Will you do the SAME?

I'm writing this based from the scriptures, Matthew chapter 21, verses 12 to 17.

One day, long time ago in a far, far away land (Jerusalem), Jesus entered the (one and only) temple court. He saw people buying and selling there, and He was like...

Aiyooo!!!

"Jesus Angry. You no like if Jesus ANGRY! Jesus SMASH and BASH!" So, He chased them out, then overturned the tables of the money changers and benches of the dove sellers.

And no, He didn't flip dove-meat shish kebab

He said, "My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers!"
Funny thing that Jesus chose to quote Jeremiah 7:11. Not so original now, eh? Just wait...
After that, the lame and the blind came over to Jesus and, Jesus being ever so compassionate, healed them. And then the children started shouting, "Hosanna to the Son of David!".

When the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the miracles and the children shouting, they were showing an attitude... so they were indignant (adjective. Feeling or showing annoyance by thinking it as unfair). They scoffed Jesus with a sneer, "Do you hear what they say?"

Jesus, being cool as ever replied, "Abo-then?"
"Haven't you read the Bible, 'From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praises' – Psalms 8:2?"

They were dumbfounded. Jesus walks off in a chillaxed manner with the sunset at the background. Pharisees-0; Jesus-1.

The End

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Now, let's look at what we can learn from the story.
First thing first, why did Jesus choose to quote Jeremiah 7:11?
Look closely. The temple courts had turned into a place where people were doing business. And this business is not really the honest type of business. You see, at that time Israel was conquered by the Romans. And for worship and offering to take place, you are forced to exchange your roman coins to jewish coins. So these bunch of businessmen were extorting money from the laymen by charging unscrupulous fees. This was what it meant by 'the den of robbers'. Also, Jesus condemned these men largely because of bringing their business into the temple courts where men should have come in the spirit of true prayer and worship.

Now let's look at it at a different view. Quoting from Jeremiah means that the problem of 'robbers' started even before the time of Jeremiah. Yeah, that is long, and nobody actually solved the problem. You know why? That's because those who were wronged were too coward to stand up. Jesus didn't just stand up for them, but he actually flipped the tables and benches and chased them out!
Ask yourselves: Was there something ungodly that had been happening around me? Did I actually do anything to correct it? Had I been keeping it quiet; or worse, participating in it?

What's your problem, pharisee?
The chief priest and the teachers of the law were evidently unhappy. What's their problem? Well, you know that they're protruding some of the characters which angers Jesus all the time, not just in this story, but also in many others. Why do they upset Jesus so much? First, before you go on, do think of some of the characters which are portrayed by the Chief Priests and the Teachers of the Law.

• Pride and ego – The pharisees were definitely envious for thinking that it is unfair for Jesus to obtain the praises from little children. They as 'perfect' law abiding devotees believe that they should deserve the compliments more. A typical holier-than-thou attitude.
• Fear of losing power and control – The chief priest absolutely feels threatened when the people started to praise Jesus. He doesn't want to risk his influence as a powerful religious man amongst the people. He craves for social status.
• Selfishness and greed – Greed in the sense that the temple priests were gaining from the unscrupulous business at the temple courts. They were earning from it for selfish reasons.
• No love  – These people has become so obsessed with the law that they had forgotten the real God. They obey the law perfectly in their eyes but couldn't care less about loving and worshiping God. Remember that Jesus had uplifted the law saying that no one is perfect in God's eyes? For example, lusting over another has already broken a commandment though in actions you did not commit adultery. In short, your intentions matters, and when they had failed to love the people as a mediator for God, they had disappointed God.
• Judgmental  – Need I say more?
• And many, many more  – Which I could not think of at this moment (Mind you, it's 2am now). Why not you list down some of the attitudes yourself here?

Sadly these very same characters are beginning to appear more and more in us Christians :(
In a way, we are turning into these pharisees due to our very own thinking. We grow up thinking that we are God's people, that we are 'above' unbelievers, and then unconsciously we are as if "holier-than-thou". Our culture of politicking and 'alpha-male-status' has caused us to turn to selfish goals, hoarding symbol of status (that includes houses, cars, gadgets, etc!) despite avoir du travail par dessus la tête to show that "I am better than him".

So now think and reflect. Are these characteristics appearing in your lifestyle? Even more hurtful is that some of the attitudes you, yourself had listed could be very much true and happening in you. Are you hoarding money and always having a consumeristic mindset? Are you always thinking that a non-Christian is your trouble-maker? Was there a 'socially-awkward' dude which you had been trying to boycott? Have you been a mediator for God and the people?

These are some of the questions only you can answer yourself. Even I have my own issues, and I have been trying to solve them since day one. At times I had been taking steps forward, the others I was retreating. But do listen to my advice – Know and pinpoint the real problem within you first, see the plank in your eye; only then will you be able to tackle the issue.

All in all, in everything that happens, think of what would Jesus do (WWJD). Will He overturn the tables, or will He choose to heal? What are the things in your life which you need to toss away, and whom should deserve your care? The 'perfect', or the 'sick'?

Keep praying to God to help you. And me. God Bless =)