Jesus entered the temple area and proceeded to drive out
those who were selling things
Jesus put a stop to these transaction that defied the purpose of the temple, that filled it with noise and worldly concern, and probably all of the vices that often come along with concern for money. This was something worse than a bake sale in the entryway after a mass. It was subverting the purpose of the temple, which was to be a house of prayer for all peoples. How were the Gentiles to pray in this, the Court of the Gentiles, if it was consumed was worldly activity?
these I will bring to my holy mountain,
and make them joyful in my house of prayer;
their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
will be accepted on my altar;
for my house shall be called a house of prayer
for all peoples (see Isaiah 56:7).
God himself had announced through his prophet that even the Gentiles would join themselves to the LORD and participate in the worship of his holy temple. Jesus, as the only Son of the Father, had not forgotten his Father's purpose. Jesus was not overstepping his authority by cleansing the temple since it was the house of his Father and therefore his own as well.
but you have made it a den of thieves.
The first temple had come under judgment for having become a den of thieves and was destroyed as a consequence. This second temple was no declared to be under similar judgment. Its destruction in turn would soon be foretold by Jesus. But although the second temple was destroyed it was in turn replaced by something still more perfect in which worship would be offered "neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem" but rather "in spirit and truth" (see 4:21, 4:24).
Instead of a temple made of stone it was to be a temple made of the "members of the household of God, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord" (see Ephesians 2:19-21). It was to be made up of "living stones" (see First Peter 2:5) who were each a temple in miniature.
Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? (see First Corinthians 3:16).
As pieces of the very temple where God himself is present we are appointed to be the places, individually and collectively, where true worship is offered to the Father through the Son in the Holy Spirit. But it is very possible for us to subvert this purpose just as those who were selling things in the second temple did at the time of Jesus. What worldly concerns do we allow to predominant when we attempt to enter into worship? On the one hand, we can't control ever thought that arises within us. But on the other, we do have the power to prevent distractions from consuming us entirely. When we do so the outer courts of our hearts remain open to others who might otherwise find us distracted and unwelcoming, and as a consequence not find room for themselves in this new spiritual temple that is the Church. More and more let us "take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ" (see Second Corinthians 10:5). Jesus is willing to help us to cleanse the temples of our hearts, though of necessity this will not be a comfortable process. But it is nevertheless worth it precisely because it is so good to live for the purpose for which we were made, offering right praise to the Triune God.
In the way of your decrees I rejoice,
as much as in all riches.
As we become purified as temples, as our worship becomes more and more a pure and fragrant aroma of incense arising before God, we will begin to speak with a voice that is prophetic, a voice that the world needs to hear.
Then someone said to me, “You must prophesy again
about many peoples, nations, tongues, and kings.”
The world is meant to be God's temple, but the nations that refuse this vocation will be swept away with the vendors and the moneychangers from the Gospel. Let us clear our own courts of that which is non-essential so that all might find a place in God's house.
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