February 21
“Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, ‘Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!’ Then His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up,’” John 2:13-17.
Jesus came to Jerusalem to celebrate the Old Testament Passover Festival, at which the Jews remembered God’s almighty deliverance of the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt. It was a special occasion for worship in the temple.
However, on this occasion, Jesus was very upset by what He found in the temple and the temple courts. It was very difficult for many of the Jews to bring to Jerusalem from a great distance the animals to be sacrificed. For the sake of convenience, they were permitted to buy the sheep and lambs, the oxen and doves when they arrived. Instead of keeping this market business on the outskirts of the city, those responsible brought the animals into the temple area and eventually into the courts of the sanctuary. There were stalls for the sheep and oxen, coops for doves, and tables for all the bankers. The temple area was a noisy place with the bleating of the sheep and the lowing of the cattle, plus all of the haggling that went on during the buying and selling. It was a profitable business for the leaders of the Jews.
Jesus could not tolerate what was going on in the temple area. He made a whip and cracked the whip to drive all of them out of the temple and temple area. He tipped over the tables of the money changers and coins were rolling on the floor. He ordered the sellers of doves and animals to take them out of the area. While the people should have known that you come to God’s house to worship, to hear God’s Word, to sing His praise and pray, they had to be reminded by Jesus, “Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”
Today, too, many church members need to be reminded for what purpose the church property exists. Some church people get all excited about buying and selling and fundraising. Their hopes are to raise sufficient funds through banquets and bazaars, parties and picnics, bake sales and rummage sales, to pay the bills and keep the church running well financially. Some often forget that Christian giving according to the measure with which God blesses the members is the means to support the church.
Why do we go to church? We should go to worship, to hear God’s Word, to celebrate the Sacraments, to sing God’s praise for creating, redeeming and sanctifying us, to pour out our prayers, to bring our offerings, and to leave His house with the promise of His blessing. It is also an opportunity to hear of the needs and the concerns, the hurts and the heartaches of fellow Christians, and it gives the opportunity to encourage one another in the faith in the promises of God and in our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, who is God’s Son and our Savior from sin, death and the power of the devil.
Jesus was eaten up by His zeal for God’s house. We too should have a zeal and eagerness to come to God’s house for divine worship.
Lord, open Thou my heart to hear, And through Thy Word to me draw near;
Let me Thy Word e’er pure retain, Let me Thy child and heir remain.
Thy Word doth deeply move the heart, Thy Word doth perfect health impart,
Thy Word my soul with joy doth bless, Thy Word brings peace and happiness. Amen.