Joel Hendon

How Far Does Humility And Tolerance Supposed To Go For The Christian


Posted: Monday, January 16, 2012

by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html

We recognize the necessity for a Christian to be kind, humble and peaceful. But where does that take us? The inspired writer, James gives us this admonition:

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: (James 1:19 KJV)

That is excellent advice, not only to Christians, but to everyone. But notice that he did leave room. He said slow to speak, slow to wrath. So, it doesn’t forbid that one may become angry when there is reason to do so. And we find an occasion when Jesus actually did become angry. Jesus who preached the sermon on the mount with the following admonitions included in it

(V.5) Blessed are the meek: for they shall inherit the earth.

(V.7) Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy

(V.9) Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God.

(V.38-42) Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: 39 But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. 40 And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have thy cloke also. 41 And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. (Matthew 5 KJV)

(V.12) Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: (Matthew 6 KJV)

These things put a load on a Christian, especially the turning of the other cheek if one slaps you on one. But you will notice that things of a criminal nature are primarily left out. Even the smite on one cheek is only intended as an insult to you not to harm or cripple you.

Now a little background on the reason Jesus became angry. When Moses decreed that each of the Israelites would be required to offer a half shekel of silver, all the entire lot of the Hebrews were together and each used the same type of monetary exchange. It was all plain and simple. A half shekel of silver of their own legal tender.

But many years later after all tribes, of Israel and of Judah, became subjects of other nations and scattered abroad, they had a diversity of monies. The leaders of the temple would accept no other type or amount of a half shekel of silver, they had to somehow get their money turned in to that same value.

Someone, somewhere, had to make arrangements to change peoples own form of money into the Jewish half shekel of silver. So greedy men, seeing the need and he opportunity began setting up exchange tables in the Temple court for that purpose. This would seem to be a good idea, and would have been except for the unscrupulous coin dealers. They would indeed make the half shekel available to anyone but as might be expected, they exacted an excessive commission on the sale. They held an almost monopoly on the Jewish coins in Jerusalem so the visiting Jews were obliged to make the exchange.

Additionally, these moneychangers and their temple connections held a near monopoly on livestock, especially the livestock of the quality required for an offering and they had these for sale also and at an exorbitant price. Jews who came from afar to worship came with the intention to purchase the animal offerings rather than to haul or drive them such long distances. So they were hooked from that angle also.

Keeping in mind that this temple was the most holy house of the living God to those Jews of the day. So seeing that it is little wonder that Jesus was upset and angry. Read this:

And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. (John 2:14-16 KJV)

Christians must learn to control their tempers, but when some gross sin or blasphemous remarks are made against God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit, we have every right to be angry. But we are also told to “Be angry and sin not.” So we must control our actions from anger as well. It isn’t always easy.
Author Biography: Joel Hendon was born near Gadsden Alabama. He attended public schools in Cherokee County, Alabama and after serving a tour of duty in the U.S. Army during the Korean War, attended Jacksonville State University, majoring in Business Administration. He became a Christian in 1948, and although he followed secular work as a career and retired from Allied Signal Aerospace, he is an avid student of the Holy Bible and related works as well as biblical history. He has an extensive website of conservative religious and political articles.http://hebronics.org/index.html

This Article has been viewed 289 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Marcia Balthazar 105 days 15 hours ago.
12 fans.
Great insights on these verses of scriptures on this subject my friend.

Thank you!
» left by Joel Hendon 105 days 13 hours ago.
125 fans.
Thank you Marcia for reading my article and your kind comment. I do appreciate it.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.