In His Eyes

Mark 11:15-19 (The Voice)

15 They continued into Jerusalem 
and made their way up to the temple.
Upon reaching the temple that morning, 
Jesus dealt with those who were 
selling and buying animals for sacrifices 
and drove them out of the area. He 
turned over the tables of those who 
exchanged money for the temple pilgrims 
and the seats of those selling birds, 
16 and He physically prevented anyone 
from carrying anything through the temple.
Jesus (to those who were listening): 
17 Didn't the prophets write, “My house 
will be called a house of prayer, for 
all the people”? But you have made it 
into a “haven for thieves.”
At the temple, Jesus responds in shock 
to the scene before Him. He acts 
decisively and with great emotion against 
those who have turned God’s house 
into a place where pilgrims are exploited. 
He has a message and, like the prophets 
of old, this message is better seen than
heard. Because the temple leadership 
has allowed profiteers and merchants 
to set up shop in the court of the Gentiles, 
they are making ridiculous profits. For 
the people who come long distances to 
worship, it is a normal practice to have 
merchants selling animals for the 
pilgrims to sacrifice. What is not normal 
and what is immoral is where and how 
they transact business. Jesus takes issue 
with robbers profiteering in His Father’s 
house.
18 The chief priests and the scribes heard 
these words and knew Jesus was referring 
to them, so they plotted His destruction. 
They had grown afraid of Him because 
His teachings struck the crowds into 
astonishment. 19 When evening came, 
[Jesus and His followers] left the city again.

I ask the same question every time I read this passage, Jesus is mad? I don’t recall any other Biblical narrative that tells us about Jesus getting angry. It just isn't normal…furthermore, He’s always preaching and teaching about love, kindness and forgiveness… Well, this version of the text provides a more plausible explanation of Jesus flipping tables. According to this translation, it was normal to have merchants selling animals for sacrificial purposes back then. The problem lies in the way they transact business. It is very possible that these merchants were dishonest in their business and Jesus most probably knew that the only way to reveal their dishonesty was by turning the tables for the public to see. There’s a lesson here which is easy to miss: Love what is righteous and protect it from the unrighteous. We’d be less selfish if we all stood up for what is right, and if we came to honor what is sacred (the House of Prayer) in our Father’s eyes in order to achieve what we hope for – a restored relationship with Christ because it is for all people.

Deborah Martin is a junior pursuing a B.A. in Music with a minor in Business Administration.