How Jesus Cleansing the Temple Revealed God’s Heart
12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a den of robbers.”
14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.
“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,
“‘From the lips of children and infants
you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”
17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.
(Matthew 21:12-17)
Money scattered onto the ground. Tables tumbled with force in the temple as they were released from the hands of Christ. Jaws dropped in the face of this unforeseen episode. This was the event that transpired that day.
Jesus was cleansing the temple.
He was angry at the seemingly dishonoring act that was taking place. The temple was to be a place of worship, of prayer. A place to seek communion with the living God and offer praise, thanksgiving, and requests. A place to read the truth found within the Scriptures.
The utterance of prayers to the Most High God had been replaced with money changers and sellers looking to make their next profit. The reverence that once existed had been substituted for hearts disconnected from the Lord. They ignored the ways of God.
It was one day following the triumphal entry into the city of Jerusalem. Jesus entered the temple and cleared it of those who had indulged in their greedy ways. Yes, He was disturbed by the irreverence that had taken place. He was committed to walking in the path of purity, so there was unsurprisingly a reaction in which He showcased His authority.
Yet, His seemingly harsh actions are often depicted as an all-encompassing act of anger. He was infuriated, many would state. However, there is more to the story, often left unspoken.
The Lord’s cleansing paved the way for the lame and children to enter the holy place of God. They represented two groups that were disregarded in society at that time. The disabled were not appreciated. The children are not valued. Through dispersing the moneylenders and customers, Jesus allowed room for the true worshippers of God to enter in.
This emphasizes the truth: to make room for the new God, there must be a cleansing period. We pray for the Lord to come fill us, but so often, we are so full of ourselves that He is unable to. We must surrender and empty ourselves (partnering with the Holy Spirit) first and then pray to be filled by the Lord.
It also showcases the most unlikely worshippers of God. Children were chosen to proclaim the divinity of Christ.
Throughout His ministry, there were seasons in which Jesus hid His identity as the Son of God. Why? Because it would set in motion the persecution that was to come. Yet, at this time, Jesus had announced His true identity riding on a donkey into Jerusalem.
Upon coming into the temple, it was the children that proclaimed His identity through worship. This was very significant in that time that God would reveal Himself through the mouths of the young. They did not have a voice in society and were often cast aside, awaiting a time in which reaching a specific age would result in obtaining higher value as a person. It was through their mouths that the Lord ordained praise. Jesus frequently used those who did not have a voice in society to be the ones who proclaimed the truth.
The truth is evident. Jesus calls every person, regardless of age, experience, or capabilities, to proclaim the Gospel. We all have a role to play in stating who He is. We all have a voice to praise Him. And we all have the freedom to worship our God.
Today, children, youth, and young people have a crucial role in the kingdom of God. Not in the future. Present day. Regardless of how young or how old you are, you can always begin telling others the truth about Jesus. You can praise the Lord knowing how greatly He delights.
Jesus cleanses all things and makes them new, if only we would surrender our old ways. And every person you know who loves Jesus, regardless of their age, has an important role in play in the Kingdom of God. This is the God we know.
Blessings,
