Why did Jesus cleanse the temple?
Well, Jesus actually cleared out the temple twice during his life – once at the beginning of his ministry (John 2:2-13) and once before His death on the cross (Matthew 21:12-17, Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:45-48). Jesus made a whip to drive out the merchants during the first cleansing of the temple and he overturned the tables during the second cleansing. Jesus cleared the temple during two separate occasions nearly three years apart.
Why? Was it wrong to sell things in the temple?
The Law of the Old Testament allowed the priests to sell animals to those who were traveling to the temple from another region. Some travelers were unable to bring animals to sacrifice at the temple so selling animals was permitted to accommodate these situations. This opportunity to help became an opportunity to make money sometime during Israel’s history.
Jesus entered the temple close to the Passover to worship. One of the first things that Jesus saw when he entered the temple was the merchants who were focused on doing business. Jesus, full of righteous anger because of the misuse of the Lord’s House, made a whip, and drove the merchants out of the temple saying, “Get these things out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” (John 2:16). Jesus was unwilling to allow the temple to be used for selfish gain.
- These merchants came to the temple to fill their pockets, not to be filled with the Spirit.
- These merchants made the focus of worship about themselves, not about God.
- These merchants came to the temple to see what they could get, not give.
There is a right and wrong way to approach the worship of God. This hits home when we begin to evaluate our motives for attending or leaving a church.
- Do you need someone else to spiritually feed you?
- Do you go to church to see what you can receive?
- Do you complain when there is nothing for you?
- Do you join a church to have your needs met?
Worship is never about what we can get but what we can give. Church involvement is largely to give ourselves to the worship of Jesus and to the service of others. In Jesus, we have already received everything that we need – grace upon grace.
[Read: Are You Fully Devoted To The Work and Worship of Jesus?]
There is a difference in being in need and being needy. Sure, there will be times where you are in need and the local church will step in to serve you. The church is beautiful when it edifies and serves each member. But we must keep our eyes on what we can bring to the local church and to the worship of Jesus, not what we can receive from attending a gathering.
Live It:
- What are your motivations for attending weekly worship gatherings at a local congregation?
- Have you fallen into a selfish mindset with church and/or worship?
- Are you more concerned with what the church does/doesn’t give you or what you can give Jesus and the church?
Christ Chronological: John 2:13-22
Chase Snyder
Writer, Pastor
