20. Cleansing the Temple

After this, he went down to Capernaum, along with his mother, his brothers, and his disciples; they stayed there a few days. When the Passover of the Jews was at hand, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

He found in the temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and those who exchanged Roman coins for Jewish ones. He made a whip of cords, and drove the animals out of the temple. Then he poured out the changers’ money, and turned over their tables. To those who sold doves, he said, “Take these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a marketplace!” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

The Jews therefore answered him, “What sign do you show us to prove your authority to do these things?”

Jesus answered, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

The Jews said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple! Will you raise it up in three days?” But he spoke of the temple of his body. When he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered this, and believed what Jesus had said.

While he was in Jerusalem at the Passover, many believed in his name when they saw what he did. Jesus didn’t trust himself to them, however, because he knew everyone; no one had to tell him what people were like.

Reflections

The original idea of sacrifices was that offerings to God should represent the best of what people had. As time went by, people were told this wasn’t good enough: only what was bought in the temple could satisfy the requirements of the temple. Corruption was rampant. Can you think of examples today of those who profit unethically from people’s sincere desire to connect with God? Is there a need to “clean house” in today’s church?

Prayer: Create in me a zeal, Lord, to confront those who take advantage of the most vulnerable.