Scripture Reading: Matthew 21:12-17

Why Jesus Expressed Holy Anger

Jesus had entered the city of Jerusalem in glory and power. But instead of bathing in this glory, he turned in holy anger on the merchants plying their trade in the outer courts, just inside the Temple gates. He literally lashed out at them and accused them of corrupting the house of his father into a den of robbers, instead of making it a house of prayer.

Right after that, as if his anger provided the way, he went on to heal the blind and the lame. The frustrated Pharisees confronted him again, indignant and angry at the healing and the children who shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David!”

The above describes two very different types of anger. We all know that Pharisaic anger – our own, self-righteous anger when we hear or see things that do not conform to how we would like things to be. How upright and zealous we seem to ourselves then! But Jesus sees right through us. He confronts us with the words of Scripture and uses holy anger to lash out at us. He also shows us the way we should behave – like children, with songs of praise on our lips, instead of sounds of self-righteous pride.

These days we hear many words spoken in anger. There is anger between siblings, families, neighbors, and even whole nations. All lift their hands against others in unholy anger and seek their own justification. This anger usually leads nowhere, doesn’t bring any positive results, only frustration and misery. Instead of using holy anger to cleanse our outer courts of corruption, we allow the evil to continue and have become blind to the fact that Jesus is calling us to heal people, not to corrupt them. For when we are weak, like children, like the blind and the lame, then we become most mighty through the healing powers of Jesus and through praising the Lord.

What is also interesting here is that Jesus, after the cleansing and healing, doesn’t stay to be bathed in glory, but goes to Bethany (probably to his friends Mary, Martha and Lazarus). Maybe that would be good for us to consider – after spending time cleansing and healing, we should devote time to our friends and family. In these hectic times, we too often forget this.

Prayer: Dear Lord, grant us your patience and wisdom, so that in this Holy Week we recognize the difference between holy and unholy anger. Use us as your instruments in this world, to strive in holy anger for justice and honesty. Let us learn from the lips of children to praise you. And in these days let us also take time to spend with family and friends. And may we find rest in you together. Amen.