Jesus flipped tables, so does that mean I can get angry too?
Jesus went straight to the Temple and threw out everyone who had set up shop, buying and selling. He kicked over the tables of loan sharks and the stalls of dove merchants. He quoted this text:
My house was designated a house of prayer;
You have made it a hangout for thieves.
Now there was room for the blind and crippled to get in. They came to Jesus and he healed them.
When the religious leaders saw the outrageous things he was doing, and heard all the children running and shouting through the Temple, “Hosanna to David’s Son!” they were up in arms and took him to task. “Do you hear what these children are saying?”
Jesus said, “Yes, I hear them. And haven’t you read in God’s Word, ‘From the mouths of children and babies I’ll furnish a place of praise’?”
Matthew 21:12-16 (MSG)
This is one of the passages in the Bible that people point to when justifying what they consider to be righteous anger. Jesus is usually a picture of calm and peace, but He also flipped tables in the temple; so then, we too can “flip tables” when we’re angry about something, right?
No. See, what’s happening in this verse is not so simple as that.
Why Jesus flipped tables
This scene is shocking to read and seems out of character of Jesus because, well, it kind of is. You see, Jesus is shown throughout the Gospel as loving and peaceful, as one who taught enemies to love one another and to favor people over religious traditions. This is why it’s so shocking when He chases people out of the temple.
This is what we need to understand. Jesus didn’t go around getting “righteously angry” at every offense left and right. He would have spent a lot of time angry if this were the case! So, when we get online and make antagonizing comments toward others because we feel it’s “righteous anger,” let’s ask ourselves if we’re acting in character or out of character?
Do you live a life of love and peace like Jesus? Or do you spend a lot of time in anger, judging others and sowing strife instead of peace? It doesn’t matter if you call it righteous anger. This is not what Jesus taught us to do.
Another point worth consideration is the crime itself. Defiling the temple by turning it into a market was an affront to a place that should be set aside for reverence to God. It was also keeping out the blind and disabled who wanted access to the temple to visit Jesus.
Then there is prophecy to consider. Jesus references a verse from one of the Old Testament books that the religious leaders would have surely known: “From the mouths of children and babies I’ll furnish a place of praise.” This is in reference to a passage from Psalm 8:2, further drawing the parallel between Jesus’ humanity and divinity that is revealed throughout the Gospel story:
Nursing infants gurgle choruses about you;
toddlers shout the songs
That drown out enemy talk,
and silence atheist babble.
Psalm 8:2 (MSG)
So, now we see that Jesus not only flipped tables out of righteous anger due to the great offense of holding a market in the temple. He did so to further demonstrate who He truly is.
With all of this in consideration, maybe it’s a good idea for us to stop looking for excuses to exercise “righteous anger” like the singular, isolated event of Jesus in the temple, and instead to follow the overwhelmingly abundantly examples of peace and love that He provides.
Centerpoint Church is ready to walk with you on your faith journey
At Centerpoint, our community believes in purpose and passion, and we would love to walk with you on your journey in finding yours. We are currently going through a new sermon series titled “To Hell With Normal.” It’s all about redefining what we consider normal in life as we seek to make our lives more like the way Jesus would have them to be.
Do you want to grow in your faith or are you simply curious about who this Jesus guy is? You’re not alone. We encourage you to listen to our series online and welcome you to come to one of our Sunday morning services in Valrico, Florida.