What Angers Jesus

By /

What Angers Jesus

John 2:13-25

Speaker: Pastor
Series:

When Worship Goes Wrong: What Makes Jesus Angry?

Have you ever wondered what truly angers Jesus? Our society often portrays Him as only loving and accepting, never troubled or angry. But Scripture tells a different story.

I had the opportunity to explore John 2:13-25 recently, where we see Jesus’ righteous anger on full display. This passage challenges our comfortable assumptions and reveals what truly matters in worship.

When God’s House Is Treated With Disrespect

“In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons and the money changers sitting there” (John 2:14). What was happening in the temple during Passover was shocking. The temple area was approximately 36-37 acres—about 28 football fields! And 80-85% of this space had been turned into a Marketplace.

Think about it: the noise, the smell, the chaos. What began perhaps as a convenience (“Let’s provide animals for travelers”) had devolved into corruption. The court of the Gentiles—the only place where non-Jews could come to learn about God—had been transformed into a noisy, smelly Marketplace.

Jesus’ response? “Making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple with the sheep and the oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables” (John 2:15).

When Sincere Worshipers Are Hindered

Jesus wasn’t just concerned about the physical space—He was deeply troubled by how this affected people coming to worship. “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade” (John 2:16).

Imagine trying to pray amid the noise of animals and haggling merchants. Impossible! The temple was designed to be “a house of prayer for all nations” (Isaiah 56:7), but instead of clearing space for people to seek God, they crowded them out.

What’s more, worshipers were being exploited. The Mishnah describes corruption among the inspectors and sellers. If you brought your own sacrifice, they might reject it: “Sorry, your animal doesn’t cut it. You’ll need to buy one of ours.” This was a good money-making business in the name of religion.

When People Approach Jesus With a Consumer Mindset

Perhaps most troubling to Jesus was the consumer mentality of those following Him: “Now when he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many believed in his name when they saw the signs that he was doing. But Jesus on his part did not entrust himself to them, because he knew all people” (John 2:23-24).

Notice that word “entrust” is the same word as “believe” in Greek. Many people believed in His name, but Jesus did not believe in them. Why? Because their fascination was with His miracles, not devotion to Him as Messiah.

They wanted blessings, but not obedience. They wanted gifts, but not surrender. They wanted benefits, but not the Savior Himself.

Jesus Examines Our Worship Today

This reminds me of a powerful story about A.J. Gordon, a well-known pastor in Boston. One Saturday night, he had a dream that deeply shook him. In the dream, a stranger came into his service and sat in the back. After the service, Gordon asked an angel who the man was.

“Don’t you know?” the angel replied. “That was the Lord Jesus Christ. He came today to see how his church is worshiping.”

Gordon woke up stunned by the thought that Christ Himself had visited his church and no one had noticed.

My brothers and sisters, do we realize that Christ is here when we gather? He examines our hearts, evaluates our worship, and longs to be loved and adored. Whenever the church gathers, Christ is not absent.

Putting It Into Practice

As we reflect on what makes Jesus angry, let’s examine our own approach to worship:

  1. Honor God’s house: Are we treating our place of worship with reverence, or allowing distractions to take over?
  2. Welcome and protect fellow worshipers: Are we helping or hindering others in their worship? James 2:1-9 warns against showing favoritism in our gatherings.
  3. Come as worshipers, not consumers: Why are you following Jesus? What expectations are you putting on Him? Are you seeking His gifts or seeking Him?

Remember, just as Christ walked through Gordon’s church in that dream, He walks through His church today. He examines, He purifies, and He restores. Where is your heart as you worship?

We hope you enjoyed the sermon and would love to see you in person. Plan your visit to Community Baptist Church in Spring Hill, Tennessee today!

Plan A Visit
Scroll to Top