Cleaning House!

Jesus, meek and mild?

I don’t think so.

If this passage says anything at all, it tells us that meekness is definitely not weakness.

The Lord Jesus has just ridden into Jerusalem on a donkey (not a warhorse), fulfilling Zechariah’s prophesy (9:9) which describes Him as the “meek and lowly” King.

He’s a different kind of Conqueror: One who’s come to lay down His life for the sin of the world.

One commentator defined biblical meekness as “well-harnessed strength,” or as one of my Bible professors called it: “velvet-covered boxing gloves filled with iron!”

The Lord Himself describes His heart as gentle and humble; but in the face of evil, clearly, He’s ready to take the necessary action. 

So it’s Monday of Passion Week and first things first—He goes into the temple in Jerusalem, the hub of Jewish religion and “cleans house.”

The corrupt priests were experts in greed and extortion and had turned the sanctuary of God into a hangout for religious frauds and sanctimonious swindlers. 

Jews visiting for the holy days preferred to purchase sacrificial animals on site for convenience, but they were charged four times the going rates at the temple!

And if they brought their own, the temple inspectors would “disqualify” their animals, so they were forced to buy “kosher” ones at exorbitant prices.

But wait! There’s more!

The holier-than-thou authorities refused to accept “unclean” Roman currencies (which everyone used)—but no worries! These money changers were there to help!

They’d swap out  “defiled mammon” for Jewish holy shekels for fees that would cause even a tax collector to blush. 

On top of everything else, their kiosks and smelly animal stalls were set up in an area of the temple reserved for non-Jewish people who came seeking God!

If any foreigner came looking to get right with Israel’s Messiah and Savior of the world, there would be no room for them because these scoundrels were more interested in making a buck than saving a soul.

So enter the Son of God (literally).

He looks around and takes it all in and is filled with righteous indignation.

Better to meet a bear robbed of her cubs than get in between the Lord and someone He’s drawing to Himself!

So Jesus makes a scene and tosses the bums out!

And notice that the temple guards did not arrest Jesus, nor did the powerful priests resist expulsion—they completely complied.

I think that’s because there was such divine displeasure radiating from Jesus that everyone knew something extraordinary was going on in their midst.

So here’s the moral of the story:

The Lord desires “His house” to be what He intended it: a place of holiness, a place of peace and reconciliation, a place where God does His good work.

Everything within the temple must be in keeping with His character and mission.

And that temple?

That temple is, spiritually speaking, you and me. He has come to dwell within our hearts.

Paul tells us, “Don’t you realize that we are the temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19)?

The Lord has taken up residence in our hearts—and what does He find there?

Is it worldly pursuits, unforgiveness, or selfish ambition?

Or does He find a flame burning bright with love for God and desire to obey His commands?

How happy God must be when everything within us cries, Holy!

Thankfully, Jesus is very patient, isn’t He?

But sooner or later we all must learn (sometimes on the other end of a cord of ropes lovingly wielded) that God will come to our rescue.

He will chase away things in the house that don’t belong—things that hinder our lives: the setting up of booths of untoward desires, or allowing the caged animals of anger, bitterness, and self-absorbed pride, to stink up the inner sanctuary.

God delights in making our hearts His home—a place of light, truth, goodness, and love.

Things work best when His house, our hearts, are clean and tidy! 

 The Lord has come into His temple.

And what does He find?