11:11 - I thought it was interesting that Jesus goes into the temple and looks around at everything. He sees the money changers and the commercialism of His father's house...I'm sure the righteous anger starts to bubble up inside him, but he walks away. He doesn't clear out the temple the instant he sees it...he takes some time to confer with God...to consider the course of action he needs to take - that is pretty good advice for us to follow when we feel the anger start to rise. If the anger is righteous, I believe that God will show us a constructive change-bringing way to deal with the situation...and if it is selfish anger, I believe that God will show us the changes that need to be made in our own heart.
11:15ff - And even when we see him act on his righteous anger, we see how constructive and positive it is. Sure he is clearing out the temple, but he is clearing the evil out...and as he clears he is teaching the crowds gathered in the temple, so that not only is there physical cleansing, but spiritual. Maybe the physical act is representative of the point that Jesus, throughout his teaching, wanted people to understand...motive matters! It's not that you are changing money in the temple...it is that you are trying to take advantage of people...what was meant to be a place of redemption and worship has become a place of extortion.
12:12 - The Pharisees were able to perceive that he was referring to them in the parable of the tenants - what does that tell us? It tells us that they were intelligent men...the disciples could never figure out what Jesus meant when he told parables, and these religious leaders instantly understood. From a human perspective they were the cream of the crop. Unfortunately, human wisdom wasn't strong enough to allow them to see through the lies they had built their life around to the way of Jesus. It's heartbreaking. The simple, country bumpkin disciples couldn't explain what the parables meant, but they knew who Jesus was...which would you rather be? We run the risk as human beings of allowing intelligence to become a wall of arrogance that separates us from God. Training your mind is important, but training your soul is tantamount (Cool word, huh?)!
12:44 - May I contribute out of the abundance of my time, my wealth, my gifts, etc. The point is not the size of the gift, but the heart of sacrifice. Once again, the motivation behind the act is what God is what truly interests God.
2 comments:
I have always had problems with the marriage thing and heaven – not understanding how it will work – why it would be different. Once again, I like how the Message put it in 12:25 - After the dead are raised up, we're past the marriage business. As it is with angels now, all our ecstasies and intimacies then will be with God.
It does not completely explain it, but it helps me better understand.
Rob B. talked about how rabbis would praise God for scriptures they did not yet understand. So – thank you Lord for mysteries you still have for us that will be revealed in your time and be oh so much more most excellent than we could can possibly imagine – and I can imagine a lot.
Peace,
j
The intelligent rabbis who turn away from Jesus vs the not so quick disciples who sought Jesus out with everything they had. That is a very interesting point. Father, help me to not get clouded in my pursuit of academic achievements. I pray that I am always seeking you first above all, including my knowledge of you...
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