Kingdom Blog

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

(See also Matt. 21:12–17; Mark 11:15–19; John 2:12–25)

Then He went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it, saying to them, “It is written, My house is a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of thieves.’ ”

And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him. (Luke 19:45-48)

It would be our gravest mistake to assume these words only applied to the Hewish temple of 2000 years ago. These eternal words travel through time, and are just as relevant for the church today.

If the true word of Christ is to be taught in the church, fully empowered by His Spirit, then first He comes to cleanse it of the corruption and compromise that has become the norm. Where what is to be the House of God, and house of prayer for all nations, has become like a corporation, with its words fashioned for man’s ‘success’, the winnowing fire must come for it to be the place where the Spirit and Truth dwell. Only this brings fruit that lasts. We do well to cleanse our churches, and ourselves, by His grace, now!