a ransom to “atone” for the counting. This is why God was angry again with Israel and is also why David was “conscience-stricken” after he counted Israel. David knew it was wrong and begged God to take away the guilt of his sin (2 Samuel 24:10).

God gave David a choice of three punishments for his sin—three years of famine, three months of fleeing before his enemies, or three days of plague. David chose the third, and the Lord then punished Israel with a plague that killed 70,000 men from Dan in the north to Beersheba in the south. As for why God punished the whole nation for the sin of the king, that is exactly the question David asks in 2 Samuel 24:17. Why, when he was the one who had sinned, did the people have to suffer? He even requested that God’s hand be against him and his family only, and that God would spare the people. But, as with the account of Job, God chose not to give a reason for His actions. Perhaps it was because of Israel’s multiplied sins and rebellion against God throughout the centuries. Perhaps it was a lesson to the people (and to us as well) that the people suffer when their leaders go astray. The reality is that God didn’t justify His actions with a reason, nor does He have to.

Of the three choices presented to David, the first two would have involved some level of dependency upon the mercy of man: the warfare, of course, would be as severe as the enemy wanted it to be; the famine would require Israel to seek food from other nations, relying on the pity of their neighbors. Instead of relying on the mercy of any human, David chose to rely on the mercy of God—the pestilence was, after all, the most direct form of punishment from God, and in the plague they could only look to God for relief.

The psalmist tells us, “As for God, His way is perfect” (Psalm 18:30). If God’s ways are “perfect,” then we can trust that whatever He does—and whatever He allows—is also perfect. Our responsibility to God is to obey Him, to trust Him, and to submit to His will, whether we understand it or not.

As we see in 2 Samuel 24:16, God was grieved because of the things that were happening to His people, and He called off the punishment. Even in His rebuke God still shows His love and mercy.

FOR FURTHER STUDY​

Bible Answers for Almost All Your Questions by Elmer L. Towns

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[Patriot]

Why was God so angry at David for taking the census? | GotQuestions.org​

What was wrong with David’s census? Why was God so angry at David for taking the census? And, who incite David to take the Old Testament census we read about in 2 Samuel 24 and in 1 Chronicles 21? Did God or Satan incite David to take the census… or was it someone else? In this video, Pastor Nelson with Bible Munch answers the question, “Why was God so angry at David for taking the census”.

*** Source Article: https://www.gotquestions.org/David-ce...

*** Check out, Bible Munch! / biblemunch

 

[Patriot]

What does it mean to “be angry and do not sin” (Psalm 4:4)?​

ANSWER

Psalm 4 is a psalm of trust written by David. The psalm is brief, only eight verses (nine, including the Hebrew ascription “for the choir director, on stringed instruments, a Psalm of David”). The psalm is written in three sections with a “selah” (a marker for a pause or musical interlude) at the end of verses 2 and 4. In the second short section, David sings, “Tremble and do not sin” (Psalm 4:4, NASB) or, as the ESV puts it, “Be angry and do not sin.” The Hebrew word translated in the ESV as “be angry” is ragaz, and it can mean “to be disturbed or agitated.” David recognizes there are legitimate causes to be agitated but cautions against going so far as to be sinful. In the New Testament, Paul quotes from Psalm 4:4 while giving instructions on Christian living in Ephesians 4:26.

David calls out for God to hear him as God has done before (Psalm 4:1). David seems to be concerned about men who are mistreating him in falsehood (Psalm 4:2). David affirms his confidence in God as having set apart the godly person and hearing him when he calls out to Him (Psalm 4:3). So, one can be bothered—or even angry—and yet, because the godly person knows that God hears and delivers, that anger should not extend to sinfulness (Psalm 4:4). In the same way, David calls to the hearer to meditate (on God’s faithfulness) quietly in the night and to be still (Psalm 4:5).

In the final and longest section of the psalm, after reminding the hearer to “be angry and do not sin,” David exhorts that we should “offer right sacrifices, and put [our] trust in the LORD” (Psalm 4:5, ESV). Because of that trust in the Lord, the godly person never needs to fret about wrongdoers. Even when others are not showing us good, God shines His light on us (Psalm 4:6). He is the one who puts gladness in our hearts even more than having plenty (Psalm 4:7). We rest peacefully in the night because of Him (Psalm 4:8).

This psalm is, among other things, a helpful reminder that we can “be angry and do not sin.” We may be upset, but we do not need to be overcome with anger, because we trust in Him. Paul later quotes Psalm 4:4 (translating the Hebrew ragaz with the Greek orgizo, indicating that the term angry is an accurate rendering), reminding believers that anger is acceptable if it does not extend to sin. Paul also puts an important time limit on anger, as he says, “Do not let the sun go down on your anger” (Ephesians 4:26, ESV). David’s song was seemingly to be sung at night, as it focused on God’s provision good rest because of our trust in the Lord, and Paul challenges his readers not to take anger to bed with them. While David’s words appeal to the heart, Paul’s are more an appeal to the intellect, but they are providing the same prescription: don’t end your day overcome with anger, but rather have confidence in the Lord.

Anger and faith are mutually exclusive ideas, as the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God (James 1:20). God is trustworthy, and anything that might bother us to the point of anger can be given to Him. We can trust Him to handle it.

FOR FURTHER STUDY​

Psalms 1-75, Holman Old Testament Commentary by Steven Lawson

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[Patriot]

What does it mean that a soft answer turns away wrath (Proverbs 15:1)?​

ANSWER

Soft is a word that can sometimes have negative connotations associated with weakness. However, that is not the case in Proverbs 15:1: “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (ESV). Here, the writer explains that a soft answer is the wiser choice whenever we must respond to a problem.

