<John 2:13-17>.

13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

• Jesus’ most controversial teachings and activities are found in the temple of Jerusalem.
• The temple is the very center of the whole Jewish nation, representing God’s presence and fellowship with His people.
• Yet, all the activities in the temple now was far from God’s heartbeat.
• Religion surrounding the temple has been externalized.
• Believers lost connection with God.
• Jesus saw the temple in spiritual ruins.
• Greed and hypocrisy filled the temple.
  

<Jn 2:15-16>:

15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”

• Radical, yet miraculous action by Jesus
• No one stops Jesus amazingly.
• The hearts of men were chastened.
• Our Lord Jesus showed His lordship.
• He sees through the condition of everyone’s heart.
• Jesus was made Lord of every situation. 

Why is the Lord so concerned with the purity of the temple?

* The temple symbolizes our Soul

* Our Souls are temples in which Christ came to dwell.

* <Jn 14:20-21,23>: 20 On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. 21 Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them.”… 23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

* <2 Cor 6:16>: …For we are the temple of the living God.

* <Eph 3:16-17>: 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith…

What is the condition of my temple?

* Saying of the old Puritan – The condition of man’s fall is likened to an old castle in ruins.

* Consider the condition of present believers and church.

* <Jer 17:10>: He is the Lord who searches the heart and examine the mind, to reward each person according to their conduct, according to what their deeds deserve.

* Important consideration: Are we misusing or misappropriating the things of God?

1) Abusing and misusing biblical doctrines?

2) Misusing the sacred meetings of the church?

Things to bear in mind about Jesus cleansing His temple.

1) Jesus’ Lordship

*  He claims: “My Father’s house”.

* Serious deviation of modern times evangelists.

* <Php 2:9-11>:

9 Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

2) Jesus examines everything in His temple

* <Ps 51:6>: Behold, you delight in truth in the inward being…

*  <Ps 66:18>: If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.

* <Ps 34:12-13>: Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.

* <Ps 139:7-8>: “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there”.

3) Jesus hates unclean things and will not dwell side by side with them at his house

* <Rev 1:14> Eyes like flaming fire

* <2 Ti 4:1> Coming to judge the living and the dead

* <Mt 6:24> No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money”.

* <Mt 6:21> For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

* <2 Cor 6:14>: Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. What harmony is there between Christ and Belial (or the devil)? Or what does a believer have in common with an unbeliever?

Two Critical Activities

1) The Lord Jesus Activity – Cleansing our temple

* He is whipping and scourging, and driving away the unclean things in our temple.

* <Heb 12:6> the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and he chastens everyone he accepts as his son.

2) Our Activity – Our response to Christ

* <Rev 3:20>: The Lord Jesus said: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me”.

* <Eze 37:27>: My dwelling place will be with them; I will be their God, and they will be my people.