Articles
When Jesus Got Angry
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Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it a 'den of thieves.' " (Mk. 11:15-17)
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The popular image of Jesus as a sweet, gentle teacher takes a hit when we read the story of Him cleansing the temple. Here is a man who was clearly angry at the crass commercialization of the holy place, and took action to stop it. How can we reconcile His behavior on this occasion with His message of love and reconciliation?
First, we must understand the unique circumstances surrounding this event. The "temple" was a large complex of courtyards with the Holy of Holies occupying the innermost section. The area that Jesus cleansed was the Court of the Gentiles, a large outer compound into which anyone could come, even Gentiles.
But if any Gentiles came into this Temple compound seeking connection with the true God, it could not be found in the cacophony of noise that overwhelmed the scene, especially in a Passover week. Moneychangers, livestock brokers and their animals, and thousands of hapless customers turned the house of prayer into a raucous trading exchange.
To make matters worse, the authorities who ran the temple grounds (the high priest and his underlings) had a stake in every transaction--and there was no SEC to ensure that customers were being treated fairly. The whole operation had turned the temple of God into "a den of thieves," rather than a place of worship and reflection.
So when Jesus came into Jerusalem to initiate a final showdown with His enemies, the temple was the most obvious target. It was "My Father's house" (Jn. 2:16) in a manner that no one else could claim, and He exercised the right to purify it. That He performed this cleansing both at the beginning of His ministry (John) and at the end (the Synoptics) highlighted His claim to fix what was broken. No man or animal was harmed, and no property was taken or destroyed--but Jesus made His point: God was to be honored in His house, not mocked.
There is a place in this world for righteous indignation. When people act in flagrant defiance of the rules, love requires firm discipline, and Jesus knew when and how to administer it. Parents, employers, preachers, and elders must learn to do the same.
--David
