GET ANGRY

Be angry but do not sin.

Ephesians 4:26 (NRSV)

There is no doubt about it, Jesus was angry when he drove the moneychangers out of the temple. In His rage He tore through the place because they had taken a place of worship and turned it into a "den of robbers." This was His Father’s house and these greedy merchants were using it for unrighteous profit and gain!

But, what is behind this story? Why were they in the Temple in the first place? Moneychangers were supposed to be an answer to a problem raised by Roman coinage which had the image of Caesar on them. Because the Roman Emperor’s face was on all the coins, they were unacceptable for Jewish Temple ceremonies. All the people visiting the Temple had to exchange their Roman coins for coins that were acceptable.

If you have traveled to other countries then you have had the pleasure of trading American Dollars for the local currency. Whether it was at a bank, the airport, or the hotel lobby, this is a very profitable enterprise for the moneychangers.

The moneychangers Jesus confronted, however, had brought their little shops right into the Temple itself. In constant competition with other moneychangers, their priority was to take advantage of worshippers coming to the Temple. What made the situation even worse and what incensed Jesus even more was that they were also selling sacrificial animals within the Temple walls. Considering only their profit and the money they could make from weary travelers, they had no concern for the fact that these animals could violate the sanctuary. The most sacred place of worship had become a commercialized circus.

How dare they? This was his Father's house! He shocked them all by turning over their tables, scattering all the precious coins across the pavement. With a whip he forced the traders out of the temple and released the sacrificial animals they were selling into the courtyard away from the Holy ground. When things calmed down and the Temple was cleansed, you can be certain the people there wondered what had come over Jesus. Yet, no one protested. They all knew Jesus was right.

The anger Jesus experienced was the kind of righteous anger that boils through our veins when we witness a clear and unmistakable injustice. Christ's example tells us there are times when a Christian ought to get upset about the injustices of our world. And there are certainly no shortage of injustices. While we are certainly not to use our anger as an excuse to sin, to offend those we love, or to force our will on others, our Lord does want us to express and use our passionate, righteous anger to cleanse the world of those things He finds offensive. Which of God’s battles will you take up and fight for today?

Today’s Prayer

Dear Lord, infuse me with a sense of passion for changing the injustices of this world. Give me the vision to see what offends you and grant me the courage to fight the good fight with righteous anger. Please don’t let me turn away from the things you need me to see. Help me to face each of these with your strength, always following the glorious example of Your Son, Jesus. Amen.