Walking With Christ

Matthew 23:23-24 (23)Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cumin, and have neglected the weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness. These you ought to have done, without neglecting the others. (24)You blind guides, straining out a gnat and swallowing a camel!(ESV)

Jesus is love! This love encompassed all aspects of His ministry. People often forget that Jesus could show anger, using it as an excuse to chastise anyone who shows any kind of anger. However, Jesus demonstrated that righteous anger does not violate the principles of love.

One striking example is when Jesus cleansed the temple, as told in Matthew 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-17, and John 2:13-16. The money changers and traders had turned the temple into a business venture, creating an artificial barrier between the people and God. Jesus’ entire ministry was about breaking down these barriers, most strikingly symbolized when the veil isolating the holy of holies was torn from the top to bottom. This act of God tore a curtain that was over six inches thick, signifying the removal of the separation between God and humanity.

Jesus often rebuked the Pharisees, as seen in Matthew 23:13-36, for creating a “me first” society regarding entry into the kingdom of heaven. They imposed unnecessary religious burdens and rules, becoming gatekeepers and hypocrites. Jesus’ anger towards them was due to their failure to understand that following God was about moving closer to Him and growing in obedience to His laws.

In Mark 3:1-5, Jesus healed a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, expressing anger at the Pharisees’ lack of compassion. Their rigid adherence to the law at the expense of mercy violated the core tenets of love, turning a blind eye to those in need.

Lastly, in Mark 10:13-16, Matthew 19:13-15, and Luke 18:15-17, Jesus rebuked the disciples for blocking children from coming to Him. The disciples, much like the Pharisees, were acting as gatekeepers, determining who was worthy to see Jesus. This rebuke highlights that no one should create barriers between Jesus and those seeking Him.

Throughout the Bible, we see repeated lessons about humility and service, such as “the first shall be last” and “the least shall be the greatest.” None of us are qualified to be gatekeepers for Jesus. Woe to anyone who dares create any kind of barrier between Jesus and the lost.

In conclusion, Jesus’ righteous anger was always rooted in love, aiming to break down barriers and invite all to come to Him. This lesson reminds us that our role is to facilitate access to Jesus, not to hinder it.