In our terms
this is a mini riot. Jesus enters the temple courts and causes disruption,
overturning tables and creating chaos as, presumably, money went flying and animals
started running around. The temple operation needed these traders. Worshippers
required the right kind of money and animals and birds suitable for sacrifice.
Jesus, however, sees this commercial operation as damaging the true purpose of
the temple, which is that it should be a house of prayer.
However, this
sort of support trading was a long- and well-established part of religious life.
It was necessary in order for the people to fulfil their religious duties. Of
course, it was not without its problems, and elements of cheating and extortion,
but we might wonder why the ordinary business of the temple provoked such a
strong reaction on this occasion. As Ched Myers (Binding the Strong Man) comments – “many rabbis were concerned
with the fairness of temple-oriented commerce, and often worked to prevent the
inevitable racketeering. Jesus’ indignation could hardly be attributed to a
discovery of the existence of temple trading per se.”
This action is an important statement of
Kingdom values. It indicates the transformation that Jesus has come to bring. He
has already stated that he is there for the sinners, they being the ones who
need him, and, as Myers comments – “Jesus’ action here is fully consistent
with his first direct action campaign to discredit the socio-symbolic apparati
that discriminated against the “weak” and the “sinners” (2:17).”
The religious authorities recognise the
challenge. As Myers says – “Jesus’ point is understood loud and clear by the
high priests and scribes.” In the end this is a stark and powerful symbol.
Two significant things result. In the first place, the religious authorities
seriously began to plot his demise. They are afraid of what he represents and
what he will do next. He is an influence against the conventional way of doing
things, and needs to be eliminated. The second thing is that, having caused
this chaos, Jesus then initiates a teaching session and the crowd are spellbound
by what he is saying. Evening comes, and Jesus and the disciples leave Jerusalem.
I wonder how often we are spellbound by the
things of God, in particular by our own exploration of the teaching of Jesus. I
wonder if there are structures and conventions that we ought to disrupt.
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