Jesus runs the merchants out of the temple.
Yesterday in Mark 11, we read that Jesus triumphally entered Jerusalem, and verse 11 tells us He, “…went into the Temple. After looking around carefully at everything, he left because it was late in the afternoon. Then he returned to Bethany with the twelve disciples” (Mark 11:11).
The next day Jesus walked the two miles from Bethany back to Jerusalem. Luke writes…Luke 19:45-46.
Evidently, Jesus saw all He need to see yesterday, and He was angry. Jesus was rarely this angry. He turns over the tables of the money changers and people selling animals for sacrifices. This is the second time He has done this. The first time was after He attended a friend’s wedding in Cana. That time He made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out! It apparently did not stick, because here we are some three years later, and everything is just as it was before. Why is Jesus so angry?
- David had shut down all other Temple throughout Israel. You could only go to Jerusalem now.
- People from other regions, “states,” countries, traveled to the City of David to worship.
- Traveling with a goat, sheep, bull, etc.
- This means a variety of currencies were accepted. (money)
So, why be upset with a system designed to help the faithful fulfill their worship obligation? Well, because they were not offering a service so much as extorting from them. God is clear when it comes to dishonesty.
- “You must not testify falsely against your neighbor” (Exodus 20:16)
- “Cursed is anyone who steals property from a neighbor by moving a boundary marker” (Deut. 27:17)
- “The Lord detests the use of dishonest scales, but he delights in accurate weights” (Proverbs 11:1)
- “The Lord detests lying lips, but he delights in those who tell the truth” (Proverbs 12:22)
- “If you lend money to any of my people who are in need, do not charge interest as a money lender would” (Exodus 22:25)
God expects honesty. In speech, in life and in worship. We must never simply “go through the motions” on Sunday mornings thinking that our attendance and participation is enough to please Him. That’s the mistake Cain made, which is why God rejected his offering. It’s about the heart. The prophet Samuel scolded King Saul.
“What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams” (1 Samuel 15:22).
God said to Isaiah, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote” (Isaiah 29:13). Jesus quoted this verse in Mark 7, when He was teaching the Pharisees.
So, Jesus drives out the money changers and animal vendors, not because they were selling or exchanging money. That was necessary. He drove them out because they were taking advantage of their monopoly and cheating faithful, poor, Jews who just wanted to worship at the Temple. As a result Jesus’ popularity continued to grow. Luke tells in Luke 19:47-48.
I pray that Jesus has driven out of me everything that may prevent me from worshiping Him in spirit and in truth. How does God want me to worship Him? Micah answered that question when he asked in Micah 6:7-8.