The word translated as “soft” in the original language can also mean “gentle,” “tenderhearted,” “kindly,” and “having or showing a thoughtful or gentle nature.” Wrath means “fury” or “anger.” The proverb is teaching that a wise person will deal with problems gently. “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare,” says Proverbs 15:1 in the New Living Translation.

The central theme of the book of Proverbs is wisdom. Its purpose is to show young seekers how to gain understanding and insight by developing a disciplined life and choosing to do what is right, just, beneficial, and fair. Wisdom, in essence, is a choice reflected in a person’s basic approach to life. Because of one’s values and commitments, the wise person chooses to live according to godly principles and make the right choices. He or she will pay close attention to the counsel and guidance offered in Scripture, applying God’s truth, and submitting to the Lord’s will.

In Proverbs 15:1, the wise choice is presented first: “a soft answer turns away wrath.” Speaking a soft answer means responding with gentleness and patience in a way that defuses anger and keeps the situation from escalating. By contrast, “a harsh word stirs up anger.” The unwise choice is to respond unkindly, rashly, and in anger. Later, Solomon reiterates the wise and foolish options: “A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel” (Proverbs 15:18).

A gentle or soft answer turns away wrath by neutralizing a potentially tense or explosive situation. A harsh word does the opposite; rather than dissolving anger, it charges it up. James taught believers that operating in “human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:20). According to James, “Wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere” (James 3:17).

Wise Christians keep in mind that God calls us to be peacemakers: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God” (Matthew 5:9). Choosing to promote and inspire peace requires other virtues encouraged in the Proverbs. “The plans of the diligent lead to profit,” says Proverbs 21:5. It takes forethought, diligence, and planning to be ready to take on the role of peacemaker in challenging or heated circumstances. We must daily “put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires” (Romans 13:14, ESV).

To be ready with a soft answer that turns away wrath, we must make the daily choice to nurture and develop patience, kindness, gentleness, and self-control (Colossians 3:12; Galatians 5:22).

FOR FURTHER STUDY​

Proverbs: Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom & Psalms by Tremper Longman III

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[Patriot]

What can we learn from the tribe of Levi / the Levites?​

ANSWER

The patriarch Jacob, just before he died, gave each of his twelve sons a blessing. The twelve sons were the fathers of the twelve tribes of Israel, and the blessings contained prophetic information about the future of each tribe. In the case of the tribe of Levi, which was paired in the prophecy with the tribe of Simeon, Jacob prophesied: “Simeon and Levi are brothers—their swords are weapons of violence. Let me not enter their council, let me not join their assembly, for they have killed men in their anger and hamstrung oxen as they pleased. Cursed be their anger, so fierce, and their fury, so cruel! I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel” (Genesis 49:5–7). In addition to referring to the future of the tribe of Levi, the prophecy contains within it several lessons for all of us.

Jacob pronounced a curse upon Levi’s (and Simeon’s) anger partly due to their treacherous and violent destruction of the Shechemites (Genesis 34:24–30). Levi’s anger was evil because it was characterized by deeds of fierceness and cruelty. Righteous anger and indignation, the kind Jesus exhibited in cleansing the Temple, for example, is never characterized by cruelty. The swords of Levi, which should have been only weapons of defense, were weapons of violence, to do wrong to others, not to save themselves from wrong or to protect the innocent.

Jacob’s pronouncement, “I will scatter them in Jacob and disperse them in Israel” certainly came true. The tribe of Levi was scattered through Israel. But they became, by God’s grace and through their loyalty to God (Exodus 32:26–29), the priestly tribe and residents of the cities of refuge. They never possessed their own designated region, as the other tribes did, but Levi’s priestly office was certainly a privileged one.

As Christians, we learn from the tribe of Levi that unrestrained anger is the cause of a great deal of sin. Anger leaves devastation in its wake, often with irreparable consequences. Jacob’s statement “let me not enter their counsel; let me not join their assembly” is a lesson for us as well. We are not to take the counsel of angry people because they are unstable and exhibit an inability to control their passions. When anger is a defining trait, it is an indication of the lack of the spiritual gift of self-control that characterizes all believers (Galatians 5:22–23). An angry person makes a poor counselor, and, in fact, his company should be avoided, especially when the sin of anger is unconfessed and there is no attempt to deal with it in a godly manner.

Finally, the ultimate lesson in the tribe of Levi, for Christians, is that of restoration of the sinner to the privileged position of children of God. Through the high priestly intercession of Christ, who exchanged His righteousness for our sins on the cross (2 Corinthians 5:21), we become a nation of priests in our own right. “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9).

FOR FURTHER STUDY​

The Quest Study Bible

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[Patriot]

Is it wrong to be angry with God?​

ANSWER

Being angry at God is something that many people, both believers and unbelievers, have wrestled with throughout time. When something tragic happens in our lives, we ask God the question, “Why?” because it is our natural response. What we are really asking Him, though, is not so much “Why, God?” as “Why me, God?” This response indicates two flaws in our thinking. First, as believers we operate under the impression that life should be easy and that God should prevent tragedy from happening to us. When He does not, we get angry with Him. Second, when we do not understand the extent of God’s sovereignty, we lose confidence in His ability to control circumstances, other people, and the way they affect us. Then we get angry with God because He seems to have lost control of the universe and especially control of our lives. When we lose faith in God’s sovereignty, it is because our frail human flesh is grappling with our own frustration and our lack of control over events. When good things happen, we all too often attribute it to our own achievements and success. When bad things happen, however, we are quick to blame God, and we get angry with Him for not preventing it, which indicates the first flaw in our thinking—that we deserve to be immune to unpleasant circumstances.

