The Sting of Injustice

And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” Matthew 21:13 (nkjv)

This week we will look at the events of the week leading up to Jesus’ death and resurrection. As we look closely at these events, may God grant us the grace to grasp what occurred that week and how it changed history . . . and our own destinies.

At this time the narrow streets of Jerusalem were crowded with pilgrims, merchants, and the hustle and bustle of Passover preparations. But this Passover week was particularly tense. The continued cruel oppression of the Jews by the Romans, the religious leaders’ vehement hatred of Jesus and His followers, mixed with the religious fervor of those visiting, made for a mood of apprehension in the city. The previous day Jesus had entered the city on a donkey amid cries of “Hosanna!” As He saw the city, He wept in grief over its eventual destruction and the unbelief of His own people.

On Monday, one of the most dramatic events in Jesus’ ministry occurred. As part of Passover, worshippers would purchase an animal from the temple authorities to be offered as a sacrifice. Most could barely afford to purchase a dove or pigeon, but the religious leaders sold the birds at an exorbitant price, defrauding the poor, who had no choice but to buy from them. As Jesus entered the temple, His eyes fell on this scene. He angrily began pushing over the tables and driving out the merchants. He quoted portions of Old Testament Scripture, accusing the religious leaders of making the temple “a den of thieves” in their exploitation of the poor and helpless. Their sin was the fraud willingly perpetrated on God’s people, those who were at their mercy.

In this passage, Jesus reveals the heart of God, a God who despises deceit, corruption, greed, and abuse of the helpless. He knew that He would be the object of gross injustice in a few days. Throughout Scripture, God’s people are exhorted to protect the needy, the alien, and the oppressed. In Jesus’ daily interaction with men, women, and children, He consistently demonstrated His concern for justice in the lives of the overlooked and ignored.

This incident should remind us that just as Jesus cleansed the temple, we need Him to cleanse our hearts—His temple—from pride and our self-interests. It should give us a fresh desire to bring justice, righteousness, and purity to our personal lives and our world.

Lord Jesus, my heart is Your temple, Your dwelling place. I pray that You would cleanse me of my selfish desires and unholy thoughts, especially during this Holy Week. Purify my heart and help me to love righteousness as You do. In Your name, amen.