John 2:15 English Standard Version (ESV) And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables.

This is a famous scene from scripture. We all remember how Jesus cried out “My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Matt. 21:13 where the focus at the table was what was done there.

We all have a table which belongs to us. It is not us but represents what we do and provide. Is it a merchants table or is it a dining table?

Psalm 23:5 English Standard Version (ESV) You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Do we place the Lord’s provisions upon our table to glorify God or do we choose those things of our own making to be seen of us?

We can all understand that but there is a deeper underlying meaning that is often overlooked.

The placement of the merchant’s tables was where non-Jews were allowed access to come and worship God. It was a hindrance for non-Jews to come before God. Where we place our tables of merchandise, anything that scream of self-interest, hinders the lost in their search for God.

At one time we were all lost sheep that had gone astray. We are blessed to be the Lord’s anointed. As such we should see to it that our tables serve to the interests of the Lord, not our own.

Romans 12:20 English Standard Version (ESV) To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.”

During the Roman occupation, Roman soldiers could and did order Jewish citizens to perform duties that were convenient to their own comfort. Rather than having to restart fires themselves, they would order citizens to bring hot coals to stoke a new fire to keep themselves warm. Paul’s words here bring back memories of a time of abuse.

Doing good as suggested is the Lord’s way of turning the tables on the abusers. In a similar manner the Lord’s instructions to “go the extra mile” was in reference to soldiers ordering citizens to carry their personal items for a mile beyond the city limits.

The burden of conscious is the work of the Holy Spirit. Holding resentments only justifies an abuser in their actions. Kindness breaks that cycle.

In a personal aspect of breaking the cycle of abuse, I am at this very moment in conversation with a cousin that I have not seen in decades. Our mothers were sisters and there was bad blood between the two of them. It is a long standing feud that we can only hear our own mother’s side. No kindness was ever shown. You could see it in their faces whenever they were in the same room.

Why should children be forced to carry a parent’s resentment? Seems silly but ask the Arabs and the Jews to just let it go. Someone needs to break that cycle. Jesus says it is up to us to show mercy and compassion to those who hold resentments against us.

Love is the only way anyone changes.