Tragedies bring home the awful truth that we are not in charge. All of us think at one time or another that we can control the outcomes of situations, but in reality it is God who is in charge of all of His creation. Everything that happens is either caused by or allowed by God. Not a sparrow falls to the ground nor a hair from our head without God knowing about it (Matthew 10:29-31). We can complain, get angry, and blame God for what is happening. Yet if we will trust Him and yield our bitterness and pain to Him, acknowledging the prideful sin of trying to force our own will over His, He can and will grant us His peace and strength to get us through any difficult situation (1 Corinthians 10:13). Many believers in Jesus Christ can testify to that very fact. We can be angry with God for many reasons, so we all have to accept at some point that there are things we cannot control or even understand with our finite minds.

Our understanding of the sovereignty of God in all circumstances must be accompanied by our understanding of His other attributes such as love, mercy, kindness, goodness, righteousness, justice, and holiness. When we see our difficulties through the truth of God’s Word—which tells us that our loving and holy God works all things together for our good (Romans 8:28), and that He has a perfect plan and purpose for us that cannot be thwarted (Isaiah 14:24, 46:9-10)—we begin to see our problems in a different light. We also know from Scripture that this life will never be one of continual joy and happiness. Rather, Job reminds us that “man is born to trouble as surely as sparks fly upward” (Job 5:7), and that life is short and “full of trouble” (Job 14:1). Just because we come to Christ for salvation from sin does not mean we are guaranteed a life free from problems. In fact, Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble,” but that He has “overcome the world” (John 16:33), enabling us to have peace within, in spite of the storms that rage around us (John 14:27).

One thing is certain: inappropriate anger is sin (Galatians 5:20; Ephesians 4:26-27, 31; Colossians 3:8). Ungodly anger is self-defeating, gives the devil a foothold in our lives, and can destroy our joy and peace if we hang on to it. Holding on to our anger will allow bitterness and resentment to spring up in our hearts. We must confess it to the Lord, and then in His forgiveness, we can release those feelings to Him. We must go before the Lord in prayer often in our grief, anger, and pain. The Bible tells us in 2 Samuel 12:15-23 that David went before the throne of grace on behalf of his sick baby, fasting, weeping, and praying for him to survive. When the baby passed away, David got up and worshiped the Lord and then told his servants that he knew where his baby was and that he would someday be with him in God’s presence. David cried out to God during the baby’s illness, and afterward he bowed before Him in worship. That is a wonderful testimony. God knows our hearts, and it is pointless to try to hide how we really feel, so talking to Him about it is one of the best ways to handle our grief. If we do so humbly, pouring out our hearts to Him, He will work through us, and in the process, will make us more like Him.

The bottom line is can we trust God with everything, our very lives and the lives of our loved ones? Of course we can! Our God is compassionate, full of grace and love, and as disciples of Christ we can trust Him with all things. When tragedies happen to us, we know God can use them to bring us closer to Him and to strengthen our faith, bringing us to maturity and completeness (Psalm 34:18; James 1:2-4). Then, we can be a comforting testimony to others (2 Corinthians 1:3-5). That is easier said than done, however. It requires a daily surrendering of our own will to His, a faithful study of His attributes as seen in God’s Word, much prayer, and then applying what we learn to our own situation. By doing so, our faith will progressively grow and mature, making it easier to trust Him to get us through the next tragedy that most certainly will take place.

So, to answer the question directly, yes, it is wrong to be angry at God. Anger at God is a result of an inability or unwillingness to trust God even when we do not understand what He is doing. Anger at God is essentially telling God that He has done something wrong, which He never does. Does God understand when we are angry, frustrated, or disappointed with Him? Yes, He knows our hearts, and He knows how difficult and painful life in this world can be. Does that make it right to be angry with God? Absolutely not. Instead of being angry with God, we should pour out our hearts to Him in prayer, and trust that He is in control of His perfect plan.

FOR FURTHER STUDY​

Knowing God by J.I. Packer

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​

 

[Patriot]

Is it wrong to be angry with God?​

Got Questions Ministries




Is it wrong to be angry with God? Is it a sin to be mad at God? Does God understand if are angry at Him? Is having anger towards God a sin?


Source Article: https://www.gotquestions.org/angry-wi...

 

[Patriot]

What does it mean that love is not easily angered (1 Corinthians 13:5)?​

ANSWER

Love is an attribute of God and one of His gifts to us. First Corinthians 13 offers tremendous perspective regarding the true nature of Christian love. A portion of the description says that love “is not easily angered” (verse 5). This helps us understand what true love looks like (and what it doesn’t).

If love is not easily angered, then a person with a “short fuse,” who becomes angry easily, is not showing love. Love is called “patient” in verse 4 (both love and patience are listed as fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23). Patience includes the ability to tolerate weaknesses in others without readily expressing anger. “Love covers over a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8); it doesn’t fly off the handle at every provocation.

