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Main Point: By marveling at Jesus, we too exude grace and truth
MATTHEW 21:12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 13 He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you make it a den of robbers." 14 And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant, 16 and they said to him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, "' Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise'?" 17 And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there. [ESV]
1. How does Jesus exude truth (e.g. facts, law) in this passage?
<By His overturning tables (v. 12), by reciting the law as instruction/rebuke from Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11 in v. 13, and by quoting Psalm 8:2 in v. 16.>
2. How does Jesus exude grace (e.g. unmerited favor, kindness, affection, mercy) in this passage?
<First, by only overturning tables and quoting scripture to the salesmen in the temple. Many would not see this as gracious. But we must remember that Jesus Christ is the same God who can totally wipe out sinners (cite 2 Chronicles 13:10ff for example) and sinful nations (Genesis 19:24ff). One day, He will do so, and quite violently (see Revelation 14). So, considering who Jesus is, it is gracious that Jesus would only turn over tables and say a few words. Second, by receiving the blind and lame in v. 14. These were “ceremonially unclean” people, definitely not to be touched by a rabbi. But Jesus heals them. Third, in His simple rebukes to the chief priests and scribes despite their being “indignant” (v. 15c). That God would share truth so simply without more flaring consequences is very gracious.>
3. What do Jesus’ words and behavior toward the indignant teach us about our own approach/response to those who oppose a life-affirming worldview?
<Beware of over-reaching, vehement response even if it’s within your rights or capacity to do so. Share truth, but with love and grace.>
4. What do Jesus’ words and behavior toward the blind and lame teach us about our own response to the broken among us?
<They at least cause us to examine our lives and ministry to see if we’re so violently truth-telling that the broken will not come to us. Many old-school “pro-life” ministries are like that. The broken should come to us, and when they do, we should receive them and point them toward healing paths.>
5. What does the locale for these actions (the temple, v. 12) teach us?
<The modern equivalent of the temple in this passage is the church – a gathering place for God’s people. Our truth-telling and graciousness must be on healthy display in our church in particular. “Healthy” looks like Jesus’ approach here, accurately understood.>
6. How can we marvel at the incredible blend of grace and truth embodied in Jesus Christ in this encounter?
<For one thing, it’s amazing that the same One who overturns tables and scolds religious leaders is still somehow sought out by the weakest and most outcast. Most people in our day who turn over tables would be the last people we’d go to when broken! But Jesus, the Prince of Grace AND Truth, is perfectly truthful and perfectly gracious. He’s factual and real, but still approachable. This is amazing. Is this true of our ministry, our Life Team? Our church? Us as individuals?>