Jesus, The Zealot – Part 2
February 15, 2010
Dear Friends,
Last week we began discussing Jesus’ overturning the tables of the moneychangers in the Temple. We suggested that the key to understanding this event was the context of two Old Testament passages (Jer. 7, Is. 56) that are quoted as Jesus’ motive for so doing.
We concluded last week with four points to keep in mind concerning Jeremiah 7 and Isaiah 56.
- God was angry at people’s hypocritical worship.
- God warned them of impending disaster if they did not repent.
- God was telling them that he would open the way for a new people that he formerly rejected.
- God was especially angry at the elders.
Now, may I make two unusual suggestions to you about this incident with Jesus? First, I do not believe that the “house” Jesus was zealous over was the Temple. In fact, I think it completely misses the point of the story. Second, I don’t think that Jesus’ ire was primarily aimed at the moneychangers at all. Let me explain.
Was Jesus ever overly concerned with rituals and material things? Did he seem overly concerned with paying the Temple tax when approached by Peter in Matthew 17? No, rather he pays it “lest we should offend them.” The “house” that Jesus was zealous about was the true house of God – his church. (see 1 Cor. 3:9) As both Jeremiah and Isaiah indicate, Jesus was seething over the heartless, ritualistic worship and most especially at the supposed shepherds who had created this environment. Look at who gets upset by Jesus’ actions in the Temple? The moneychangers? No, although I am sure they weren’t thrilled. The common man? No. It was the supposed shepherds. “The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him.” (Mark 11:18 NIV)
Jesus was upset with the chief priests and the teachers of the Law because they were in charge of the Temple and allowed it to become so corrupt. These men allowed the moneychangers to charge usury in God’s house and take advantage of foreigners. If you think, like I do, that this cleansing happened twice — once at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry and once at the end – then you know that not only did they not keep it clean, they very quickly allowed it to degrade back to its former ways. This was the proverbial house which was swept clean but later became even worse. (See Matt. 12:43-45) Again, it wasn’t the Temple itself that Jesus was concerned about as much as it was God’s people. Jesus came and began his “Operation Cleansing” where he preached, pleaded and healed the nation to the best of his ability. All the while, Jesus’ enemies, the elders — the very ones who should have been doing the cleansing, thwarted him at every turn.
According to Bible-history.com, this is the state of things as allowed (perhaps encouraged!), by the shepherds.
They would make large profits at the expense of the pilgrims. Every Israelite, rich or poor, who had reached the age of twenty was obligated to pay a half shekel as an offering to Jehovah into the sacred treasury. This tribute was in every case to be paid in the exact Hebrew half shekel. At Passover everyone in the world who was an adult male and wished to worship at the Temple would bring his “offering” or purchase a sacrificial animal at the Temple. Since there was no acceptance of foreign money with any foreign image the money changers would sell “Temple coinage” at a very high rate of exchange and assess a fixed charge for their services.
The judges, who sat to inspect the offerings that were brought by the pilgrims, were quick to detect any blemish in them. This was expensive for the wealthy pilgrims, not to say how ruinous this was for the poor who could only offer their turtle-doves and pigeons. There was no defense for them or court of appeal, seeing that the priestly authorities took a large percentage on every transaction.
It seems to me that the lessons from Jesus’ cleansing the Temple are as applicable now as they were then.
- Jesus, as our example, is multi-dimensional. He wasn’t always meek and accommodating. He wasn’t always aggressive either. He did what was required for the situation.
- Just going to church isn’t good enough for us anymore than the Israelites showing up at the Temple was good enough for them. God wants our obedience. God wants our hearts.
- God wants the shepherds to shepherd. Simply having power, influence or a following is not the same thing as shepherding. You can tell the effectiveness of the shepherd by the state of the flocks.
- Jesus was a zealot for God’s household. Are we? Do we have a genuine passion for the things of God or are we like the elders of Israel – blind, lazy and half asleep? Are we willing to do what it takes or only that which is easy and convenient?
- God hated exploitation. He hated the fact even more that when this occurred, the elders did nothing to stop it. Those who can stop it should stop it.
- We face disaster if we do not repent. If we do not respond appropriately, God will find someone else who will.
It is a sobering message. I am sure as Jesus fashioned his homemade whip and drove the men from the Temple area, it was not pleasant to be on the receiving end of his wrath. It will be even more unpleasant at Jesus’ Second Coming for those who have failed to heed his warning.
For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand?(Rev. 6:17)
Have a great week,