Anger itself is not sinful but can quickly lead to sinful expressions. For this reason, Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “‘In your anger do not sin’: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” (Ephesians 4:26). There are times when we become angry, yet we are called to express our anger in non-sinful, constructive ways. Love will guide us in the proper handling of anger. Jesus Himself was angry on at least one occasion: “He looked around at them in anger . . . deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts” (Mark 3:5). Jesus was angry at people’s adamant refusal to acknowledge the truth, but He did not sin (Hebrews 4:15). In fact, He used the situation for good, healing a man’s hand.

Rather than pretend that we will never feel angry, Scripture simply says to be “slow to become angry” (James 1:19). God is “slow to anger, abounding in love” (Psalm 86:15), and this description is quite telling. The truth that God is measured in His wrath is immediately followed by the truth that He overflows with love. The connection between the two is obvious. Love puts the brakes on anger, slowing it down for the sake of the one loved.

Being hot tempered usually involves making snap judgments, seeking instant vindication, and refusing to grant second chances. However, true love refuses to jump to conclusions, take revenge, or hastily judge anyone.

The fact that love is “not easily angered” highlights God’s patient love for the world. “He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance” (2 Peter 3:9). May God grant us the type of love that can keep our anger in check.

FOR FURTHER STUDY​

Love Is: Meditations for Couples on 1 Corinthians 13 by Les & Leslie Parrott

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[Patriot]

What does it mean that love is not easily angered (1 Corinthians 13:5)?​

Got Questions Ministries



What does it mean that love is not easily angered (1 Corinthians 13:5)? What does 'love is not easily angered' mean in terms of how I show love to others?

Source Article: https://www.gotquestions.org/love-is-...

 

[Patriot]

What are some Bible verses about conflict?​

ANSWER


Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Matthew 18:15-17
If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

James 4:1-2
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you? You desire and do not have, so you murder. You covet and cannot obtain, so you fight and quarrel. You do not have, because you do not ask.

Ephesians 4:26
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,

Matthew 5:9
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.

Matthew 5:38-39
You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.

1 Corinthians 13:4-7
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

James 1:19
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

Colossians 3:13
Bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive.

Romans 12:17-21
Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Matthew 5:24
Leave your gift there before the altar and go. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.

Proverbs 15:18
A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention.

Romans 12:18
If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all.

Ephesians 4:31
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Luke 17:3
Pay attention to yourselves! If your brother sins, rebuke him, and if he repents, forgive him,

Revelation 1:1
The revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave him to show to his servants the things that must soon take place. He made it known by sending his angel to his servant John,

Leviticus 19:18
You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Proverbs 16:28
A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.

James 1:19-20
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Proverbs 16:7
When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible verses are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Special thanks to OpenBible.info for the data on the most well-known Bible verses.

 

[Patriot]

What is the wrath of man in James 1:20?​

ANSWER

In James 1:20, the apostle writes, “For the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” (NKJV). The word for connects verse 19 and verse 20. In verse 19, James advises believers to “be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger” (ESV). There are three practical truths to be gleaned from verse 19:

1. Believers should listen to the “word of truth,” which is the gospel of Christ (James 1:18).

2. Believers should avoid hasty speech (cf. Proverbs 10:19). In other words, we should think before we speak, ensuring that our words are “always full of grace, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6).

3. Believers should avoid selfish and ill-tempered anger, which “does not produce the righteousness of God” (James 1:20, NKJV; cf. Ephesians 4:26).

In James 1:20, the expression wrath of man refers to unrighteous anger. There is a distinction between the wrath of man and the wrath of God. The wrath of man, even when directed toward a perceived injustice, fails to understand that anger cannot change another person’s heart. Thus, the wrath of man demonstrates a prideful and impulsive spirit, which is antithetical to the fruit of the Spirit (see Galatians 5:22–23).

To the contrary, the wrath of God is always holy and righteous (Romans 2:6). Since God is holy, believers should also be holy (1 Peter 1:16). This means that we ought to conduct ourselves according to the perfect will of God (Romans 12:1–2).

Instead of allowing uncontrolled anger to pollute our hearts, we should “put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness” (James 1:21, ESV). The point is that we should have nothing to do with moral filth or evil (cf. Romans 13:12 and Ephesians 4:22). Rather, we must “receive with meekness the implanted word” (James 1:21, ESV). When the Word of God takes root in our hearts, we will notice a difference in our thoughts, speech, and actions (cf. Deuteronomy 30:14 and Jeremiah 31:33).

The proper response to the Word of God is to be hearers and doers of the Word (James 1:22). If we hear the Word but do not obey it, then we are “like a man who looks intently at his natural face in a mirror. For he looks at himself and goes away and at once forgets what he was like” (verses 23–24, ESV). The “mirror” of God’s righteousness demands that we do something about our moral and spiritual imperfections. In short, we must not be a “hearer who forgets but a doer who acts” (verse 25, ESV).

James chapter 1 concludes with three characteristics of pure and undefiled religion: First, believers will “bridle” their tongues (verse 26, ESV). Again, James emphasizes the need to be mindful of what comes out of our mouths (cf. Matthew 15:11).

Second, believers will show mercy to the oppressed, particularly orphans and widows (James 1:27; cf. 1 Timothy 5:3–16).

Third, believers will remain “unstained from the world” (James 1:27, ESV). James uses sacrificial language to describe the purely religious person (cf. Romans 12:1).

The central theme of James 1:19–27 is hearing and doing the Word of God. To “hear” the Word means that we are eager to receive it. To “do” the Word means that we apply it to our lives.

As we continue to “do” the Word, may we be slow to anger, remembering that anger—the wrath of man—does not produce the righteousness of God.

