Jesus’ actions and words recorded in John 2:12-17 are instructive of how one should regard the worship of God.
John 2:12-17
12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days. 13 And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; 16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. 17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.
After attending the marriage in Cana, where He performed His first miracle, Jesus travelled through Capernaum and arrived in Jerusalem to participate in the Passover feast. While He was in Jerusalem, He came to the Temple. As Jesus entered the Temple, He was greatly displeased with the unholy activities and improper worship of God that were going on there. So He acted swiftly to dispel the evil doers out of the place of worship.
This record of Christ’s cleansing of the Temple is very instructive of how we ought to prepare to render acceptable worship of God.
Christ’s High Regard for the Worship of God
According to verse 13, it was time for the Jewish Passover. During this season, people would normally go up to Jerusalem to worship God Almighty in the Temple.
The Passover was celebrated to commemorate God’s miraculous deliverance of the Israelites from the bondage of the Egyptians and their emperor, Pharaoh. It was commanded by God through Moses that Israel must observe the Passover. It was also known as the feast of unleavened bread (Exodus 23:14-17; Numbers 9:1-5). The Passover thus became one of the greatest celebrations of worship among the Jews.
Jesus showed great respect for this festival as it was commanded in the Old Testament. Having great regard for this season of worship, He went up to Jerusalem from Capernaum, though it was a very long journey.
The Lord Jesus is our supreme example in all aspects of life, even in the matter of worship and service of God. Like our Lord, we must worship God on the appointed day (the Lord’s day) and be zealous in the activities of the Church.
The writer of Hebrews exhorts us in Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Christians must not neglect worship and church activities, but must regard them as essential activities.
Christ’s High Expectation of the Worship of God
When Jesus entered the Temple, it was filled with animals and birds on sale. In verse 14, we read, “And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting.” Those were to be sold to the worshippers who came from distant lands without animals for sacrifice.
There were also money changers. We understand from Jewish history books, like the "Antiquities of the Jews" by Josephus, that every adult Jew was required to pay a Temple tax of half a shekel. The Jews in Palestine were allowed to pay in their own villages. But the Jews who came from outside Palestine had to make their payment in the Temple. Their Roman or other coins had to be exchanged at the Temple for the shekel, the Jewish coin.
Though there seems to be a legitimate reason for such a transaction, they were doing it with no regard for God’s house. They were making the Temple grounds a place of merchandise. Their motive and attitude were not of an acceptable spirit before the Lord. That’s why Jesus said, "Make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise." In fact, during another similar Temple purification towards the end of Christ’s ministry, Jesus said to them that they "have made it a den of thieves" (Matthew 21:13).
The so-called ‘services’ had become a means of exploitation. The worshippers had to put up with exorbitant charges. Furthermore, the profits that were supposed to go to the Temple treasury ended up in the pockets of priests, officers and merchants.
John Calvin commenting on this event wrote, "The priests misused the merchandise for their own gain and avarice, and such a mockery of God was unendurable. Again whatever excuse men may plead, so soon as they depart, however slightly, from God’s command they are blameworthy and need correcting."
The covetous spirit existed in the Temple has compelled Jesus to drive away the animals, birds and the merchants with a ‘scourge’ that He made out of small cords that would have been used to bind the animals.
Here are some Scripture portions to show how we should worship the Lord:
1 Chronicles 16:29 - Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Psalm 29:2 - Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Psalm 96:9 - O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
Psalm 5:7 - But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
Jesus’ action of forcefully driving them away was an act of His divine authority. How could He have done it alone against so many of the merchants and officers of the Temple if He was not a divine Person? In a normal case, no man could have achieved it alone. The fact that no one could resist Him speaks aloud of the greatness of His holy zeal and power. The Lord Jesus by His act of purging the Temple not only established His divine authority but also proved the righteousness of His person.
He also referred to God as "My Father" to authenticate His right to cleanse the Temple. The Jews knew only the Messiah (the Second Person of the Trinity) can make such a claim (see John 5:17-18). Claiming the Temple as His Father’s house was a declaration of His deity and His authority over the officers and priests of the Temple who allowed the merchandise to be brought into the Temple.
Being the holy God, the Lord Jesus expects great devotion and purity of heart from all those who worship Him. Our Lord is not interested in extravagant and glamorous ways of worship that leave the principles, purity and truth of His Word. When we come before the Lord, we must come with a sincere desire to serve Him out of a pure heart. Without true repentance and commitment to holiness, we cannot please Him. We may bring big gifts, we may sing melodiously, we may exhibit a form of piety, but if our hearts are covetous, dishonest and lustful, then all appearances of worship will be counted unworthy by the Lord.
Jesus once told the Jews why He refused their worship. Mark 7:6-9 – “He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” Jesus identified their worship as ‘vain’ or useless.
In Jesus’ action of the cleansing of the Temple, we see His fiery zeal for the preservation of the holy worship. The disciples remembered the Old Testament passage that says, "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." These words are from David’s prediction of Christ in Psalm 69. It is part of verse 9 of that psalm where the zeal of the Messiah in the things of God is described - "For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me." When we approach the Lord’s presence in an unholy and careless manner, it is viewed by the Lord as a reproach against God. It is a great sin to worship the Lord with unclean hearts and impure motives.
