John 2:13-25 "My House Shall Be a House of Prayer"

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables;  and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.”  His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house will consume me.”  The Jews then said to Him, “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”  The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?”  But He was speaking of the temple of His body.  So when He was raised from the dead, His disciples remembered that He said this; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had spoken. Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name, observing His signs which He was doing.  But Jesus, on His part, was not entrusting Himself to them, for He knew all men, and because He did not need anyone to testify concerning man, for He Himself knew what was in man.

When I first heard that Jesus had driven out the traders in the Temple, I was of the impression that they were bargaining for a profit in the House of God. But the scene is the Passover, and it seems they were selling animals to common folk for the purposes of sacrifice.  The conclusion of this matter is that God and His house are holy, more holy than what man can understand.  When Jesus said “The house shall be a house of prayer” , He was quoting the Old Testament prophet Isaiah.  The fact that He drove them out was a sign that the Temple leadership is changing.  It is changing from the self-righteous Pharisees’ to a new order selected by God.

Daily Prayer:  Most merciful Jesus, forgive Your people our sins, because we know not what we do.  Instead, lift us up and lead us so that we may prosper by Your Godly guidance.  In Your holy name I pray Amen.