Jesus Curses a Fig Tree and Clears the Temple Courts

12 The next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit. When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.” And his disciples heard him say it.

15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’”

18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

This picture by Bernadette Lopez, captures the outrage Jesus felt when he entered the temple courts and the place where people from all over the civilised world came to pray and worship God, had now become a marketplace. Merchants and money changers had set up their booths and were making money off those who came to worship. The merchants charged inflated prices for the sacrificial animals while the moneychangers deceived those who didn’t know the exchange rates. All foreign currency had to be exchanged for temple coins which were the only ones the merchants would accept and was also required to pay the temple tax. Extortion was rife but even more importantly the use of the temple as a marketplace, stood in the way of worshipping God which consumed Jesus with righteous anger. As depicted by Bernadette Lopez, there was great commotion as Jesus overturned the tables and cleared the temple.

Stephen Cottrell vividly describes the scene. ‘He was a tornado, a whipping frenzy of righteous rage in the midst of all the commerce and clamour. He was turning over the tables of the money changers, lifting them with both hands, and sending them crashing to the ground, pushing them this way and that. He was upending the benches where those who sold doves were going about their lawful business. His stamping feet were beating out a rhythm of change and putting his mark upon the place…. Jesus was the centre of a maelstrom…. He swept through the courtyard like a man possessed of God, as if the temple itself was suddenly being made redundant ……and then he stopped’.

And we learn from Mark 17, Jesus then said to them, is it not written, my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations , but you have made it a ‘den of robbers’. These words from Jesus speak of inclusivity and belonging. Gods house is open to all. When the Chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this, and saw the way the crowds responded to Jesus, they became fearful. It was clear, Jesus was trouble and threatened their power and so they began to look for a way to get rid of him.

What does this passage mean for you; in what ways does it resonate with your life experiences?
Are there situations in our contemporary society where righteous anger would be an appropriate response?
Is our church a place of inclusion for all people? Or are there people we are excluding whether intentionally or otherwise? If so how can you bring about change?