FOR FURTHER STUDY​

The Letter of James - Second Edition: Pillar New Testament Commentary by Douglas Moo

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[Patriot]

What does the Bible say about having a calm spirit (Proverbs 17:27)?​

ANSWER

Proverbs 17:27 says, “He who has knowledge spares his words, And a man of understanding is of a calm spirit” (NKJV). This proverb emphasizes the wisdom of avoiding reckless speech by exercising self-control so as not to provoke hostility. Having a calm spirit describes someone with an even-tempered disposition. A contemporary paraphrase might be “a wise person keeps his cool.”

Bible translators render the phrase for “calm spirit” in various ways: “cool spirit” (ESV, NASB), “cool head” (CSB), “even-tempered” (NLT, NIV), and “excellent spirit” (KJV). The word spirit here refers to a person’s disposition or temperament.

The proverbs of Solomon often stress the importance of self-control, especially in the things we say. According to Proverbs 17:27, a prudent person uses few words and maintains a calm attitude by staying composed under pressure. By exercising self-control when speaking and not allowing oneself to be dominated by heightened emotions, a calm spirit diffuses anger and ill feelings: “A gentle answer deflects anger, but harsh words make tempers flare” (Proverbs 15:1, NLT).

In contrast to a hot-tempered person, someone with a calm spirit or an even-tempered nature is slow to anger: “A hot-tempered man stirs up strife, but he who is slow to anger quiets contention” (Proverbs 15:18, ESV; see also Proverbs 14:29).

Abigail is an excellent example of a wise person whose calm spirit deflected a volatile situation. First Samuel 25:3 tells us that Abigail was “discerning and beautiful,” but her husband, Nabal, was “harsh and badly behaved.” Nabal treated David and his men with surliness and disrespect, and David was bent on bloodshed. Without her husband’s knowledge, Abigail arranged a meeting with David. Humbly and calmly, she persuaded him not to harm Nabal. Afterward, David blessed Abigail for her excellent discernment and for keeping him from carrying out vengeance with his own hand (1 Samuel 25:32–34).

Ecclesiastes 10:4 gives a nugget of wisdom for maintaining a calm spirit at work: “If a ruler’s anger rises against you, do not leave your post; calmness can lay great offenses to rest.” The New Living Translation renders the verse like so: “If your boss is angry at you, don’t quit! A quiet spirit can overcome even great mistakes.”

Wise people are cautious with their words and think before they speak. They “bring calm in the end”; on the other hand, “Fools give full vent to their rage” (Proverbs 29:11). According to Matthew Henry, “A cool head with a warm heart is an admirable composition” (Matthew Henry’s Commentary on the Whole Bible, Hendrickson, 1994, p. 994).

If a cool, calm, and gentle demeanor dissolves anger and neutralizes a heated situation, then the opposite—acting like a hot head—charges it up. James teaches us that “human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires” (James 1:20). “Wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere,” says James 3:17. In other words, God’s wisdom endorses humility, gentleness, and self-restraint (2 Peter 1:5–8).

We discover in many proverbs that our words are like fruits that reveal the quality or disposition of our hearts. In Proverbs 17:27, a person’s restraint with words shows the heart of a peacemaker, as well as a wise and understanding nature. Having a calm spirit is also a sign that the Holy Spirit lives in us: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” (Galatians 5:22–23, NLT).

FOR FURTHER STUDY​

Proverbs: Baker Commentary on the Old Testament Wisdom & Psalms by Tremper Longman III

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[Patriot]

What does it mean that God’s hand is stretched out still (Isaiah 9:12, 17)?​

ANSWER

In Isaiah 9:8—10:4, the prophet warns of God’s impending judgment on the northern kingdom of Israel. Despite repeated calls for repentance and severe punishment, the northern kingdom persisted in idolatry and pride. Therefore, God’s anger had not diminished: “The Syrians on the east and the Philistines on the west devour Israel with open mouth. For all this his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still” (Isaiah 9:12, ESV).

This key refrain, “his anger has not turned away, and his hand is stretched out still,” first appears in Isaiah 5:25 when God pronounces judgment on the southern kingdom. It repeats here in chapters 9 and 10, indicating that the message of coming judgment applies to both the southern and northern kingdoms (see Isaiah 9:17, 21, and 10:4). Its repetition signals the growing intensity of God’s anger and mounting certainty of His intention to bring disaster on His people because of their obstinance and disregard for His discipline.

In Scripture, God’s hand symbolizes His sovereign power, strength, and possession of controlling influence. Habakkuk sees God’s splendor “like the sunrise; rays flashed from his hand, where his power was hidden” (Habakkuk 3:4). In God’s hands are “strength and power to exalt and give strength to all,” declares King David (1 Chronicles 29:12). By the power of His hand, God executes judgment (see Amos 1:6–8; Deuteronomy 32:41; Jeremiah 15:6; Ezekiel 6:14; Zephaniah 1:4; Acts 13:11).

“His fist is still poised to strike in anger,” says Isaiah 9:12 in the New Living Translation. Despite their land already being laid waste by the Syrians and the Philistines, the people of the northern kingdom still believed they would be okay. In their pride, they thought they could rebuild from their current state of ruin (Isaiah 9:10). Because of their hardness of heart and refusal to repent and return to the Lord, God’s hand was stretched out still: it was like a clenched fist, ready to clobber them in anger. The invading Assyrians were merely the tool of judgment that God would grasp in His hand.

