Bible Stories

Matthew 21:12-13. Jesus gets angry.

A man overturns tables of moneychangers and those selling doves in the temple. His eyes are furious and words of insults are on his lips. He even chases those people buying and selling there with a whip.

When I told my grade 3 pupils that this man I described was Jesus, they wouldn't believe it. I had to let them see the book where it was taken from. They couldn't imagine Jesus could behave like that.

Jesus' action can never be judged as false, especially on the premise of Christianity. Hence, something must be explained on such an otherwise condemnable act. That is in remembrance to the morality tenet that an intrinsically evil thing could never be made good. Circumstances could only make the individual less culpable, if ever.

An anger can only be just if it is due to a cause higher than one self. The reason for our anger must not only be because we are being provoked, or that we are being unjustly treated. It is alright to be angry in this case but our actions and outbursts - much like Jesus' outbursts - must be commensurated with the cause. Else, we may have legal problems later on.

But what about the anger of Christ? Was he angry by provokation? Was he angry because he was misjudged or mistreated? No. He was angry for a cause higher than himself (in his humanity). He was angry for God's sake. He acted violently because of this anger; but this anger is a holy anger. In fact, in this anger, He was claiming the words of the prophet (Jeremiah 7:11): "My house will be called a house of prayer; but you are turning it into a robbers' den." He was applying the words to himself. Now, these words were the words of the Lord Himself, Who alone is above the law. Indeed, it was he who gave the Law.

Now, can we apply this anger to ourselves? Can we assume the words to ourselves, and perhaps kill one or two people who are unjust and devilish? It is dangerous to do so. Only Jesus has that right to be that angry. Else, we make of ourselves vigilantes who kill people because they want to make a point or statement against the seven capital sins, for example.

Further, let us focus on the reason why trading in the temple caused indignation to Jesus. The reason why people were buying and selling pigeons and doves and coinage in the temple is because of the oblation they need to offer in obedience to the Mosaic Law. Now, tourists and pilgrims are offered these articles so that their obligation may be fulfilled. The trading and selling seems legitimate, but it tends to be abused. Hence, Jesus mentioned about the temple being made a "robber's den". One word against too much profiteering and consumerism.


Mark 12: 28-34. The Greatest Commandment.

In the Bible story, Jesus was asked - er, tested - by a man about the greatest commandment. They were testing him on his preferences of the many laws and statutes under the Mosaic Law. Now, if Jesus won't answer, they will dismiss him for his ignorance. If, however, he chose one such commandment, he will have to answer why another is not as important. This is another one of those dillemmas they want to trap Jesus with.

However, Jesus knew what's on their mind. He said, the first commandment is "Love your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind and with all your strength." The second - and this he added in order to give back the dillemma to them - "You shall love your neighbor as yourself." That is, if you love God, you shall love also your neighbor. Hence, a pun was made on their concocted trap of Jesus.

The man who asked Jesus agreed with him, and professed his agreement with Jesus. Indeed, he said, love of God and love of neighbor are the greatest commandments, which are better than all the sacrifices and holocaust. Now, the answer of Jesus was peculiar: "You are not far from the kingdom of God". Why did Jesus say that - instead of the plain "The kingdom has arrived in you", or something of that sort?

I asked the same question to my grade three pupils and there were different answers. These pupils were trained by me to give their thoughts and not be afraid of being "wrong". After some time, someone was able to find the right answer - right after I recounted the story of the two sons.

The story of the two sons is a story of a father who told his two sons to work on the field. The first one said he will go - but didn't. The second one said he won't - but he did. Actually, this story was a pun on the Israelites and the Gentiles. But this may be a solution to the problem above.

Knowing the right thing to do is just half the battle won. It's just being near to the kingdom. It is the actual doing of the right thing that makes you win battle - that makes you arrive to the kingdom.