Clearing the Temple

Mark 11:15-17:

"On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: " 'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations'? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"

Jesus cleared the temple on at least two occasions (John 2 and Mark 11, Luke 19, Matt 21), and He did so with a righteous anger. The Temple had turned from a sacred place that sincere worshipers of God Almighty came to pray and offer their praise, worship, and sacrifice into a place where men attempted to take advantage of other men in the name of God in order to make a profit or glorify themselves instead of their God.

Here’s a relevant question: Would Jesus clear your temple today? Realize that our bodies are the “temple of the Holy Spirit.”

1 Cor 6:19-20:

“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.”

Your body is a temple—your very body. Think about it and try to comprehend that the Holy Spirit has been sent to dwell within you upon acceptance of Jesus Christ, and that God now views His holy temple to include you and your body. The Temple is a Holy place. Are you and your body a Holy place?

Would Jesus have a righteous anger toward the sin setup in you? Immediately upon acceptance of Christ, we are forgiven. Oh, thank God the Merciful Father for that. I can breathe a sigh of relief and peace. But if sin does still persist, whether daily or occasionally, whether random sins or a single repeating sin, it is time to clear the temple. Selfishness is a good example for most. How many of your decisions each day are out of self-interest? Yes, of course we are to be good stewards of our lives, and that includes doing what we know to be responsible for maintaining our health and such; however, if you are like me and search your motives in what you did last week, you will find a lot of selfishness. Worst of all is when this comes at the expense of others. Anger, greed, and lust are other common persisting sins, even in believers. Believers that are forgiven, yet struggle to gain ground in resisting their temptations and earthly desires. The good news is that Jesus will clear the temple.

Dare to pray a prayer similar to this: “Lord, clear the temple. Clear my temple. Purge out the evil in me, banish the sin and drive out my separation from you. Even if it is done through your righteous anger, even if I must bear the full force of the anger of an all powerful God, clear this temple! Jesus, I need to be emptied, cleared, and cleansed, so that your Holy Spirit can fully dwell and fill every corner of this temple. In Jesus name, Amen.”