John 2: 13-17

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

 

Matthew 21: 12-13

And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.” 
 

John tells of this episode early on in his Gospel, whereas Matthew, Mark and Luke recount it toward the beginning of Passion Week. Perhaps there was more than one clearing of the Temple by Jesus. Or, as we have seen, perhaps John was narrating with theology providing his order rather than our usual chronology.

 

Either way, the Temple was meant to be the meeting place between the LORD I AM and humanity. People came from all over the world to pray and offer sacrifices at the site where the LORD said his name would dwell. In the Temple atonement for sin was made, prayers of praise and petition were offered, God’s Word was taught. As predicted by Solomon when the first Temple opened, people would stream to Jerusalem from everywhere to seek the LORD (1 Kings 8: 41-44).

 

In particular, people came to Jerusalem during the high feasts, such as the Passover. Rather than travel with animals to sacrifice, people purchased animals in the temple precincts. They also had to exchange their local currency for Temple currency. So there was legitimate trade occurring for, at least on the face of it, very spiritual reasons.

 

But as is so often the case, in home, business or church, logistics and merchandising can get in the way of the original purpose. Many of us have been to holy places and lamented how commercialized the site has become. So even in Jesus’ day, the Temple courts were crowded with tables of trade. People were paying prices set more for profit than fair value.  

 

Jesus, as the Son of his heavenly Father on a mission to save the world, grew disturbed that people truly seeking God were being squeezed out by all the getting and spending. He longed for people to meet his Father in prayer, not only the people of Israel but from all the world.

 

With that passion, and with the authority of the LORD himself, Jesus overturned the tables, scattered the coins, and drove out the merchants with a whip. It was a powerful, sustained, deliberate action. And it was no doubt provocative. Business people don’t like to have legitimate business interrupted, especially during high season.

 

But Jesus, who was himself the new meeting place between God and humanity, was emptying the temple of the old system of atonement, clearing the decks, for the beginning anew of the people of God who would become a living temple founded on himself (1 Pet. 2: 4-10).