The clearing of the temple (which happens 2 separate times, but is recorded in all 4 Gospels) shows us that Jesus cares deeply for the Church and the types of events that occur within its walls (whether that is a physical building or our own bodies). He showed righteous anger at the appalling things that were taking place in the temple in Jerusalem. Similarly, we should examine our own lives for things that are not honoring to God.
“The central problem with this text is not whether it contains a miracle, but the unusual placement of the event by John at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. The Synoptic writers connect the cleansing of the temple to Jesus’ last visit to Jerusalem at the time of his death (Matt. 21:10–17; Mark 11:15–19; Luke 19:45–46). We have three choices here: (1) John is right and the Synoptics are wrong; (2) there were two similar occasions, one recorded only by John and the other only by the Synoptics; or (3) John has rearranged his material for theological purposes.” - Kenneth O. Gangell
Kid’s Memory Verse:
16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.” John 2:16–17.
Today, I would like us to take a look at a common narrative across all 4 Gospels. In each Gospel account, Jesus clears the Temple in a pretty dramatic way. But I don’t want us to get it twisted; this was not a blind rage, but instead a righteous anger.
Righteous anger is a justified, controlled, and love-fueled emotional response to injustice, sin, or evil, rather than personal injury. The purpose of righteous anger is to restore or heal, rather than to punish.
Passages:
John
13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” John 2:13–16.
Matthew
12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ e but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” Matthew 21:12–13.
Mark
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.’” Mark 11:15–17.
Luke
45 When Jesus entered the temple courts, he began to drive out those who were selling. 46 “It is written,” he said to them, “ ‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” Luke 19:45–46.
Worship is not about retail, it’s about relationship:
It is easy to read these passages and to make a snap judgment about those who were selling animals for sacrifices. What they were doing wasn’t bad; it was where they were doing it. During Passover, people would travel from all over to the holy city of Jerusalem. Sometimes it would take them months to get from their home to the city.
People made the journey not only to celebrate their freedom from the captivity of Egypt, but also to make sacrifices for the forgiveness of their sins. These trips were brutal because to was all by foot. They weren’t hopping on a plane, train, or in a car, but instead they were walking. It was difficult enough to arrive safely with the whole family, let alone travel with enough animals to sacrifice.
The practice of selling sacrificial animals in Jerusalem originated as a good and helpful idea. Jews coming to worship from all over Israel and other parts of the known world needed animals to sacrifice (birds for the poor people, larger animals for those who could afford more). Most of them traveled days—some even weeks—and it was easier to carry money to buy a sacrifice at their destination than to herd an animal along and carry supplies for its upkeep on the journey.
But there was no reason to carry on any of this business inside the temple itself. We can also assume that the priesthood gained a healthy profit from sales in the temple and that Jesus’ disruption was an attack on one of their sources of wealth.
Jesus is the righteous judge:
King Jesus spoke to his subjects, who were misusing this place of worship. It is written, “My house will be called a house of prayer” in Isaiah 56:7.
The broader context of Isaiah 56:3–8 was especially significant in view of the temple cleansing. The Lord was reassuring both eunuchs (who were, by Mosaic Law, not permitted into the temple, Lev. 21:20) and Gentiles that, when all was set right, they would be gathered into the community of worship together with the faithful of Israel. In fact, the full quotation from Isaiah 56:7 is: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations”. This emphasized the inclusion of Gentiles. Matthew shortened the quotation to draw attention to the contrast between the purpose of the temple for prayer and its use as a market.
In contrast, the priests had made the temple a den of robbers. We can assume the meaning of robber is from the misuse of the temple for personal and commercial gain. Certainly, greed and profiteering had come to mark the temple area.
This will take place on the day when God judges people’s secrets through Jesus Christ, as my gospel declares. Romans 2:16.
Jesus restores what is broken:
5 He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.” Revelation 21:5.
