Post #6 A little preachy...

Disclaimer: After yesterday’s post I realized that this experiment has the potential to take a “preachy” tone. Part of that has to do with my love of theology and biblical history. Part of that has to do with my own proclivity to go on tangential rants.

So, if from time to time, my postings read more like a sermon, you have been forewarned. Also, I understand that not all of my friends, visitors, or dedicated readers share my religious, political, or sociological perspectives. Please understand that my goal is not to offend, but rather inspire; not to push away, but rather to invite dialogue. With that said, I want to focus on a biblical passage, hopefully sharing some personal insight along, the way.

Matthew 21:12-15 is a glimpse into the passion of Jesus. His heart stands in opposition to the exploitation of people and against systemic corruption and injustice. Many people use this window into the life of Jesus as a justification for their own anger. However, this passage, in my opinion, is less about anger than it is about standing up against hurtful systems.

12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 "It is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of prayer,' but you are making it 'a den of robbers.' "
14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, "Hosanna to the Son of David," they were indignant.

There are a few things that we must consider when reading historical documents, and biblical accounts are not an exception. We must consider time and setting. These are the “when and where” that provide context.

Time: 1st Century AD (or CE), specifically Passover.
Setting: Jerusalem, specifically the Temple.

These two details help contextualize the passage; they help us to understand not just the words on the page but the cultural relevance at the time of the event. We know the time and setting from earlier in the chapter as well as from corroboration with other Gospel accounts. They story has been steadily building toward a confrontation between Jesus and the religious/political leaders in Jerusalem.

As part of Passover, Jewish worshippers would travel to Jerusalem to the temple. They would then offer offerings and sacrifices to their God. For this purpose, traders would set up tables and tents for the sale of sacrificial animals and spices. Since currency varied from region to region, money changers also set up to exchange the currency, for a fee. It is believed that the religious leaders would then be given a portion of the profits made and the occupying Roman government would in turn tax the religious leaders. So all of those on one side of the system appeared to profit.

All of the pilgrims would have to exchange their currency and purchase “clean” sacrificial animals (animals bought in the Temple area and approved by the religious leaders). The injustice becomes more apparent when one considers those worshippers who were among the poor, sick, or otherwise marginalized. Not only were they considered second class citizens, but under this system, they were expected to make sacrifices, as payment for their marginalized status, because their situations were considered the result of some sin.

When Jesus opposed this system, he is not simply “cleansing” the Temple. He could have easily used water as a symbol for cleansing. Instead, he goes right to the root of the injustice he sees. He protests the entire system. This was an attack on the socio-religio-political order: a system that exploited its own devotees for profit.

Jesus’ actions brought him into direct confrontation with the religious/political leaders. They were already plotting how they could eliminate him. The Romans were reluctant to allow the Jewish leaders to have authority to perform executions. But there was one charge that would almost certainly end in death: enemy of the state. Inciting social unrest during the crowded Jewish holiday and taking a swipe at the financial corruption all the way up the ladder was certainly considered dangerous political behavior.

And so, his confrontation with the unjust, corrupt establishment would lead him to be executed as a criminal.

There are some questions we should consider:

1. Am I contributing to a system that exploits people (whether domestic or foreign), specifically those who are already marginalized?

2. What can I do to actively confront such exploitation?