“Not in my house!” Sometimes, I so wish that the writers of the Bible used a little more storytelling clarity. I could use descriptions like, “He roared, in an authoritative stance,” which is what I pictured when I read today’s Scripture. We don’t really know the tone in which these words were said. The Gospel of Mark’s account says Jesus was teaching, but “teaching” does not sound as passionate as the picture I have in my mind’s eye.  

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My guess is that even if you didn’t experience it in your home, you at least knew a parent who took the “Not in my house” approach. Depending on your perspective, either as a parent or the one being rebuked, you can either feel a sense of solidarity or reproach when reading this passage. Either way, we’d be missing the point if we didn’t wonder why Jesus was so upset.

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This story of Jesus confronting the money changers and merchants is recorded in each of the Gospels: Matthew 21:12, Mark 11:15, John 2:14, and Luke 19:46. I have often heard some version of “anything God says once is important, but if he says it more than once (or FOUR times), He probably wants you to pay attention.” The scene was this: inside the temple walls was a Gentile courtyard, the only designated space for non-Jews to come and worship God. It was common in Jerusalem for merchants to convert currency from other regions and sell sacrificial animals needed for those who had made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem. If money changing and selling was a common practice, what upset Jesus?  

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There was likely a combination of several problems. Herod had built up the temple mound, and the clear parameters of the temple grounds, which God specified in Ezekiel 40-43, had been blurred. Ezekial 43:12 states, “This is the law of the temple: the whole territory on the top of the mountain all around shall be most holy…” With these additions came less sacred attitudes toward the land of the temple. This is exemplified in the practice of money changing and selling, which had spilled into the actual temple grounds in the court of the gentiles. Historical context also confirms that the money changers were cheating the worshippers and charging far more for the money exchange and animal purchase than was necessary. It is also possible and likely that the priests were taking a cut of this profit. This helps explain why the religious leaders took such offense at Jesus’ teachings and sought to destroy him.

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One does not need to wander very far in the Old Testament before being confronted with the fact that God is very specific and detailed. Any deviation from what God has spoken is falling short of God’s standard, as He is the perfect and Holy God. Jesus is fully God and, in this moment, He is responding to His people and their lack of reverence for what He had set apart as sacred. Jesus knew he had entered what would be His last week of ministry prior to His excruciating death on a cross, and his emotions showed his passion, which is likely a reason why the week of Easter is often referred to as “Passion Week.” So much of what was happening in this one week had been prophesied many times over the course of history. Even Jesus’ words from today’s Scripture are from previous prophecies. Isaiah 56:7 states, “These I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my hour 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.” Jeremiah 7:11 says, “Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes? Behold, I myself have seen it, declares the Lord.”

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Jesus’ attitude and responses are one of a God who deeply loves His people and is deeply saddened by their blindness to their own sinfulness and lack of desire to change their wicked ways.  Knowing all of this, Jesus continues teaching and calling people to repentance, even in His final week. His desire was for the people to keep what is sacred, sacred.  

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In your own reflection of what God has called sacred, is there an area you’ve blurred the lines? Are the “merchants” that bid for your attention crowding out the space you have for worship? Are you flirting with calling sacred things insignificant; when, really, that “insignificance” is sin? Would you have been blind-sided by Jesus overturning tables? Jesus’ heart was always for his people, but never at the cost of cheapening what God calls holy. Jesus was on His way to the cross and still reminded people, there is always to be room to worship and pray. Clear the temple of your life of all that doesn’t belong and remind your heart that your prayer and worship is sacred.  

Lord, we thank you for your heart for us. We thank you for teaching and driving out what does not belong in our hearts. We ask that you help us root out the source of why the sacred things have become insignificant. We love you and desire to keep our worship pure. Amen.