The Den of Robbers

Good Morning,

Matthew 21:12-17 (NIV)
Jesus entered the temple area 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. "It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.'"
The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.
"Do you hear what these children are saying?" they asked him.
"Yes," replied Jesus, "have you never read,
"'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise'?"
And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

I love this section of Scripture because, at least to me, it shows the different "sides" of the human being, Jesus Christ. Yes, of course, we know that He is, indeed, truly 100% God, but, lest we forget, these verses also show us that while He walked this earth, He was truly 100% a man, as well.

So, this Guy enters the temple area where there are these folks engaging in commerce...IN THE HOUSE OF GOD!!! This Guy, in case they didn't notice Him coming in, gets like truly indignant about what they are doing right there, out in the open, in front of God and everybody. So, this Guy, and I mean He is REALLLLY angry at what He's seeing, allows His anger to come forth and He begins to throw them out and overturn the tables where they are selling their wares...you know the "sacrificial lambs" and such. Now, I don't know about you, but I certainly wouldn't want to have been there to encounter the wrath of God! Because, my friends, that's EXACTLY what these folks were experiencing at that moment. Think for a moment here...Do you believe for even one second that Jesus..this Guy who came in unexpectedly to the temple...do you believe that He was calm and all nice about what He did on that occasion? I don't think so. I think He raised His voice. I think He allowed His righteous anger to flow out of Him and to be seen by men on that day. I think He yelled and screamed. Luke puts it this way, "Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling." (Luke 19:45) When I picture a person "driving out" someone from a place, well, I kind of see that person using some force, don't you think? OK, point here is that we see Jesus as an angry and truly indignant man...as well as being a very angry and indignant God...at that point in time.

I've got to admit here that there are times when I get angry and begin to berate myself for that anger, well, I kind of pull up some Scripture that shows us that Jesus got angry sometimes, as well, and it sort of soothes my mind just a bit. You know, knowing that even a kind and loving and caring Jesus could get very angry when the situation called for it.

Now, this section of Scripture doesn't end there, does it? We also read that, after He had driven out the "robbers" there in the temple, Jesus taught the common people and did healings. It is also implicit that Jesus allowed the children to come close to Him and that they were praising and worshipping Him. "Hosanna to the Son of David," is praise and worship, don't you think? The children, those who were so special to Jesus, knew the truth and weren't afraid to speak it out.

So, in just a few short verses we see different aspects of our Lord. We see Him angry. We see Him caring (healing). We see Him loving (allowing the children to come to Him.) Something to think about today, I believe. Something to put into our minds and into our hearts.

Yes, I DO love this section of Scripture!

Love, peace, and blessings,

David