In the Bible, God’s hand is stretched out to create (Acts 7:50; Isaiah 48:13; 64:8; 66:2; Psalm 8:3; 19:1; 95:5), to hold and control all things, including life and death (Psalm 31:15; 95:4; Job 12:10; 36:32; Isaiah 40:12; 41:19–20; Daniel 5:23), to satisfy and sustain every living thing (Psalm 145:16; 104:28; Isaiah 34:17), to protect (Ezra 8:31; Isaiah 49:2), and to ensure success for His people (Isaiah 41:10; Psalm 18:35; Isaiah 49:4). The Lord redeemed Israel from Egypt by stretching out His hand (Exodus 13:3; see also Exodus 3:19–20; 13:9; Deuteronomy 5:15: 7:8; Nehemiah 1:10; Jeremiah 32:21; Daniel 9:15). Throughout Scripture, God rescues His people with a mighty outstretched hand (Psalm 138:7; 1 Kings 8:41–42; Psalm 98:1; Isaiah 11:11; Ezekiel 20:33–34).

In Isaiah 9:12, God’s hand is stretched out in judgment. Yet, in Isaiah 65:2, His hands are spread out in mercy (see also Romans 10:21). Ultimately, God has a loving, kind, and merciful purpose in meting out judgment—to bring His people to repentance and restored fellowship with Him (Hebrews 12:4–11). God is longsuffering, but His patience with sin is not without limits (Ecclesiastes 3:17; 12:14; Psalm 7:11; 96:13; James 5:9). If the Lord cannot lead us back with kindness and forbearance, then sometimes He must stretch out His hand to chastise us. If we can’t be brought to our knees through His Word, then the harsher rebukes of discipline, punishment, and judgment are the most merciful actions He can take (see Isaiah 33:14; Luke 12:5; Hebrews 10:31).

FOR FURTHER STUDY​

Isaiah 1-39, New International Commentary on the Old Testament by John Oswalt

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[Patriot]

What does it mean to give no place to the devil (Ephesians 4:27)?​

ANSWER

In Ephesians 4, Paul encourages the believers in Ephesus to live like redeemed Christians. Because they have new life in Christ, they should live like new people, not like they did before they were saved (Ephesians 4:20–24). In Ephesians 4:25–32, Paul gives several examples of what it means to live in Christian community. One of those examples involves our anger and the devil. “‘Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath, nor give place to the devil” (Ephesians 4:26–27, NKJV). Some translations translate the word for “place” as “foothold” (NIV) or “opportunity” (ESV).

The word for “place” or “foothold” literally refers to a physical location. In the Greek-speaking world, it came to metaphorically mean “opportunity.” The sense in Ephesians 4:27 is metaphorical. We are not supposed to give the devil any opportunity to influence our lives. He should not have any place in our lives because he is an enemy of God and wants to destroy God’s people (John 8:44; 1 Peter 5:8).

In the context of this passage, it is our anger that has the potential to give the devil an opportunity (Ephesians 4:26). Even righteous anger, if held too long, can become bitter and divisive. The longer we remain angry, the more opportunities we are giving the devil to sow hatred and discontentment. That is why Paul tells the Ephesian Christians not to let the sun go down on their anger, so that they do not give the devil any opportunities to twist the situation with his lies and deception. We must dispose of our anger as quickly as possible, so that we do not give any place to the devil.

How do we apply this passage? We must recognize that remaining angry with people gives the devil an occasion to wreak havoc in our lives. Anything that gives the devil an opportunity to influence our lives is bad for us by default. We should follow Paul’s advice, just a few verses later, to be “kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32).

FOR FURTHER STUDY​

Ephesians: Evangelical Exegetical Commentary by S.M. Baugh

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[Patriot]

What are some Bible verses about wrath?​

ANSWER

Psalm 37:8
Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

Romans 12:19
Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.”

James 1:20
For the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Ephesians 4:26-27
Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil.

Romans 13:4
For he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer.

Ezekiel 25:17
I will execute great vengeance on them with wrathful rebukes. Then they will know that I am the Lord, when I lay my vengeance upon them.

Matthew 26:52-54
Then Jesus said to him, “Put your sword back into its place. For all who take the sword will perish by the sword. Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father, and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels? But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?”

1 John 4:18
There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.

Colossians 3:8
But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

1 Thessalonians 5:9
For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

Romans 2:5
But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed.

Proverbs 25:26
Like a muddied spring or a polluted fountain is a righteous man who gives way before the wicked.

1 John 1:9
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

Ephesians 4:31
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

Romans 1:18
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth.

Proverbs 1:7
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Deuteronomy 28:47-48
Because you did not serve the Lord your God with joyfulness and gladness of heart, because of the abundance of all things, therefore you shall serve your enemies whom the Lord will send against you, in hunger and thirst, in nakedness, and lacking everything. And he will put a yoke of iron on your neck until he has destroyed you.

Revelation 4:1
After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

1 John 2:27
But the anointing that you received from him abides in you, and you have no need that anyone should teach you. But as his anointing teaches you about everything, and is true, and is no lie—just as it has taught you, abide in him.

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible verses are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Special thanks to OpenBible.info for the data on the most well-known Bible verses.

FOR FURTHER STUDY​

The MacArthur Topical Bible: A Comprehensive Guide to Every Major Topic Found in the Bible

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[Patriot]

What does the Bible say about child abuse?​

ANSWER

The Bible does not specifically use the term child abuse. What the Bible does tell us is this: children have a special place in God’s heart and anyone who harms a child is inviting God’s wrath upon himself. When Jesus’ disciples tried to keep children from coming to Jesus, He rebuked them and welcomed the children to His side, saying, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these” (Mark 10:14). Then He took the children in His arms and blessed them (verse 16). The Bible promotes child blessing, not child abuse.

