A Different Way of Looking at Jesus: Angry

“A Different Way of Looking at Jesus: Angry” Part 2

“Blind guides! How terrible it will be for you… Snakes! Sons of vipers! How will you escape the judgment of hell?” Strong language from a Jesus most of us would describe using only loving and compassionate language. Even more surprising, his outburst was aimed at Pharisees who were considered among the most religious folks in the community. They could be your Sunday school teacher, a member of your choir, an elder or even your pastor. Ouch! Why was Jesus so angry?

In chapter 23 of Matthew: Jesus said, “How terrible it will be for you…” Then he explained why:

“Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes…” Traditionally, Jews wear prayer boxes on their arms or foreheads but Pharisees had to wear big boxes. Many Christians wear crosses but yours has to be a “big” cross, complete with flashing lights. Big deal!
“You won’t let others enter the Kingdom of Heaven…” You almost had to be born a Jew to become a Jew. There was solid evidence that Romans and Greeks were interested in the one God of the Jews but there was little or no encouragement from the Pharisees. We too frequently condemn someone for what is humanly lacking rather than offer praise for what God is changing.

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“You cross land and sea to make one convert and then you turn them into twice the son of hell as you yourselves are…” The Pharisees were teaching Jews to obey the law and be good Pharisees rather than holy people of God. Which is more important? What are we teaching Christians today?
“You say that it means nothing to swear ‘by God’s Temple’… but then you say that it is binding to swear ‘by the gold in the Temple.’” Pharisees were experts at swearing oaths then changing the rules. Today, it’s called aggressive advertising to announce a ridiculously low price and then bury the truth in fine print. We marry for life but also seek prenuptial agreements… just in case. Sad!
“You are careful to tithe even the tiniest part of your income but you ignore the important things of the law – justice, mercy and faith.” It would be like finding a dollar on the street and while driving to church to give a tenth you pass right by an auto accident and a house fire. Cold! Really cold!
“You are so careful to clean the outside of the cup and the dish but inside you are filthy…” I have a bad habit of leaving half-filled coffee cups throughout the church. If you happen to find one several weeks later, it may be potential penicillin but what’s inside that cup is not a pretty sight. Sunday is often the day we put on our best outfits but what about the inside? It isn’t pretty. Ugh!
You are like whitewashed tombs – beautiful on the outside but filled on the inside with dead people’s bones and all sorts of impurity.” Jesus is repeating the same point so it must be important. The tombs may be beautiful on the outside but just inside is still dead bones. Ecch!

Let’s see if I understand what Jesus is saying:

Everything we do is for show… We must really think we are hot stuff…
We are far too quick to condemn and way too slow to praise…
We place a higher priority on serving the church than serving God…
Our word is no longer sacred… even our contracts have escape clauses…
We major in the minors and completely miss the foundations of our faith…
We may be clean on the outside but inside we are filthy…
We may look good on the outside but inside we are dead…

No one enjoys receiving a tongue lashing. Especially when those being lashed consider themselves respectable, law-abiding, upright citizens. “How dare Jesus talk to us like we are common thugs! Who does He think he is… God!” Are you beginning to understand where this is leading? The Pharisees began to gather in their meetings to talk about how to deal with Jesus. They soon had an answer… Jesus was arrested on trumped up charges, whipped, beaten and crucified until he died.

Are you beginning to understand why the Pharisees reacted to Jesus’ harsh condemnation with rage? Do you also understand that this response is wrong and not what Jesus wanted from them or expects from us? This is the crucial part of the story. If the Pharisees were wrong… what is right? What reaction did Jesus want? What response does Jesus expect from today’s church leaders… from you… from me? The answers are in the next week devotion: Click here

Last modified June 21, 2001.

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