Week 18, Day 2: Clearing the Temple

Today’s Reading:  Matthew 23:1-24:51

Some thoughts from yesterday’s reading…

In Matthew 21:12-13 we get to see “the other side” of Jesus.  In the religious world today (and increasingly in the Lord’s church) we are seeing a picture of Jesus painted that only tells half of the story.  We hear about how loving Jesus is, and how compassionate He is.  Jesus certainly has those characteristics, but that is not the whole story of His character.  Often we overlook the rest of Jesus’ character because it simply does not fit with what we like to think of Him.  But, He is willing to be harsh and judgmental as well!

When we imagine this scene, I am afraid that we don’t see it for what it was.  We don’t think about the force that would have been necessary for Jesus to successfully drive the money changers from the temple.  They were there to make money, and they weren’t going to leave just because Jesus came and asked them nicely.  He didn’t go to them in a “meek” manner (as we often think of meekness).  Jesus’ intent was to ensure the purity of the temple!

Sometimes we think that we must never raise our voices, or never show any kind of anger.  Jesus was angry at the way that these men were treating His Father’s house, and He did something about it!  This was not sinful for Jesus, and it is not sinful for us either (Ephesians 4:26).  John reveals a similar instance in which Jesus’ actions are referred to as being “zealous” (John 2:13-17).  We too need to be zealous, defending what we know to be the truth.  When we are willing to stand and defend what the scriptures say, it is not mean, it is not “being ugly” and it is not being “argumentative.”  It is doing what is required of us!

We do need to be more like Jesus, as so many people say today.  But, we need to know what Jesus was like.  We don’t need to be like the Jesus that most people have developed in their own minds, but like the Jesus that is revealed to us in the New Testament.  Sometimes, that is going to mean that we are going to raise our voices, and be blunt and perhaps harsh with those that would contend against the truth.  Those that are committed to doing what is right will respond to truth.  Those that are not will go away angry, just like those that left Jesus when He was harsh with them.

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