Monday: Jerusalem Cleansing the Temple
It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves
(Luke 19:46).
After the triumphal entry, during which Jesus wept over Jerusalem, the first thing He did was to go to the temple.
Image © Justinen Creative from GoodSalt.com
Read Luke 19:45-48, Matthew 21:12-17, Mark 11:15-19. What important lessons can we take away from what Jesus had done? What should these accounts say to us as individuals and as members of a community that, in a way, functions like the temple? Eph. 2:21.
All four Gospels mention the cleansing of the temple. While John speaks of the first cleansing (John 2:13-25) taking place during Jesus’ visit to the temple at the Passover of A.D. 28, others narrated the second cleansing at the end of Jesus’ ministry, this time at the Passover of A.D. 31. Thus, the two cleansings of the temple provided a parenthesis to the ministry of Jesus, showing how much He cared for the sanctity of the temple and its services, and how strategically He asserted His Messianic mission and authority.
His actions in the temple, especially the second time, which came just before His death, present an interesting question: Knowing that He was soon to die, knowing that the temple and its services would soon become null and void, Jesus nevertheless drove out those who were profaning it with their wares. Why did He not simply leave it alone, in its own corruption, especially since it would not only become unnecessary but, within a generation, would be destroyed?
Though we are not given an answer, it’s most likely because it was still God’s house, and it was still the place where the plan of salvation was revealed. In a sense one could argue that, with His upcoming death, the temple and its services served an important function in that they were the place to help faithful Jews come to understand just who Jesus was and what His death on the cross really meant. That is, the temple, which depicted the entire plan of salvation, could help many come to see in Jesus the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world
(Rev. 13:8).
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Jesus demonstrated a sense of purpose in his cleansing of the temple, which leaves a model for Christian leaders (Luke 19:45, 46). Not only would the temple services be shortly abolished, but the Messiah had just been the object of great honor and public acclamation, and it might have been tempting to look the other way, recline in human glory and preserve the favor of the masses. Yet Christ was faithful to duty (Luke 2:49) and did not count the applause of men something to cherish (Philippians 2:5-8).
Popularity and elevated status tend to sway human conduct. Leaders in God’s cause cannot afford to set their affections on honor and excuse it with the thought that with it comes influence and the Father’s business will only benefit (Colossians 3:2, 3). It is at the time when admiration increases and influence expands that the saints need to be especially guarded against being carried away with fame and success.
Believers who were once little in their own eyes may become overbearing bosses who cannot be tamed even by the Spirit (1 Samuel 15:7).
God does not allow more success for the saints than they can bear and still be saved, as long as they do not campaign and force the issue (1 Corinthians 10:12, 13). For some it may be best never to become famous or gain great prestige, for their own sake.
The Father’s cause does not require great men and women, but faithful servants who are true to duty, who are pleased to go about the Father’s business. Allow those heavily invested in earthly positions to fight, but be content to decrease, and find ways to let Christ increase (John 3:30).
Those two events that marked Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem are acted parables revealing the imminent new-covenant kingdom with Christ as Melchizedek King and High Priest.
The rulers of Israel, of course, objected since they wanted to hold unto to their “temporary” old-covenant tenantship at any cost. But Jesus declared that the people’s declaration must be or else the stones would have to do the hosannas.
Christ then goes to His temple and finds a service in progress which, according to “the Law”, should have ceased. “When he goes in to make atonement in the holy place, no one shall be in the tent of meeting until he comes out , that he may make atonement for himself and for his household and for all the assembly of Israel”(Lev.16:17).
“The Holy Spirit is signifying this, that the way into the holy place (most holy) has not yet been disclosed while the outer tabernacle (holy place) is still standing, which is a symbol for the present time.”(Heb 9:8,9). They are supposed to do what John the Baptist did. He represented the old covenant teaching about and heralding the new covenant and he declared “I must decrease and He increase”, and he went off the scene. The new covenant supersedes the old covenant. In order to illegally hold unto the vineyard the tenants, robbers & thieves, killed the heir, Christ.
“This is the heir; come let us kill Him and seize His inheritance”. They took Him, and threw Him out of the vineyard and killed Him” (Matt 21:38,39).
“If we let Him go on like this, all men will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both “our” place and “our” nation.... Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, nor do you take into account that it is expedient for you that one man die for the people and that the whole nation not perish..... and not for the nation only, but in order that He might also gather into one the Children of God who are scattered abroad”(John11:48-52).
Jesus was so concerned about His people, He wished they would open their eyes and see the danger approaching them because they didn’t see this was their last chance. So He tried to wake them up by getting rid of things & traditions from the centre of their religion and instead He came into their midst and taught them the truth daily.
Today Jesus is doing the same work in our hearts and in our church, what things does He need to get rid of in our hearts, what truths is He bringing to our attention to day, what dangers are facing us?
Why Did Jesus love Jerusalem more than other cities He went through?
Amen...Amen Hugh Dalhouse is so right?
Amen Hugh
Hugh I fully concur with your well considered comments. You do not know how richly blessed we are by them
Jesus loves Jerusalem most because its where His journey to save humanity would end
amen
we could could look at it this way , cleansing of the temple as our own lives Jesus in His own way wants us to get rid of all the things hindering us from fully allowing Him to be in our lives , His concern for us , starts by Him cleaning up the temple , in contrast looking at ourselves to allow Him to take over so He could dwell
Christ could no more let the people in the sinfulness as He could let us continue in ours. The people of the time had fallen away so much that they were unaware that they were in terrible need of their Redeemer. The leaders of the day encourage their sinfulness. Christ could not just turn a blind eye to the truth. The very vehicle or means in which they were to come to and understanding of Him and His mission on the earth was being distorted and He had to cleanse it. Just as with us individually, Christ when asked shows us our mistakes and where we need cleansing. Christ mission is about Redeeming this world it was then, it is now, and it will be till He returns.
As far as I am concerned this event along with a few others will become the clarion call to persecute Sabbath believers. To most Christians this sets an important president in how the Christian world is to deal with those that are seen as desecrating the temple of God. We, for the most part, also see this as an example as guardians of the gate so to speak.
There will come a time when misunderstanding what Jesus was doing will become dangerous for, "They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service" (Jn. 16:2 NKJV).
What I think we miss most concerning what Jesus did is this:
In other words, rather than giving us an example the whole thing was an enacted parable, an object lesson, to the disciples concerning Christ's mission (which they didn't understand until after the cross). They could only see the king acting like a king should and I doubt that we see it much differently.
Using the temple for one's commercial and monetary gain isn't within the Christian norm. Cleansing the temple is simply a wash over in order to make the followers in one accord with Jesus.Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.' 1 Corinthians 3:16, 17