On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned tha tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 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."

Mark 11:15-17, NIV

Have you ever wondered why Jesus cleared the temple in such a forceful fashion? After all, isn't He the same one who taught the need for turning the other cheek? Yet here we find Him turning over tables and driving out by force those who are buying and selling in the temple. What is going on here?

What is "going on" is that Jesus is teaching men from all ages that they cannot make a mockery of our service to God. Especially, they cannot treat the worship of our holy Father in an unholy way. Did you note in the passage above the phrase, "as He taught them"? It is interesting to observe the diverse manners in which Jesus took the opportunity to teach important lessons. In this particular instance, Jesus is teaching is that God must be held in reverence, therefore, we are to be reverent whenever we go before Him in worship.

As Jesus teaches this vital lesson, He also gives another important teaching: We do not "turn the other cheek" on God's behalf.

I truly believe that this is one of the areas we have really fallen down on in modern times. We, in our cowardice, will often fail to defend the holiness of God, and then we will claim that we do so in obedience to His command to turn the other cheek. While it is certainly true that we are required to turn the other cheek when it is our cheek, we have never been given the command to "turn the other cheek" on God's behalf. God is holy and is to be treated in a holy manner at all times.

I think this is a lesson that men of our era, especially in the church, should learn... don't you?

Today's reading is from Mark 11. It has some great lessons that we would all benefit greatly from in taking the time and effort to learn.