A Pause to Ponder God's Word
"Cleansing His Temple"

The people believed they were participating in a coronation. Jesus had entered Jerusalem on a colt and the people, with shouts of Hosanna, made Him a regal carpet of palm branches and coats. They knew their prophecy. They remembered the words spoken through the prophet Zechariah: "See your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey."  They were sure that the time had come for the Kingdom of Israel to be restored. Jesus proceeded to the temple. This was in accordance with a coronation. Maybe here He would proclaim His Kingship and announce His plans. But He did what on one ever could have imagined. He went into the temple and began to clear out the moneychangers and merchants. What was He doing? His rage should be toward the Roman oppressors, not His fellow Jews.

Jesus' cleansing of the temple, as we more often refer to it, raises questions for us as well. This act of Jesus is most often referred to when we are addressing the subject of anger. Second to this would be in discussion about the use of church buildings. Third would be in discussing the fulfillment of prophecy. But, could there be more to it? Why did Jesus cleanse the temple? And does it have anything to do with us?

The triumphant entry into Jerusalem was indeed a coronation ceremony. But they were not crowning an earthly king. Jesus' Kingdom is not of this world. Therefore, His cleansing of the temple was right in line for the Ruler of the Kingdom of God. As He cleared the temple He proclaimed, "My house will be called a house of prayer, but you have turned it into a den of robbers." It is significant that He said, "My House." If a prophet had spoken these words he would have added, "says the Lord." Jesus did not postscript His statement for He did not need to. His temple had been turned into a flee-market. The temple, which was created for a particular purpose by God for God, had been reduced to a human market place. Jesus sanctified His temple that day, returning it to its created purpose - a House of Worship; a visible sign of a God's presence in this world and an earthly place for His people to meet with Him.

We do not have a temple today. However God is not without His temple here on earth. "Do you not know that you yourselves are God's temple?" (1 Corinthians 3:16) We are to be God's temple.  In order for us to be what we are created to be, cleansing is necessary. Anything contrary to God's design and everything offensive to Him must be cleansed from our lives. When praying for His disciples Jesus prayed; "My prayer is not that You take them out of the world... Sanctify them by the truth." (John 17) "Sanctify" is a multifaceted term in Scripture. One thing it involves is cleansing. Essentially Jesus' pray was rather than our being taken out of the world, the world would be cleansed out of us.

The cleansing of the temple was far more than Jesus showing a righteous use of anger. It was more than His cleaning out the church building. It was a cleansing of His temple. This cleansing revealed His will for His temple today. When we consecrate ourselves wholly to Jesus, He cleanses us and takes His rightful place upon the throne of our hearts. His Kingdom is established in us here on earth. He takes up residence in us - individually and collectively - and we become the visible sign of His presence in the world. Therefore beloved, let us offer ourselves to Him that He may sanctify us through and through, knowing that "He who has called us is faithful and He will do it." (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24)

Keep Close To Jesus
Pastor Gerry


A Pause To Ponder God's Word is written and distributed by Gerald Whetstone, Ordained Elder and teacher in the Church of the Nazarene. These devotionals may be transmitted, duplicated, used in part or in entirety without permission for nonprofit purposes only. Responses welcome. To Subscribe Click Here.
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