Jesus Cleansing of the Temple
June 10, 2021
Commentary
Every Jewish man coming to Jerusalem for the Passover feast had to pay a temple tax. Many types of currencies were circulating, and, since only special temple coins were acceptable, money changers could charge a fee and make handsome profits at the expense of the people. A temple visit also usually involved a sacrifice. In order to get an animal that would pass the temple inspection many of the people were forced to buy their animal sacrifices at the temple. However these animal sellers often charged outrageous prices, thus making a huge profit for themselves. When Jesus arrives at the Temple He finds the priests exchanging money and selling sacrifices (vv. 45-46). They had turned it into a “religious marketplace” which He referred to as a “den of thieves.” His cleaning of the temple was the second time He had done this, as just three years before he had cast out a similar group (Jn. 2:13-22).
Jesus’ final days before his death were spent in public and private teaching as He remained in the temple and used it as a gathering place for those who needed help (vv. 47-48). This group probably included wealthy leaders in politics, commerce, and the law. Also his great popularity was in danger of attracting Rome’s attention, and the leaders of Israel wanted as little as possible to do with Rome. They had several reasons for wanting to get rid of Jesus. He had damaged business in the temple by driving the merchants out. In addition, he was preaching against injustice, and His teaching often favored the poor over the rich. These religious leaders tried to destroy Him, but His hour had not yet come, and they could not touch Him.
Application
It is my desire to have a clean mind and a clean heart. The only way I can keep it clean is to saturate it with the Word of God and not worry about what others say about what I do.
Luke 19:41– 48 (NET)
41 Now when Jesus approached and saw the city, he wept over it, 42 saying, “If you had only known on this day, even you, the things that make for peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. 43 For the days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and surround you and close in on you from every side. 44 They will demolish you —you and your children within your walls —and they will not leave within you one stone on top of another, because you did not recognize the time of your visitation from God.”
45 Then Jesus entered the temple courts and began to drive out those who were selling things there, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of robbers!”
47 Jesus was teaching daily in the temple courts. The chief priests and the experts in the law and the prominent leaders among the people were seeking to assassinate him, 48 but they could not find a way to do it, for all the people hung on his words.