Why should I pay attention to what Jesus illustrated?

There are not too many things that made Jesus angry. But today we are going to see one of those times when he was really steamed. It reminds me of Paul's comment "in your anger do not sin (Ephesians 4:26)." It would be wrong to suggest that we should never be angry. But it would be right to note that most of the times that we get angry it is wrong. Jesus never got mad at something that was done to him; but when God was dishonored or when there was religious pretense, that was another thing altogether.

Throwing entrepreneurs out of the temple courts was not a politically correct thing to do. And being as straightforward as he was with the religious higher-ups is what got him crucified. But there are times when telling the truth and standing up for genuine godliness will be more important than protecting our personal interests.

A couple of today's appropriate questions will be, "About what should I be angry?" and, "How shall I express it when I am angry?"

And the other thing that stands out in today's scripture passage is a contrast. We'll see how Jesus responded to selfishness and the way he responded to people who were hurting, and how our true colors show when those two things present themselves to us.