1. I’m a Patriot…I Think Thy Kingdom Come – p.1 Matthew 21:12-17

2. The church was established to serve the world with Christ-like love, not to rule the world.The church was established to serve the world with Christ-like love, not to rule the world. Kingdom people have one Master and serve one Kingdom.Kingdom people have one Master and serve one Kingdom.

5. Two things happened during this trip. The people celebrated with symbols that celebrated Jesus as the coming Messiah – King.The people celebrated with symbols that celebrated Jesus as the coming Messiah – King. They declared Jesus as their savior.They declared Jesus as their savior.

6. Jesus was offended! And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons.

7. Jesus was offended! He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you make it a den of robbers." (Matthew 21:12-13 ESV) (Matthew 21:12-13 ESV)

8. Jesus was offended!

9. Traditional thinking is that Jesus was upset because the traders were taking advantage of the poor.Traditional thinking is that Jesus was upset because the traders were taking advantage of the poor.

10. Jesus was offended! And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple…And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple… Jesus drove out all who sold and boughtJesus drove out all who sold and bought

11. Jesus was offended! Jesus was offended because they were using the temple as a cover for their political ambitions (21:13)Jesus was offended because they were using the temple as a cover for their political ambitions (21:13)

12. Antiochus IV Epiphanes

13. Jesus was offended! Jesus said: Jesus said: Your political ambitions are uninviting people God invited. (Matt. 21:13a) He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,'

14. Jesus was offended! Jesus said: Jesus said: You are using the temple as a cover for your political ambitions (Matt 21:13b) but you make it a den of robbers."

15. Jesus opens the temple to the uninvited And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. (Matthew 21:14 ESV) (Matthew 21:14 ESV)

16. Jesus opens the temple to the uninvited Two reasons this is a big deal: Two reasons this is a big deal: It is the only reference (Synoptic) to Jesus healing in Jerusalem.It is the only reference (Synoptic) to Jesus healing in Jerusalem. Jesus embraced the people rejected by the political zealots.Jesus embraced the people rejected by the political zealots.

17. Jesus opens the temple to the uninvited The LORD said to Moses, “Say to Aaron: ‘For the generations to come none of your descendants who has a defect may come near to offer the food of his God.

18. Jesus opens the temple to the uninvited No man who has any defect may come near: no man who is blind or lame, disfigured or deformed; no man with a crippled foot or hand… (Lev. 21:16-19 NIV)

19. Political zealots are defensive when their power is threatened But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant, and they said to him,

20. Political zealots are defensive when their power is threatened "Do you hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, "'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise'?“ (Matthew 21:15-16 ESV) (Matthew 21:15-16 ESV)

21. Doing the right thing is not always a popular thing And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there. (Matthew 21:17 ESV) (Matthew 21:17 ESV)

22. Bottom Line: The church has a role to play in the Kingdom of God, but it is not a nationalistic stronghold.The church has a role to play in the Kingdom of God, but it is not a nationalistic stronghold. The church was established to serve the world with Christ-like love, not to rule the world.The church was established to serve the world with Christ-like love, not to rule the world.

23. Bottom Line: “In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach” (Acts 1:1)“In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach” (Acts 1:1) “why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4)“why are you persecuting me?” (Acts 9:4)

24. For those checking out the Jesus of the Bible Please forgive the churchPlease forgive the church

25. For those committed to following Jesus… Pick up your cross!Pick up your cross!

26. Whenever the church picks up the sword, it lays down the cross.

27. For those committed to following Jesus… Kingdom people have one Master and serve one Kingdom.Kingdom people have one Master and serve one Kingdom. The Scriptures do not teach us to not participate in government.The Scriptures do not teach us to not participate in government.