Title: A Warning to Those Who Abuse The House of God

Scripture Reading: Mark 11:15-17
“So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple.  Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a den of thieves.”

Main idea: Our Lord Will condemn what promises one thing but delivers another.

The Temple Cleansed
In our previous devotional about the parable of the cursing of the fig tree now finds its fulfillment and reality in our Lord’s assault on those He identifies as a “den of thieves” (Mark 11:17). It was David who desired in his heart to build a temple for the Lord. But for the reason stated in 1 Chronicles 28:3, not to David but to his son Solomon was given the privilege to build it. Jesus and the disciples arrived in Jerusalem and went to the temple. He had some “cleansing” to do, “the cleansing of the temple.” It is actually its condemnation. He began by driving out those who were buying and selling there. What were people buying and selling? People came to the temple in Jerusalem to offer sacrifices. God had instructed the people to bring sacrifices from their own flocks (Deuteronomy 12:5-7). However, the Jewish religious leadership had established markets on the Mount of Olives where such animals could be purchased. Some pilgrims did not bring their own animals and planned to buy one at the market. Others brought their own animals, but when the priests managed to find the animal unacceptable in some way (Leviticus 1:2-3), worshipers were forced to buy another animal from their sellers in exploited prices.

By the time Jesus entered the Temple a marketplace atmosphere existed in the court of the Gentiles. This was the only place Gentile converts to Judaism could worship. Gentile could not go any farther into the temple because they were not “pure” Jews. But the market filled their worship space with merchants so that these foreigners, who had traveled far, found it impossible to worship. The temple and the priesthood had become the center of power for the nobility who dominated, controlled, and exploited others. By denouncing the temple, Jesus also denounces the system of domination it represented. The fig tree represents the nation of Israel nationally; the cleansing of the temple speaks of the nation spiritually. Nationally, Israel was fruitless. Spiritually, she was bankrupt.

The money changers did big business during Passover feast. Those who came from foreign countries had to have their money changed into Jewish currency because this was the only money the merchants accepted and the only money accepted for payment of the temple tax. The inflated exchange rate often enriched the money changers, and the high prices of animals made the merchants wealthy. Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple represented His authority as Messiah to clean up the corrupt nation of Israel. By doing this, Jesus was acting as a faithful servant of the Lord and demonstrating zeal for God’s honor.

“a den of thieves”
Mark 11:17 brings us to the heart of our Lord’s anger over what His temple has become. “He began to teach them.” He then quotes from Isaiah 56:7, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations.” However, now citing Jeremiah 7:11, He declares, “But you have made it a den of thieves!” Jesus’ reference to “a den of thieves” alludes to Jeremiah’s Temple sermon (Jer 7:11) which attacks the use of religious observances to cover up sinful practices and predicts the destruction of the Temple (Jer 7:12–15). What is a den of thieves? It’s where the thieves feel protected and safe. The temple was to be a place of prayer, but instead it became a place where corrupt and money minded priests took advantage of the people rather than praying for them. Jewish religious system had made the Temple a religious market. Jesus condemned desecration, and commercialism.

“house of prayer for all the nations”
God had intended the temple to be a “house of prayer for all nations” (Isa 56:7), not just for Israel but for everyone. Israel missed this, and too many of our churches do as well.  And as the chief priest was mainly at fault, so are many pastors today. The phrase has special significance for Gentile. God permitted Gentiles to come and worship Him in the temple court of the Gentiles, indicating His desire to bring them into relationship with Himself. Jesus was claiming that the temple belonged to Him, rather than to the Jewish leaders-by cleaning it up! The quotation He cited from Isaiah 56:7, presented the temple as God’s “house.” Thus, Jesus was claiming to be God.

Application
Jesus became angry, but he did not sin. There is a place for righteous anger. Christians are right to be upset about sin and injustice and should take a stand against them. The Lord who drove out buyers and sellers from the temple is still alive, and when he sees such conduct, he is very displeased. Jesus confronted the merchandising of religion that obstructed the access of others to God. No ministry can legitimately take advantage of the presence of God to make a profit or to give the impression that they are selling a religious commodity. Those who use the church people for social or financial advantage are clearly wrong. God opposes those who attempt to leverage power or status or to meet their need for self-importance in his church. Don’t throw food sales out of your church for financing programs thinking God need your help; instead, throw hypocrisy out of your life. The church was supposed to be a place of worship don’t turn into a marketplace.

Let’s pray together
Heavenly Father, Your desire for the house of God is “house of prayer for all the nations” Help us Lord our churches to a house of prayer for all the nations. In Jesus Name Amen.