Conflict In The Temple

This is Part 2 of 3 of Lesson 7: The Puzzle of His Conduct. Click here to return to the introduction to this lesson.

The next part of our discussion centres on one of the most dramatic of Jesus’ actions – His ‘cleansing of the temple’.

Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” John 2:13-16 (NKJV)

If anyone thinks of Jesus as always ‘meek and mild’, then this episode certainly breaks down that generalisation! What are we to make of this dramatic series of events?

Firstly we should note the context for this story:

The worshipers had been taught to believe that if they did not offer sacrifice, the blessing of God would not rest on their children or their lands. Thus a high price for the animals could be secured; for after coming so far, the people would not return to their homes without performing the act of devotion for which they had come…

There came to this feast those who were suffering, those who were in want and distress. The blind, the lame, the deaf, were there. Some were brought on beds. Many came who were too poor to purchase the humblest offering for the Lord, too poor even to buy food with which to satisfy their own hunger. These were greatly distressed by the statements of the priests. The priests boasted of their piety; they claimed to be the guardians of the people; but they were without sympathy or compassion. The poor, the sick, the dying, made their vain plea for favor. Their suffering awakened no pity in the hearts of the priests.

As Jesus came into the temple, He took in the whole scene. He saw the unfair transactions. He saw the distress of the poor, who thought that without shedding of blood there would be no forgiveness for their sins. He saw the outer court of His temple converted into a place of unholy traffic. The sacred enclosure had become one vast exchange.

Christ saw that something must be done. Numerous ceremonies were enjoined upon the people without the proper instruction as to their import. The worshipers offered their sacrifices without understanding that they were typical of the only perfect Sacrifice. And among them, unrecognized and unhonored, stood the One symbolized by all their service. He had given directions in regard to the offerings. He understood their symbolical value, and He saw that they were now perverted and misunderstood. Spiritual worship was fast disappearing. No link bound the priests and rulers to their God. Christ’s work was to establish an altogether different worship. Ellen White, Desire of Ages, p155, 157

(This chapter from Desire of Ages is a great one for those who’d like to read more background to this significant event. Click here to read)

So there were very good reasons for drastic action in this case.

But what about the manner in which Jesus carried out the ‘cleansing’? Was it a bit extreme?

Well first of all, I don’t believe Jesus ‘lost it’ or ‘went postal’. I think He was in total control. However His actions were appropriately severe and he engendered terror amongst the crowd.

“Jesus does not smite them with the whip of cords, but in His hand that simple scourge seems terrible as a flaming sword.” ibid p162.

I think as was His custom, Jesus was harsh with those who needed it, and gentle with those who needed the softer touch. In both cases He tries to convict people of their need for Him. Of interest is the fact that after this episode, when a reverence had returned to the temple, He attracted the marginalised ones – the poor, the sick and the children:

The blind and the lame came to him, and he healed them there in the Temple. The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the little children in the Temple shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David.” Matt 21:14, 15 (NLT)

If we were one of those people who were healed and ministered to by Jesus, I’m sure we would have been ever so grateful for the harsh actions of the Saviour.

What about you – how do you view the cleansing of the Temple? Would you prefer if it wasn’t in the Bible? I guess that might have been my initial view, but looking into it, but this is the wonder and mystery of the awesome character of Jesus.

Click here to go to the last part of our lesson this week: Puzzling Behaviour