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Author: Stephen Weller
584 words, 3 minutes read time

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Scripture: Mark 11:15-16

In the previous lesson we walked with Jesus going from Bethany back to Jerusalem. On the way Jesus becomes hungry and seeing a fig tree in leaf in the distance, he goes to it to see if it had any figs growing on it. Finding none, he curses the tree. With this lesson we begin a new section in which Jesus arrives in Jerusalem and goes into the temple.

^{Mk 11:15} “And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. ¹⁶ And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple.”

On Sunday Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple and looked around to assess the kind of worship that was taking place there; was fruit being produced. What he saw apparently bothered him and he probably thought about what he saw as he and the disciples returned to Bethany for the night. On Monday, Jesus and the disciples head back to Jerusalem and on their way, Jesus grows hungry and seeing a fig tree in full leaf in the distance, he goes to it to see if there were young figs beginning to form. Seeing no fruit, he curses the tree. If Jesus saw no evidence of worship and fruit of prayer in the temple, what might happen when he returns?

He and the disciples arrive in Jerusalem and Jesus goes into the temple as its Lord to purify it from a form of corruption that had settled in there. We find reference to this cleansing in Malachi 3:1 – 4. Reading about this cleansing in Matthew gives the impression that it occurred when Jesus entered on Sunday, but Mark makes it clear that it happened on Monday when Jesus returned.

Travelers who were coming in from a distance didn’t want to bring animals and various items for the sacrifice with them, but instead brought money that they needed to exchange to the local currency. As a result, a local market was set up within the temple to facilitate this exchange and then the purchase of the necessary animals and other items for the sacrifice. Those activities not only occupied the space that was provided for worship and prayer, thus hindering it, but it also allowed corruption to enter into the process thus turning the house of prayer into a den of robbers. These activities within the temple’s outer court greatly hindered the Gentiles who were coming to worship and pray.

Jesus enters the temple and maybe as he did the same thing he did when he cleansed the temple the first time in John 2:14 – 16 ESV: ¹⁴ “In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there. ¹⁵ And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. ¹⁶ And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.”’

Conclusion

After driving out those who were not there for worship and prayer, Jesus stays and begins to teach and minister to the needs of the people.