Articles
Jesus Cleanses The Temple
Jesus cleansed the temple as He began His ministry Jn.2:13-17. Now, at the close of His ministry He cleanses the temple once again. This is on Monday before His crucifixion on Friday. The day before He had entered into the city in a way designed to draw attention to the fact He was the long anticipated King Zech.9:9; 1.Kgs.1-33-44. Until this time Jesus had not allowed the multitudes to acknowledge Him as the Messiah King because of their misconceptions about the nature of His kingdom. They were looking for an earthly king to rule over a material kingdom rather than spiritual Jn.6:15; 18:36-37; Lk.17:20-21.As He entered the city the people rejoiced and praised God. This greatly upset the Pharisees who asked Jesus to rebuke them whichHe refused to do Lk.19:37-40. He then enters the temple, looks around, then leaves, retiring for the evening.
The next morning Mk.11:11-12 He returns and proceeds to cleanse the temple, reacting with holy indignation at the evil displayed and practiced Mk.11:15-18; Mal.3:1-3. Why? The priests had allowed His Father’s house to be turned into “a house of merchandise,” “a den of thieves.” They had permitted dishonest, greedy merchants to desecrate and defile the temple by setting up shops for secular profit in the Court of the Gentiles (outer court of the Temple). Animal merchants provided birds and animals for sacrifices. Money changers exchanged foreign coins of pilgrims into the ½ shekel used for temple service Matt. 17:24 since the shekel was the only coin permitted to be placed into the temple treasury. They allowed no coinage that bore a heathen symbol or image of a heathen monarch. Imagine how distracting the confusion and noise would be to anyone who came into the temple to pray, praise and worship God. Even though the things sold were used for religious purposes Jesus saw these practices as profaning and desecrating the temple. He also saw priests in guilty complacency and culpable silence allowing this desecration. Centuries earlier Ezekiel had observed how the priests had perverted the spiritual for the profane Ezzk.22:26-27; 23:38; Mal.1:10-13.
After cleansing the temple Jesus seats Himself and begins to teach and heal those who came to Him. We might note that the cleansing was more than just correcting an evil custom. It was an open rebuke and warning to the nation and its spiritual state which they had demonstrated by an open disregard for the sacredness of God’s house. Just as He cleansed the temple God would soon send His judgment upon the apostate nation and unbelieving people Lk.19:41-46. Let’s make the application to our time.
His temple (house) today is the church (not the church building). It is a spiritual house, a holy temple 1.Pet.2:5, 910; Eph.2:19-22. Jesus is here with us Matt.18:20. What does He see? Is the house holy? It must not be defiled 1.Cor.3:17; 1.Tim.3:15. The angel in Rev.11:1 is told to measure three things, the temple, the altar and the people. What will happen to that which does not measure up?
Is the temple defiled by following the wrong pattern? The Lord only built one Ps.127:1; Heb.3:6. So it must be built according to His pattern Heb.8:5; 1.Cor.4:17; Phil.4:9; 2.Thes.2:15; 2.Tim.1:13. Churches that have deviated from God’s pattern, and build according to human ideas and schemes are profane, a desecration and abomination to God. They will be rooted up Matt.15:13. Also add on buildings, built and supported by brethren (human institutions and organizations, schools, family life centers, etc) are also abominations to God since they do not exist by God’s authority Rom.10:17; Col.3:17.
Is the altar being defiled? The altar is the place where one approaches God for prayer, praise, worship and service. It must be in the place God has chosen Deut.12:10-14; Jn.4:20-24. For one’s worship to be acceptable one must be in His temple (family). God does not accept worship from non-relatives (aliens and strangers) Matt.7:21-23; 12:48-50; Rom.12:1-2; Acts 17:23. Worship must be conducted only in the way God has prescribed Matt.15:7-9; Col.2:20-23. Whatever is placed on the altar must be authorized by God; otherwise it will profane (make common) spiritual worship. Those who would substitute human ideas and practices defile God’s altar Jud.21:25. What had God told Israel Deut.12:1-8? Where do we find authority for such things as contemporary type worship, praise dancing, hand clapping, instrumental music and several other things done by men to be attract the world by entertaining and stirring human emotions? God designed worship to honor and glorify Him, not for men’s personal preferences and feelings. Any other type will be rejected by God Rom.13:14; 1.Pet.4:1-2.
Are the people who make up the temple and offer worship to God defiled? The Christian is in, but not of the world. He is at home in the church. He wants to be where Jesus and His blessings are found. Remember we are vessels in God’s house. Are we fit or unfit 2.Tim.2:19-21? What is our attitude of heart as we serve God? Are we carnal (this world minded)? Are we growing stronger or weaker as Christians? Are we doing our part in encouraging and exhorting those who need it 1.Thes.5:14-15? Or are we being careless, indifferent and lukewarm in fulfilling our responsibilities? We need to make sure we will not be purged by Jesus. Remember, Jesus cleansed the temple, not only of those who had made it into a den of thieves (the secular minded, greedy merchants), but He also condemned those who simply stood by in guilty complacency and culpable silence allowing the desecration. Keep in mind that Jesus is coming again. He will at that time separate the righteous from the wicked. Which will you be? Read the parable of the net Matt.13:47-50.
