"Be ye angry and sin not!"

Ephesians 4:26,27

26 Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:

27 Neither give place to the devil.

John 2:13-17 King James Version (KJV)

13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

15 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 changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

Some things of note:

In Ephesians the verse clearly presents "sinful anger gives place to the devil." But as Jesus was the example "sinless anger for the sake of zeal for God does not." 

Jesus was, is, and will ever be zealous for the things of God! The temple at the time of the passover was full of "helpful merchants" just trying to "make available" those necessary products to satisfy the law for the feast. It might be added "at profit" for the convenience of "one stop preparations." They failed to realize that the help that they were providing turned into the desecration of the temple. They had lost the "zeal" for the temple and its purpose....worship! 

Jesus did not. His "zeal" for the temple, (which He was), has always been present and "active." He knew that what was going on at the time would be reproduced over and over again by "His people" after the "Law of commandment" would be replaced by the "Law of Love" with His death and resurrection. The leaders of that time "prophesying" what will take place in the future when followers (believers) will "Have a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof." 

The disease was the same then as it is today: Lack of love, zeal, toward the Father, "if you Love (agape) me you will obey my commands, and my commands are not grievous." And "they worship me with their lips but their hearts are far from me." 

They had lost the "zeal/motivation" to obey "all things that I have said or taught" and thereby lost all the "manifestation proofs" of their office. They became bored with their "religion" so they sought after "carnal stimulation" money, power and control. Instead of representing the "Glory and proof of God", their perversions of the "faith of Abraham and the Law of Moses" denied them the power to "fully" manifest the Truth and reality of the "One True God." Leading the "children of God" astray  and lowering the expectation of "Hope" in God's provision, protection and most of all "Participation" in His Children's lives!

Like I said: "Prophetic"!

Jesus was well aware of the "priests" actions and how it would carry into the future, with all of it's ramifications through the "end times", when He would right all the wrongs committed during this creation. Yet in all that He (then, now and in the future), "sinned not!" He simply cleared the temple, (problem), and then went about His business being "Savior and Master".

"How can we ignore such a great witness" Are we going to be the ones to break this prophesy? If you get angry then afterward cannot "put it to rest with Love (agape)" then you are "giving place to the devil". Period. The need for contention in anger, is usually a good sign that the devil is "seeking to destroy" your testimony of the Gospel to whomever is involved or watching the matter. Remember we are to live to "Glorify our Father in heaven" His testimony is of greater value then our need to "lord it over someone else" with anger. 

How do we stop in this matter?

Speak as though speaking the very Words of God.

Make righteous judgments.

Guard what comes out of our mouths.

Be quick to listen slow to speak and slow to wrath.

Season every conversation with Salt.

Bring every thought into submission of Christ before we speak.

Be filled with the Holy Spirit and sensitive to His "we small voice."

Remember that "as a man thinks in his heart so is he"!

If the Gospel of Love is going to come out of your heart it has to reside there already.

May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ reside in your hearts richly producing the fruits of the Spirit so we can "manifest His glory".

Love

Jerry and Elise