* I originally wrote this for my local church as one of their Holy Week devotionals. This article is nearly identical, only it omits the church name. May it stir you to worship Jesus for his holy character and his sacrificial mission to save us.
Mark 11:15-18:
And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching.
During Passover, pilgrims flocked to Jerusalem to make sacrifices to the one true God, Yahweh. Tragically, many of these pilgrims were exploited by businessmen looking to make a quick buck. In order to buy animals for sacrifices, people often needed to exchange their currency for a temple-accepted currency, This need presented a lucrative opportunity for the money-changers, who charged a steep fee for their services. These money-changers charged a hefty price for even the least valuable animals. It is noteworthy that Mark singles out those who sold pigeons, as the law dictates that pigeons are an alternative for those who cannot afford a lamb (Leviticus 14:24). In other words, the author Mark is highlighting the exploitation of the poor and vulnerable.
Upon seeing this sacrilege, Jesus was filled with righteous anger. Now, Jesus did not lose control of his emotions or throw a temper tantrum. He did not sin in his anger. His response was deliberate, and it demonstrated the holy wrath of God towards those who abuse his place of worship. However, the primary reason for Jesus’ anger was not economic exploitation (though this was certainly a factor). Jesus’ quotation of the Old Testament reveals the main reason for his wrath. Isaiah 56:7, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” When Jesus quotes a verse, he also wants us to understand its context. So…what is Old Testament passage about?
Isaiah 56 pronounces a blessing upon those who keep the Sabbath – a blessing even for foreigners and eunuchs. “Let not the foreigner who has joined himself to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely separate me from his people.” (v. 3) If these foreigners join themselves to Yahweh and keep his covenant, he promises that “these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.” (v. 7) Yahweh desires Israel to be a blessing for all nations, and for Israel’s temple to be a place for foreigners to worship the one true God.
Now, back to the scene in Mark. The sacrilegious practices in the temple were hindering God’s design for Israel to bless all nations. Israel’s leaders were making a mockery of the covenant. Do you think foreigners were impressed with all the corruption and exploitation taking place? Romans 2:24 comes to mind, “The name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.”
Let us consider the purity of our worship and ask whether there are any ways that we are hindering one another. May our local churches never be places of corruption or exploitation. May our churches never exclude certain ethnicities and classes from worship. May we truly be houses of prayer for all peoples!
Thankfully for us, the cleansing of the temple is not the end of the story. Monday is only the beginning of Holy Week. Through Jesus’ suffering, death, and resurrection, he provides a way for all peoples to enjoy the blessings of Yahweh. As we learn throughout the Gospel accounts, Jesus obeyed where Israel failed. Isaiah 56 finds its fulfillment in Jesus, who did not profane the covenant but kept it perfectly. As a result of Jesus’ obedience, all people can now worship Yahweh without any hindrance. Praise our Lord Jesus!
