One of the few emotional recorded incidents of Jesus Christ that catches a lot of attention was his act of righteous indignation and zeal, wherein he challenged the political and religious powers of His time on earth, as he entered into the Temple of God in Jerusalem, and using a whip drove those who were involved with selling and money changing out of the temple, overturning their money tables and proclaiming, “You shall not make my Father’s house (Temple), a house of merchandise/business/trade/marketplace.”
While this may seem like a one-time incident, hidden in this account, is the application of what transpired that day, which is aptly relevant in our lives today. The Bible states that we are the Temple of God (1 Corinthians 6:19). But the question that then remains is “What is going on within this Temple of God?” Are we busy with the business of trying to make ourselves some gain or are we about the Father’s business, as was Jesus (Luke 2:49)? In other words, if Jesus was to look into us, His Temple, would He need to do some Temple cleansing in you/me? Would Jesus have the need to make a whip and drive out the elements in us that don’t bring God the honor and glory?
John 2:13-16 (NLT)
13 It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem.
14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money.
15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables.
16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 (KJV)
19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.
