My sisters and I often laugh over a childhood memory: the time a church member, Sister Ruby Jean, caught us playing a game of spades in the church sanctuary. We girls waited for hours while our parents attended what seemed like the longest meeting. Boredom drove us to the only padded floor in the building. What a sight we must have been. Four adolescent girls sitting in various positions on the sanctuary’s muted red carpet, with small piles of already played cards scattered among us. Unplayed cards fanned out in our hands as we talked smack (a time-honored spades tradition) over who would win the current round.
Sister Ruby Jean’s gasp of shock interrupted our fun. Seconds of silence gave way to stutters and sputters. “What are y’all doing?…I can’t believe this…I have to tell your parents about this…This is God’s house.” In our minds, we were just playing cards in the only available spot in the building. From Ruby Jean’s perspective, we’d pretty much transformed God’s house into a Vegas cardroom.
Today’s reading doesn’t involve cushioned floors or a standard 52-card deck, but it does involve a misuse of sacred space. Just days before Jesus’s crucifixion, He halted commercial activity in the temple, rebuking those involved. There’s lots of disagreement regarding the motivation behind Jesus’s actions, but His own words give a clue.
“My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” —Mark 11:17
It’s generally agreed that this narrative took place in the temple area known as the Court of the Gentiles. Jesus’s expulsion of seller and buyer had much to do with where they were conducting their business. The temple was regarded as the central meeting place between God and humanity. But the one place where even Gentiles were allowed to worship had been transformed into a “den of thieves” (Mark 11:17). The activity of the market was taking precedence over the area being a space of worship for non-Jews.
After reading this passage again, I’ve realized that I can spend so much time marveling at Jesus’s righteous indignation or spend hours scouring commentaries to get all of the details just right. But in doing so I can easily overlook the message underlying Jesus’s behavior.
Jesus’s actions and words reveal God’s desire for all people to enjoy His presence. If I move beyond just associating this passage with anger, even justifiable, I find a beautiful display of love. This divine love is from a God who has such a heart for people from all nations to know Him that He is moved to action when anything blocks their access to Him. How very true to the gospel of Jesus.
In a few days, the Lenten season will peak with the celebration of Jesus’s great act of love expressed through His death. The temple narrative reminds me that His life is also a testimony of His love. Today, let’s take a moment to celebrate that truth.
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46 thoughts on "Cleansing the Temple"
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1 Thus says the Lord:
“Keep justice, and do righteousness,
for soon my salvation will come,
and my righteousness be revealed. – Isaiah 56:1
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Praying to allow him to clear out my heart as a house of worship
Thank you for sharing Heather. It was so helpful.
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And his people.
ANGIE-prayers for your church searching. I attended the same church my entire life until about a year ago and I too found it so interesting the different types of services once we found ourselves church searching. I too found myself pondering which environment prepared my heart for worship best. I love that God makes space for all nations and peoples and this can be so beautifully expressed in the various churches we can choose to attend. I am finding the older I get the more loosely I hold denominations and church traditions and the more I desire to have a personal relationship with El ROI- the God who sees me ❤️ I loved that the devotional pointed out that Jesus was angry that there were barriers being set up between him
I love the idea that Jesus didn’t want anything to get in the way of Gentiles finding their way to him. God has always loved people from every nation, tribe and tongue. I pray I can love all people the way Jesus does. ❤️
The verses in Isaiah point out how God was welcoming “others” along to worship Him as long as they follow His commandments. This brings to mind two women who didn’t start out worshipping the Lord but in the end did — Rehab and Ruth, both in the linage of Jesus. Isn’t amazing what God can and will do when we decide to trust Him.
Sisters, be blessed and trust in the Lord and in Christ.
Soo good! Jesus actions were not only of anger but also love. This divine love is from a God who has such a heart for people to know Him that He is moved to action when anything blocks their access to Him. Makes me think of us being the temple. Sometimes we need cleansing. As hard and painful it can be, that’s still Gods favor and love.
