Confront the unacceptable.

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So, Jesus shows up in the temple of God one day and He sees that some people had turned the temple to a place of buying, selling and moneychanging; a place He called a den of thieves (Matthew 21:12). This was totally unacceptable. So, He absolutely goes ballistic and He "...cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves" (Matthew 21:12). 

Now, this reaction was very unlike Jesus. Nobody would have believed He was capable of such. I am sure His disciples were absolutely stunned at such a reaction from Him. It was a stark contrast to the very gentlemanly attitude they had witnessed all their time with Him, which He also exhibited when He was being crucified though that was to happen in the future. Apostle Peter, a firsthand witness of Jesus' crucifixion, captures His reaction beautifully in 1 Peter 2:23 when He said "Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:" Jesus was unfathomably calm during His crucifixion, but in the scripture under consideration, He had no choice than to react like He did. The merchants had crossed the line and He was having none of it. 

The point is, some things are plain unacceptable or intolerable. You must never accept those things that belong in that class. Don't tolerate the intolerable. Confront such and demand better from the culprits of such unacceptable attitudes or actions. Parents and leaders, you both especially will need to do this from time to time. (NB: TO BE EFFECTIVE, YOU MUST START WITH YOURSELF). 

However, you need to depend on the leading of the Spirit of God to know the things that belong in the class of unacceptable or intolerable so you don't react inappropriately when you are supposed to be accommodating, merciful, compassionate, understanding, and loving. Remember, it was the same Jesus that had this reaction in our reference text that reacted graciously and lovingly when an adulterous woman was brought before Him (John 8:1-11). May God give us wisdom in Jesus' name, amen. God bless you.

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