Children are abused and mistreated in several different ways, all of which are abhorrent to God. The Bible prohibits child abuse in its warnings against improper anger. Too many children are the victims of angry beatings and other physical abuse as their parents take out their own anger and frustration on their children. Though some forms of physical discipline may be biblically acceptable, such discipline should never be administered in anger. Paul reminds the Ephesians, “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry, and do not give the devil a foothold” (Ephesians 4:26–27). Proverbs 29:22 says, “An angry man stirs up dissension, and a hot-tempered one commits many sins.” There is no place for unrighteous or uncontrolled anger in the life of a Christian. Anger should be confessed to God and appropriately handled long before it comes to the point of physical abuse against a child or anyone else.

The Bible also prohibits child abuse in its condemnation of sexual sin. Sexual abuse or molestation is particularly devastating, and warnings against sexual sin abound in Scripture. To force sexual acts upon a child is a horrible, evil offense. In addition to committing a sexual sin, the perpetrator is also attacking the innocence of one of the world’s most vulnerable persons. Sexual abuse violates everything about a person from his or her understanding of self to physical boundaries to spiritual connection with God. In a child, these things are so barely established that they are often altered for life and without appropriate help may not ever heal.

Another way the Bible prohibits child abuse is in its forbidding of psychological and emotional abuse. Ephesians 6:4 warns fathers not to “exasperate” or provoke their children but to bring them up in the “training and instruction of the Lord.” Harsh, unloving verbal discipline, emotional manipulation, or volatile environments alienate children’s minds from their parents and render their instruction and correction useless. Parents can provoke and exasperate their children by placing unreasonable requirements on them, belittling them, or constantly finding fault, thereby producing wounds that can be as bad as or worse than any physical beating can inflict. Colossians 3:21 tells us not to “embitter” our children so they will not become discouraged. Ephesians 4:15–19 says we are to speak the truth in love and use our words to build others up, not allow rotten or destructive words to pour from our lips, especially toward the tender hearts and minds of children.

It is abundantly clear what the Bible teaches about the issue of child abuse. Child abuse in any form is evil. Anyone who suspects that a child is being abused has the obligation to report it to appropriate authorities. Anyone who has been abused or who has abused children can find hope, healing, and forgiveness in Jesus Christ. Talking to a pastor or finding a Christian counselor or a support group may be a good place to begin the journey to wholeness.

FOR FURTHER STUDY​

The New Dare to Discipline by James Dobson

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[Patriot]

What does the Bible say about raising children?​

ANSWER

God created the family. His design was for a man and a woman to marry for life and raise children to know and honor Him (Mark 10:9; Malachi 2:15). Adoption is also God’s idea, and He models this in His adoption of us as His children (Romans 8:15, 23; Ephesians 1:5). Regardless of the means by which they enter a family, children are a gift from God and He cares about how they are raised (Psalm 127:3; Psalm 34:11; Proverbs 23:13–14). When God gives us gifts, He also gives clear instructions about their use.

When God led the Israelites out of bondage, He commanded them to teach their children all He had done for them (Deuteronomy 6:6–7; 11:19). He desired that the generations to come would continue to uphold all His commands. When one generation fails to instill God’s laws in the next, a society quickly declines. Parents have not only a responsibility to their children, but an assignment from God to impart His values and truth into their lives.

Several places in Scripture give specific instructions to parents about how to raise their children. Ephesians 6:4 says, “Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” There are several ways parents might provoke their children to anger. Some parents set impossible standards so that a child despairs of ever achieving them. Some parents tease, ridicule, or humiliate their children as a means of punishment, which does nothing but provoke them to anger. Inconsistency can also provoke to anger as a child is never sure about the consequences of his actions. Hypocrisy provokes children to anger when parents require behavior from children that the parents are not choosing for themselves.

To “bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” means that parents should train their children the way God trains us. As a Father, God is “slow to anger” (Numbers 14:18; Psalm 145:8), patient (Psalm 86:15), and forgiving (Daniel 9:9). His discipline is designed to bring us to repentance (Hebrews 12:6–11). His instruction is found in His Word (John 17:17; Psalm 119:97), and He desires that parents fill their homes with His truth (Deuteronomy 6:6-7).

He also disciplines His children (Proverbs 3:11; Hebrews 12:5) and expects earthly parents to do the same (Proverbs 23:13). Psalm 94:12 says, “Blessed is the one you discipline, LORD, the one you teach from your law.” The word discipline comes from the root word disciple. To discipline someone means to make a disciple of him. God’s discipline is designed to “conform us to the image of Christ” (Romans 8:29). Parents can make disciples of their children by instilling values and life lessons they have learned. As parents practice godly living and make Spirit-controlled decisions (Galatians 5:16, 25), they can encourage their children to follow their example. Proper, consistent discipline brings a “harvest of righteousness” (Hebrews 12:11). Failure to discipline results in dishonor for both parent and child (Proverbs 10:1). Proverbs 15:32 says that the one who ignores discipline “despises himself.” The Lord brought judgment upon Eli the priest because he allowed his sons to dishonor the Lord and “failed to restrain them” (1 Samuel 3:13).

