Jesus Cleanses the Temple
(Matt. 21:12–17; Luke 19:45–48; John 2:13–22 )
(Mark 11:15-19 NKJV) (15) So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. (16) And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. (17) Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” (18) And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching. (19) When evening had come, He went out of the city.
V15 “So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.” They left Jerusalem the evening before and now returned. Jesus had some work to do—cleaning the Temple of unclean practices of buying, selling, and exchanging money. God hates defilement (Psalm 106:34-39 (sin), Isaiah 24:5 (defiling earth itself), and Matthew 15:11(what we say). The priests were angered. They probably charged a fee to do business in the Temple itself, as well as taking a place of prayer for making money instead.
Honesty is required by Mosaic Law—Leviticus 19:35-36, God’s weights are honest and He expects to do the same—Proverbs 11:1; Proverbs 16:11; and Proverbs 20:10.
Constable notes: “A market atmosphere existed in the court of the Gentiles, the outermost courtyard within the temple enclosure. During Passover season, pilgrims could buy sacrificial animals and change their money on the Mount of Olives, so there was no need to set up facilities to do these things in the temple courtyard, which Caiaphas had done.
“Jesus’ literal housecleaning represented His authority as Messiah to clean up the corrupt nation of Israel. Mark 11:16, unique in Mark, shows the extent to which Jesus went in purifying the temple. By doing this, Jesus was acting as a faithful servant of the Lord and demonstrating zeal for God’s honor.”
V16 “And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple.” This also was condemned. This area was for Gentiles to pray, but was desecrated by all types of goods or just walking through that might not be clean.
(Barclay): “In point of fact, the Temple court provided a shortcut from the eastern part of the city to the Mount of Olives. The Mishnah itself lays down, ‘A man may not enter into the Temple mount with his staff or his sandal or his wallet, or with the dust upon his feet, nor may he make of it a short by-path.’ Jesus was reminding the Jews of their own laws. In his time, Jews thought so little of the sanctity of the outer court of the Temple that they used it as a thoroughfare on their business errands.”
DEFILING THE HOLY PLACE – J H Jowett
Mark 11:11-19.
(Source is Precept Austin)
It was a teaching of the old Rabbis that no one should make a thoroughfare of the Temple, or enter it with the dust upon his feet. The teaching was full of sacred significance, however far their practice may have departed from its truth.
Let me not use the Temple as a mere passage to something else. Let me not use my religion as an expedient for more easily reaching “the chief seats” among men. Let me not put on the garments of worship in order that I may readily and quickly fill my purse. Let me not make the sanctuary “a shortcut” to the bank!
And let me not carry the dust of the world onto the sacred floor. Let me “wipe my feet.” Let me sternly shake off some things—all frivolity, easeful indifference, the spirit of haste and self-seeking. Let me not defile the courts of the Lord.
And let me remember that “the whole earth is full of His glory.” Everywhere, therefore, I am treading the sacred floor! Lord, teach me this high secret! Then shall I not demean the Temple into a market, but I shall transform the market into a temple. “Lo, God is in this place, and I knew it not!”
V17 “Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.” The area is supposed to be a place of prayer, not secular business with some, at least, cheating the people by money exchange or overpricing.
V18 “And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching.” The Jews were angry, as usual, about this. Their solution to problems is to kill (destroy Him). They would have done it then, but they knew that Jesus was popular at this point with the common people.
Matthew Henry comments:
“They hated him, and hated to be reformed by him; and yet they feared him, lest he should next overthrow their seats, and expel them, being conscious to themselves of the profaning and abusing of their power. They found that he had a great interest, that all the people were astonished at his doctrine, and that everything he said, was an oracle and a law to them; and what durst he not attempt, what could he not effect, being thus supported? They therefore sought, not how he might make their peace with him, but how they might destroy him. A desperate attempt, and which, one would think, they themselves could not but fear was fighting against God. But they care not what they do, to support their own power and grandeur.”
V19 “When evening had come, He went out of the city.” After spending the day in Jerusalem, they left.
We learn:
- We are to respect things that are holy.
- We are to treat the Law of Christ, not Mosaic law, with reverence, too.
Questions:
- Do you respect things that God declares holy?
- What is your purpose in obeying God’s laws?