As we begin this Holy Week, I hope that we can all reflect, think about, and thank Jesus for His sacrifice in dying for all of us. We must remember that at any time Jesus could have said no- or given up- but He never did. We do not deserve heaven, but through Jesus, we have a chance to go to heaven . We are undeserving of the sacrifice He made for us.. but we are in such awe that He loved us that much
Thank you for sharing this Heather! I’ve always wondered about the story of the fig tree & why Jesus responded the way He did. This makes so much sense now!
I’m wondering the same thing throughout this study!! It’s hard to find specific answers or directions. We walk in the light, to try and be an example but it just doesn’t seem to be enough. I’m so glad you put these questions out there.
Isaiah 56:1-2 Preserve justice and do what is right, for my salvation is coming soon, and my righteousness will be revealed. 2 Happy is the person who does this, the son of man who holds it fast, who keeps the Sabbath without desecrating it, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.
I have never thought about the Sabbath being on Saturday. I used to work every Saturday for years. I would like to try and honor this. Lord help me to honor the Sabbath and do what pleases you.
Ladies, God has done so many wonderful things. I get lost in the present seeing Him work and tend to forget his greatest sacrifice. So thankful for His unending love. Grateful for this study to further ground me in His truth. Blessings to you all ❤️
Thank you for sharing
I was thinking that Jesus entered the temple to see if it was ready, his body, as the temple would be destroyed on the cross and raised up at the end of the week. He was disappointed to see his earthly temple and the people were not ready to receive his sacrifice so he is cleansing it/them to be ready for the atonement, just like in Ezekiel where they had to prepare the altar.
Loved the passages about the Sabbath it is holy yet forgotten my by most Christians. The 4th commandment and the only one that says “Remember” it’s because God knew it would be forgotten. The Sabbath is the 7th day of the week sabbath literally means 7 but most Christian’s go to church on Sunday the first day of the week and I’ll never understand why we ignore this precious holy day and the blessings associated with it.
So powerful. Thank you for sharing.
Heather- thanks! I just made a note to myself – if it wasn’t the season for figs -why was Jesus looking for them and why did he curse the tree for not having figs… the explanation you shared helped so much!!!
Wow- thank you for posting this. It really helped me understand this and so convicting!
Beautiful
I was reading a commentary about the fig tree because I wanted to see if there was more to it than I’d previously understood the commentary mentioned that this was not the season for figs, yet the tree had leaves. Fig trees did not get leaves until they were ready to bear fruit. Jesus used this as an illustration. “The fig tree was cursed for its pretense of leaves, not for its lack of fruit. Like Israel in the days of Jesus, it had the outward form but no fruit. In this picture, Jesus warned Israel – and us – of God’s displeasure when we have the appearance of fruit but not the fruit itself.” (From the Enduring Word commentary) I just thought it was such a new way of looking at this part of the story and wanted to share with you ladies. ❤️ I don’t post much, but doing this study has been so life changing for me!
Heather, thanks for the illustration, it really helped alot to better understand❤
I love your sense of humor! Too many times we get so caught up in getting details right that we miss relating the details in the lessons Jesus was teaching to our daily lives. Jesus was fully human, so Him having a Monday wouldn’t surprise me. It makes me chuckle.
My heart is the temple of the lord. Am I honoring my temple? I am constantly reminded to clean house. I fail and Gods forgives and forgives. I pray God that you replace my heart of stone with a heart of flesh filled with the Holy Spirit. Remind me where your temple lies. I will honor you and honor the sacrifice of your son Jesus. So very grateful for your love.
This reading is making me think: what are we doing to advance the gospel to all nations? How can we do a better job of spreading the Good News?
Thank you so much for the illustration. It helped me understand better. Amen!
