Cleansing the Temple (Matthew #101)

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Mark 11:15-19, Luke 19:45-48, John 2:13-22: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John all record Jesus Christ cleansing the temple. There is the cleansing, followed by the teaching, followed by healing, followed by reproach, followed by justification. This event defines those who call upon the name of the LORD. From God’s house being called a house of prayer by all nations to the people who come to the LORD crying Hosanna! Save us!

Cleaning house of those that don’t call on the LORD

Jesus cast out the people involved in profaning his house.
- It was the business of religion that profaned God’s house.
- Religion is big business. Holidays are the days when money moves. Sacred sites are the places tourists travel and spend money.
- Your money always finds its way to what you value. And what you value is your religion.
Jesus turned over the tables and chairs, the furniture equipping sinners to sin.
Jesus also prevented buyers from coming in, he would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple.

Teaching God’s house is for those who call on the LORD

Mark says after this, And he taught…
House of prayer
- Not just a house of prayer, but called a house of prayer by all nations.
- God’s house was a place for all who call upon the name of the LORD. And Israel’s peculiar relationship with the God of heaven is for the benefit of all nations. Whosoever shall call upon the name of the LORD.
- Strangers to the commonwealth of Israel who chose the God of Israel were always welcome. Remember Ruth? Rahab? Naaman the Syrian? Widow of Sarepta? Ebedmelech who helped Jeremiah? Ninevites who heard Jonah preach? Queen of the south who came to hear the wisdom of God in Solomon? In the gospel of Matthew the centurion whose servant was sick and the Canaanite woman. How about the law under Moses? Exodus 12:49 One law shall be to him that is homeborn, and unto the stranger that sojourneth among you. Exodus 22:21 Thou shalt neither vex a stranger, nor oppress him: for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt. How about the original promise to Abraham? Genesis 12:3 …and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed. Genesis 22:18 And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed…
- Isaiah 56 is what Jesus Christ quotes here.
Den of thieves
- The nation God created, the one nation under God that was home to God’s house turned God’s house into a den of thieves.
- Jeremiah 7:1-16 perfectly captured the spirit of religion when Jesus cast out the religious merchants in his day even though Jeremiah said this 600 years before Christ. Jeremiah preached as the glorious temple was utterly destroyed by Babylonians.

Healing to those who call on the LORD

He heals those that came to him.
Hosanna means Save us, Help us. It comes from Psalm 118:25-26 which were referenced earlier in the chapter (Matthew 21:9).
It’s important to note that not everyone is healed just because Jesus can heal. The ones receiving healing are the same ones receiving the righteousness of God today. It’s those who are looking for it. And specifically looking for help from the LORD Jesus Christ.

Reproach to those who call on the LORD

Matthew says it nicely that the chief priests and scribes were sore displeased. What he means is they hated Jesus Christ and sought how to kill him.
1 Timothy 4:10 For therefore we both labour and suffer reproach, because we trust in the living God, who is the Saviour of all men, specially of those that believe.
Hebrews 11:26 Esteeming the reproach of Christ greater riches than the treasures in Egypt: for he had respect unto the recompence of the reward.
Hebrews 13:13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
Jesus Christ is an offense to the world.

Justification of those that call on the LORD

The LORD Jesus Christ justifies the people seeking him for salvation. He justifies those that are coming to him for help.
Christ justifies them with the scripture: Psalm 8:2.
Babes and sucklings are those that receive the blessings of God.
- As newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word.
- Ye must be born again.
Matthew 18:3 And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven.
Mark 10:14-15 …Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 15 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter therein.
Luke 18:16-17 But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. 17 Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein.

This event defines those who call upon the name of the LORD. From the God’s house being called a house of prayer by all nations to the people who come to the LORD crying Hosanna! Save us!