Cleansing the Temple

Get a Grip by Dr. Doug Weiss on Youversion

Jed was a very large man from Texas. He came to my office because of several behaviors that were out of control in his life. As we walked through the process described in this book, Jed realized he had a big issue he had to deal with to successfully get a grip on his behaviors. Jed had to face the neglect and abuse he received regularly from his mother. Every time he would visit his mother on holidays he would get all knotted up and would feel full of rage toward his wife and family afterward. Jed did the cleansing the temple exercise in my office. A short time later, after being home for a few days at Thanksgiving, Jed realized that he didn’t have the same knotted-up feelings, nor did he get mad at his wife or family on the way home.

Regardless of the past, healing can take place. It can be hard and requires some patience but the results are nothing short of marvelous. I call this process “Cleansing the Temple”. As a Psychologist, I have seen thousands of clients do this exercise and feel relieved of pain, trauma, guilt, and anger by doing this exercise. Sometimes our body holds onto anger and this exercise allows us to release it. Before we begin I suggest reading John 2:13-22, as this exercise is based on the account of Jesus clearing out the temple. It lays the necessary groundwork for an understanding of what this exercise is about.

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!” His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” But the temple he had spoken of was his body.

John 2:13-‬21

Application:

1) Write an anger letter

Write a letter to the person who hurt you, but don’t send it. Don’t hold back with your words either, be honest with what you are feeling. Ephesians 4:31 says: Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.

2) Warm up your body

Grab something easy to hold such as a padded baseball bat or tennis racket. Warm up by hitting a mattress or pillow in increasingly harder strikes. Remember this is just to stretch and prepare, not hurt yourself. Say the word “no” with each hit, matching the intensity of each strike.

3) Read your letter aloud

Address the person as if they are there in the room with you. Make sure you are alone during this process.

4) Engage your anger physically and verbally

Hit the bed or pillow and let the other person “have it.” Release the infection that has been plaguing you. There are no limits to what you can say to your offender during this exercise. This can last 15 minutes to an hour, but don’t overdo it. Your body will tell you when you are done.

Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

Ephesians 4:31‭-‬32

Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.

Matthew 21:12

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,

Mark 11:15

When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling.

Luke 19:45