“Choose what pleases me… and I will give each one of them an everlasting name that will never be cut off.” (Isaiah 56:4 & 5). Lord Jesus, thank you for bringing Your sacredness to light. Help me know what needs to be overturned in my heart. Bring back Your sacred space and take back the ground, show me what to throw out. (Mark 11:15). Father, thank You for Your life-giving Word in flesh. Thank You for overturning the sin in my life and destroying the barriers that keep me separated from You. Help me choose what pleases You and hold fast to Your covenant. Your promise of life and freedom has been revealed in my life through many miracles. I am so undeserving of Your mercy. Learning humility and forgiveness through some of the hardest experiences has been miraculous. Through obedience and going low, on my knees before You, my heart has been lifted in Your strength. Your promise is what I hold on to, all else can just flow on by. Help me hold what is sacred to You. Thank You for gathering me with the outcasts (Isaiah 56:8). Use my life to gather others. Until… Maranatha.
Thank you
I feel like Jesus is having such a human emotion here with the anger. Like even getting angry at the fig tree for not having figs even though it wasn’t fig season. It reminds me of when you get really angry at something that is small because you’re underlying frustrated about something else. Jesus just finished with Palm Sunday and coming into Jerusalem on a donkey. I wonder if he was upset because he felt like the people that he came to preach and teach were still misunderstanding the purpose of his ministry. So he’s already upset, and then he walks into the Temple, and just can’t believe what he’s seeing. And he knows he doesn’t have much time. Jesus, please keep our hearts tender and our eyes open to what you are telling us- and be the people that you called us to be.
Such wonderful news- regardless of nationality or race, we are all welcome. Thank You God!!!
What a beautiful reading. Jesus makes it clear, as do the prophets, that God’s inheritance was always and already for every person. Gentile ( us) & Jew alike. Every tribe, tongue and nation. This must have come to mind for Peter when he first bristled at the idea of ministering to Gentiles. But from God’s own mouth, we were always heirs. How marvelous, how wonderful. ❤️❤️
A new week!! Thankful that Jesus wants people from ALL nations to see and believe in Him!! Praying that it would be so.
Have a four day week this week since I took off Friday, excited for Easter. Trusting the Lord with my anxiety. He is with me.
The pairing of the readings from Mark and Isaiah are perfect because it truly expresses Gods desire for EVERYONE to be able to be in relationship with Him. It doesn’t take a certain blood line or a certain religion or a certain skin color – all it takes is a desire and living a righteousness life away from evil in the sight of the Lord. I think I overlook how lucky I am to not be excluded (even though for so many years I thought I was). Praise God for the opportunity to be cleansed and fulfilled in his presence.
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I never realized He was in the area of the temple where Gentiles were. I’ve read this passage a thousand times! He was removing anything that prevented people from a relationship with the Father. It’s the same today. We need to remove and rebuke the things that get in our way of Him.
I love this understanding – the Lords wrath comes out of love for God and us and wanting us to love the Lord the way he does
Amen our world spends so much time finding fault when our Lord only wants the best for us, praise God and thank you!
We have been visiting lots of churches, trying to find one that is closer so that I am able to be more involved. There is such a difference in the order of things. Some churches give announcements and then go into worship and directly into the preaching. Others begin with worship, do announcements, pray, do some more announcements, and then a little more singing and finally preaching. I’ve been thinking a lot about it and what best draws people into the presence of God. I’m imagining a time when we meet and greet each other in love, but that once we enter together into worship all else falls away except for the adoration of our Savior. That will happen one day, when we kneel before Him, but I am hungry for it even today. In my home, in my quiet time and worship (worship in song or service), in every day, it can be…it is a choice of attitude. It is a choice of priority. It is a choice of lordship. Help me Lord to honor and glorify You today.
Amen! A house of prayer for all nations
So thankful for the cleansing of my life, thank you Jesus!
MARY MCDONALD – wonderful news!
Lord Jesus, thank You for making a way for all to come into the presence of the Father-Jew and Gentile.
Cleanse my heart so that Your temple may bring You glory.
Amen
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In Ezekiel we read how the people defiled the temple by worshipping other Gods. Here it is lust for money and indolence that profane God’s dwelling place. But there walks in the Temple Himself, Jesus. He kept His temple perfectly holy, so that now we can be before God as if we’ve never sinned. Never profaned our bodies, so that God now can live within us as His temple