Cleansing the Temple. Mark 11:15-19.
And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple. And he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. And when evening came, they went out of the city.
Dear Body of Christ,
Jesus is now freely exercising authority that is reserved for the religious leaders. In fact, he is demonstrating authority over the religious leaders as well.
Ejection (v. 15-16). People came from all over Israel and the then known world to worship and make sacrifices and offerings at the temple in Jerusalem. Most of them could not bring the sacrificial animals from their faraway lands and would buy them in Jerusalem instead. In addition, there was a temple tax that one had to pay. The priests insisted on it being paid in the currency of Israel, which had a very limited circulation. Most people had Roman money, which was considered unclean and inappropriate for temple transactions. Money changers had set up shop in the temple grounds to cash in on the business, particularly at feasts. The Passover was approaching, so business was booming. These were the people Jesus drove out of the temple grounds.
Enlightenment (v. 17). Jesus refers the people to the prophecy that the temple would become a house of prayer for everyone, including the Gentiles (Isaiah 56:6-7). Instead, it had been turned into not just a commercial center, but the operational zone of the cartel of thieves. It was practically impossible, even for people who lived in Jerusalem, to bring their own animals for an offering. Even perfect animals would be rejected so that one had to buy those approved by the priests in the temple court market and at inflated prices. It was a profiteering racket run by the priests and the traders! Jesus challenges them to consider the intended purpose of the temple, which they had ignored in their greed.
Endeavor (v. 18-19). The religious leaders were not ready to change. They saw Jesus as the spoiler who was threatening their livelihood and whom they needed to be rid of. The plotting and scheming to kill Jesus had begun. Mark’s report that Jesus and his companions left the city in the evening may be a hint that the city was not safe for Jesus anymore. Consider the religious leaders. Their greed for power and material gain caused them to reject, not only to the Messiah, whose identity was now plain but also to the clear teaching of the Old Testament about the temple. What is your obsession? Has it caused you to ignore God’s word and his plan for you?
Your Loving Pastor Chris.