The action on Monday began with Jesus cursing a fig tree. “No more figs from this tree . . . Ever!” (Matthew 21:19 MSG) But it didn’t stop there.
With the events of Sunday + last week still fresh on everyone’s minds, speculation must have mounted as to what Jesus would do next.
People didn’t have to guess for long. Jesus marched straight back into the temple. He knew what He would find because He had just been there the evening before.
Merchants + money changers had set up shop, selling sacrificial animals for anyone coming to worship.
Many believe that Annas, the former high priest + his sons had grown incredibly wealthy at the expense of the people who came to worship God. According to one commentary, Annas basically took over an area of the temple known as the Court of the Gentiles where everyone was allowed entrance + he transformed it into an over-crowded market that had come to be known as the “Bazaar of Annas.”[1]
Here’s the problem: this made it even more difficult for people on the “outside” to know they mattered to God + the people they viewed as “on the inside.”
In the first century, the Temple had several divisions.
Closest to the Holy of Holies—near the inner court or the Holy of Holies or Most Holy Place—was the court of the Priests. Only priests were allowed to enter this area of the temple.
Next to that, was the court of the Israelites. Only Jewish men were allowed to enter this section of the temple.
Separated by several steps was what was known as the court of women. This was as far as a Jewish woman could enter into the temple complex. It was as close as she could get to the most Holy Place.
Then, there was the court of the Gentles. This was as far as a non-Jewish person was allowed to go.
In fact, the court of the Gentles + the rest of the temple was divided by a literal wall of separation.
The historian Josephus tells us that attached to that barrier at various intervals were signs that marked the boundaries for Gentiles when it came to worship. Archeologists have even discovered an inscription that marked this wall that reads like this:
“No foreigner may enter within this barricade which surrounds the sanctuary + enclosure. Anyone who is caught doing so will have himself to blame for his ensuing death.” —Inscription on Temple
“Welcome to church! We’re glad you’re here. Cross this line + you die.” Yeah! The temple was not “seeker friendly” at all!
This is the area that had evidently been turned into some kind of religious flea market.
Jesus entered the Temple + began to drive out all the people buying + selling animals for sacrifice. He knocked over the tables of the money changers + the chairs of those selling doves. 13 He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!” —Matthew 21:12-13 NLT
When Jesus saw all these divisions, separations, exclusions + the spiritual shakedowns taking place He had had enough.
This is the way the episode reads in The Message:
Jesus went straight to the Temple + threw out everyone who had set up shop, buying + selling. He kicked over the tables of loan sharks + the stalls of dove merchants. He quoted this text:
My house was designated a house of prayer;
You have made it a hangout for thieves.
Now there was room for the blind + crippled to get in. They came to Jesus + he healed them. —Matthew 21:12-14 MSG
Today’s Verse: “As for the outsiders who now follow me, working for me, loving my name + wanting to be my servants—All who keep Sabbath + don’t defile it, holding fast to my covenant—I’ll bring them to my holy mountain + give them joy in my house of prayer. They’ll be welcome to worship the same as the ‘insiders,’ to bring burnt offerings + sacrifices to my altar. Oh yes, my house of worship will be known as a house of prayer for all people.” —Isaiah 56:6-7 MSG
Today’s Prompt: Do you truly believe you matter to God?
Today’s Gratitude: I am grateful that I don’t have a wall of separation between me + God, but have complete + total access to Him any time I want it.
Today’s Prayer: Father, Jesus didn’t tolerate divisions, separations, exclusions + shakedowns + I don’t want to either. Help me to show others that there is no separation between You + them. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
[1] John MacArthur, Commentary on Matthew, Location 35478 of 54768