Children are a “heritage from the Lord” (Psalm 127:3). He places them in families and gives parents guidance in how they are to be raised. The goal of good parenting is to produce wise children who know and honor God with their lives. Proverbs 23:24 shows the end result of raising children according to God’s plan: “The father of godly children has cause for joy. What a pleasure to have children who are wise” (NLT).

FOR FURTHER STUDY​

Dedicated: Raising Children to Trust and Follow Jesus by Houser, Harrington, & Harrington

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[Patriot]

What are some Bible verses about abuse?​

ANSWER

Ephesians 6:4
Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.

Colossians 3:19
Husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.

1 Corinthians 7:15
But if the unbelieving partner separates, let it be so. In such cases the brother or sister is not enslaved. God has called you to peace.

Colossians 3:21
Fathers, do not provoke your children, lest they become discouraged.

Proverbs 22:10
Drive out a scoffer, and strife will go out, and quarreling and abuse will cease.

Psalm 11:5
The Lord tests the righteous, but his soul hates the wicked and the one who loves violence.

Proverbs 10:11
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Psalm 147:3
He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.

Proverbs 15:1
A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

1 Peter 3:7
Likewise, husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.

James 1:19
Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger.

Psalm 9:9
The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.

Ephesians 4:31
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.

James 3:10
From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so.

James 1:26
If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.

Matthew 19:8
He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses allowed you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so.”

James 4:1
What causes quarrels and what causes fights among you? Is it not this, that your passions are at war within you?

Ephesians 4:29
Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Proverbs 19:19
A man of great wrath will pay the penalty, for if you deliver him, you will only have to do it again.

Psalm 103:6
The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed.

Unless otherwise noted, all Bible verses are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® Copyright© 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

Special thanks to OpenBible.info for the data on the most well-known Bible verses.

FOR FURTHER STUDY​

The MacArthur Topical Bible: A Comprehensive Guide to Every Major Topic Found in the Bible

More insights from your Bible study - Get Started with Logos Bible Software for Free!

 

[Patriot]

What does it mean that Jesus overturns tables (John 2:15)?​

ANSWER

The concept of Jesus overturning tables challenges the prevailing view of the “nice Jesus,” the benign teacher the modern world prefers. While Jesus is “nice,” He also displays righteous anger when appropriate. A case study is John 2:15, best understood when read alongside the verses surrounding it:

When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 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. To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” (John 2:13–16)

The event of Jesus overturning tables in John 2:15 also appears in all the Synoptic Gospels. In fact, Jesus cleansed the temple on two separate occasions: once at the beginning of His ministry, and again at the end (Matthew 21:12–13; Mark 11:15–17; Luke 19:45–46).

In contemporary Christian circles, the phrase Jesus overturns tables or Jesus flips tables is used to communicate the iconoclastic nature of Jesus’ ministry. The saying also serves to counterbalance the distorted modern portrayal of the Son of God as an insipid, weak man who was all about “peace” and “love” and never about correction or judgment.

We see that Jesus “overturns tables” in many ways in Scripture. He countered the incomplete teaching of the scribes (Matthew 5:21–28), He confronted the hypocrisy of the Pharisees (Matthew 23), He reached out to “tax collectors and sinners” (Luke 15:1–2), He violated custom (Matthew 15:2; John 4:7–9), and He publicly spoke against the king (Luke 13:32).

We should recognize that Jesus’ actions in John 2:15 were justified. His anger was properly motivated, rightly focused, and self-controlled. Nothing Jesus did in cleansing the temple should serve as an endorsement for unchecked anger on our part (Ephesians 4:26–27; James 1:19–20).

So, why did Jesus overturn tables? Conducting commerce within the temple was problematic by itself as that undermined the sacred purpose of that place (John 2:16). Yet there were deeper issues at play. In the Synoptic accounts of the second cleansing, Jesus denounces the money changers and merchants for transforming the temple into a “den of robbers” (Matthew 21:13; Mark 11:17; Luke 19:45; cf. Jeremiah 7:11). It seems it wasn’t just business taking place, but exploitation. The devout were being cheated; especially vulnerable were foreigners and the poor, in direct violation of God’s commands (Exodus 22:21; Leviticus 19:33–34; Deuteronomy 10:18–19; Isaiah 1:17). As Jesus overturned the tables in the temple, He referenced Isaiah 56:7, which calls the temple God’s “house of prayer.” Jesus’ anger was ignited by the misuse of the temple and the injustice taking place within it.

What implications does the event in John 2:15 hold for us today? First, our perception of Jesus must be grounded in Scripture, not sentiment. The same Jesus who played with children and conversed gently with the Samaritan woman could construct a whip and overturn tables. He embodies the traits of both a lion and a lamb. In fact, Jesus would be an inadequate Savior and incompetent Lord if He failed to express anger against sin and oppression. What kind of person shrugs at abuse?

Second, given that Jesus sets the standard for goodness, there are appropriate times to not be “nice.” There are times we cannot simply “go along to get along.” We should emulate Jesus’ example and confront abuse and injustice, especially within the church. When God’s reputation is at stake, and when people are being exploited, we should act.

Finally, we should remember that Christians today are God’s temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). Just as Jesus was zealous for His temple in Jerusalem, so is He for us (John 2:17; cf. Psalm 69:9). We must take care not to defile His temple with sin; rather, we should make every effort to ensure that our bodies are “houses of prayer” to honor God.

FOR FURTHER STUDY​

John: Zondervan Exegetical Commentary on the New Testament by Edward W. Klink III

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