Dear Explorer,
Read Matthew 21:12-17
And
Read Mark 11:15-19
and
Read Luke 19:45-48
On Day 37 we read about Jesus cleansing the temple very early in His ministry. During this last week of Jesus' life as a human – often called the Passion Week – He does it again. That in itself is symbolic. He had spent over 3 years ministering and teaching, yet things at the temple continued just the same. The temple leaders were still doing business the same old way.
I can't tell from these passages whether this cleansing of the temple happened on Sunday after the triumphal entry or sometime on Monday. But that's really not important. The Scripture says that Jesus and His disciples stayed in Bethany but walked (about 3 miles) into Jerusalem early that morning, but it doesn't clarify whether we are talking about Sunday or Monday.
The first thing you would need to know is how the temple was designed. I've tried to sketch out the temple area for you. I know the proportions are not right, so if you want to search for a picture of Herod's temple you can find a more accurate drawing in your Bible or on-line.
Locate the Holy of Holies and the curtain dividing the Holy of Holies from the Holy Place. The Holy of Holies was where God met with the high priest once a year. The Holy Place was where a priest chosen by lot, would go to burn incense – like Zechariah. Locate the altar and surrounding area for the priests. Surrounding that is the Court of Israel for all the men and boys over age 13. Away from that area is the Court of Women. That was the sum total of the temple building itself. Then there were steps leading down to the Court of Gentiles which was just an open flat stone-paved area surrounding the temple building. It is believed that Jesus would stand on these steps to teach so that the women, the men and the Gentiles could all hear Him.
During His last week on earth as a human, He taught there every day.
SKETCH OF HEROD'S TEMPLE AT THE TIME OF JESUS
During this time, this courtyard area had been turned into a marketplace for selling merchandise to be sacrificed. Who were they pushing away so that they had nowhere to worship God?
Gentiles!
I grew up thinking that it must be wrong to buy and sell anything inside the church. That's not Jesus' message. His message to you and to me is to fling open the doors of our churches and let everyone feel welcome and wanted and loved by our God.
Our churches should be points of access to God, not barriers keeping them out.
The other thing I want you to note: What did Jesus say the purpose of the temple was?
Now, if you study more of the New Testament, you will find in 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 that Paul asks this question: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God?” (NIV)
Of course, he's talking about those who have invited Jesus into their lives. Remembering the purpose of a temple, why and how are our bodies supposed to be temples of the Holy Spirit?
If you invite Jesus to come in and fill your empty vacuum, then He sends His Holy Spirit to live inside of you. Our bodies then become the place where the Holy Spirit lives and prays to the Father. It is our job to keep the temple a place of peace and quiet and holiness, so that we don't disturb the prayers of the Holy Spirit. Wow!
Would you describe your temple (body) as a quiet place for the Holy Spirit to pray, or a flea market filled with chaos? Why?