Let us be watchful of the reasons why we go to church. What motivates you to join in an area of service in the church? If it is any reason other than serving the Lord with a holy heart, then we reproach His holy name. Thus it will become an occasion for God’s fiery purification to begin in us. So let us go before Him with fear and holy devotion.
This record of Christ’s cleansing of the Temple is very instructive of how we ought to prepare to render acceptable worship of God.
Christ’s High Regard for the Worship of God
According to verse 13, it was time for the Jewish Passover. During this season, people would normally go up to Jerusalem to worship God Almighty in the Temple.
The Passover was celebrated to commemorate God’s miraculous deliverance of the Israelites from the bondage of the Egyptians and their emperor, Pharaoh. It was commanded by God through Moses that Israel must observe the Passover. It was also known as the feast of unleavened bread (Exodus 23:14-17; Numbers 9:1-5). The Passover thus became one of the greatest celebrations of worship among the Jews.
Jesus showed great respect for this festival as it was commanded in the Old Testament. Having great regard for this season of worship, He went up to Jerusalem from Capernaum, though it was a very long journey.
The Lord Jesus is our supreme example in all aspects of life, even in the matter of worship and service of God. Like our Lord, we must worship God on the appointed day (the Lord’s day) and be zealous in the activities of the Church.
The writer of Hebrews exhorts us in Hebrews 10:25, “Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Christians must not neglect worship and church activities, but must regard them as essential activities.
Christ’s High Expectation of the Worship of God
When Jesus entered the Temple, it was filled with animals and birds on sale. In verse 14, we read, “And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting.” Those were to be sold to the worshippers who came from distant lands without animals for sacrifice.
There were also money changers. We understand from Jewish history books, like the "Antiquities of the Jews" by Josephus, that every adult Jew was required to pay a Temple tax of half a shekel. The Jews in Palestine were allowed to pay in their own villages. But the Jews who came from outside Palestine had to make their payment in the Temple. Their Roman or other coins had to be exchanged at the Temple for the shekel, the Jewish coin.
Though there seems to be a legitimate reason for such a transaction, they were doing it with no regard for God’s house. They were making the Temple grounds a place of merchandise. Their motive and attitude were not of an acceptable spirit before the Lord. That’s why Jesus said, "Make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise." In fact, during another similar Temple purification towards the end of Christ’s ministry, Jesus said to them that they "have made it a den of thieves" (Matthew 21:13).
The so-called ‘services’ had become a means of exploitation. The worshippers had to put up with exorbitant charges. Furthermore, the profits that were supposed to go to the Temple treasury ended up in the pockets of priests, officers and merchants.
John Calvin commenting on this event wrote, "The priests misused the merchandise for their own gain and avarice, and such a mockery of God was unendurable. Again whatever excuse men may plead, so soon as they depart, however slightly, from God’s command they are blameworthy and need correcting."
The covetous spirit existed in the Temple has compelled Jesus to drive away the animals, birds and the merchants with a ‘scourge’ that He made out of small cords that would have been used to bind the animals.
Here are some Scripture portions to show how we should worship the Lord:
1 Chronicles 16:29 - Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Psalm 29:2 - Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.
Psalm 96:9 - O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.
Psalm 5:7 - But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.
Jesus’ action of forcefully driving them away was an act of His divine authority. How could He have done it alone against so many of the merchants and officers of the Temple if He was not a divine Person? In a normal case, no man could have achieved it alone. The fact that no one could resist Him speaks aloud of the greatness of His holy zeal and power. The Lord Jesus by His act of purging the Temple not only established His divine authority but also proved the righteousness of His person.
He also referred to God as "My Father" to authenticate His right to cleanse the Temple. The Jews knew only the Messiah (the Second Person of the Trinity) can make such a claim (see John 5:17-18). Claiming the Temple as His Father’s house was a declaration of His deity and His authority over the officers and priests of the Temple who allowed the merchandise to be brought into the Temple.
Being the holy God, the Lord Jesus expects great devotion and purity of heart from all those who worship Him. Our Lord is not interested in extravagant and glamorous ways of worship that leave the principles, purity and truth of His Word. When we come before the Lord, we must come with a sincere desire to serve Him out of a pure heart. Without true repentance and commitment to holiness, we cannot please Him. We may bring big gifts, we may sing melodiously, we may exhibit a form of piety, but if our hearts are covetous, dishonest and lustful, then all appearances of worship will be counted unworthy by the Lord.
Jesus once told the Jews why He refused their worship. Mark 7:6-9 – “He answered and said unto them, Well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition.” Jesus identified their worship as ‘vain’ or useless.
In Jesus’ action of the cleansing of the Temple, we see His fiery zeal for the preservation of the holy worship. The disciples remembered the Old Testament passage that says, "The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up." These words are from David’s prediction of Christ in Psalm 69. It is part of verse 9 of that psalm where the zeal of the Messiah in the things of God is described - "For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me." When we approach the Lord’s presence in an unholy and careless manner, it is viewed by the Lord as a reproach against God. It is a great sin to worship the Lord with unclean hearts and impure motives.
Let us be watchful of the reasons why we go to church. What motivates you to join in an area of service in the church? If it is any reason other than serving the Lord with a holy heart, then we reproach His holy name. Thus it will become an occasion for God’s fiery purification to begin in us. So let us go before Him with fear and holy devotion.
