Allow Jesus to cleanse your temple

John 2:14-16 And in the temple [enclosure] He found the people who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting at their tables. He made a whip of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; then to those who sold the doves He said, “Take these things away! Stop making My Father’s house a place of commerce!” ‘

Matthew 21:12-13 And Jesus entered the temple [grounds] and drove out [with force] all who were buying and selling [birds and animals for sacrifice] in the temple area, and He turned over the tables of the moneychangers [who made a profit exchanging foreign money for temple coinage] and the chairs of those who were selling doves [for sacrifice]. Jesus said to them, “It is written [in Scripture], ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den.” ‘

After reading the above incidents where Jesus cleansed the temple, we can infer that Jesus had A righteous indignation. The temple was defiled and had become A den of thieves and robbers. Imagine the look on the people’s face when he rose with the whip and drove them out WITH FORCE! Jesus made it clear the temple was to be a house of prayer. 

Authority: The Jews retorted and began to question what sign (miracle) can he show as proof for the authority by which he does these things”? Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple (the physical temple) and in three days I will raise it up (He was speaking of the temple which was his body). Jesus’ resurrection from the dead was proof that He had the authority to cleanse the temple.

The cleansing of the temple 

There were two occasions where Jesus cleansed the temple during his earthly ministry. The first cleansing took place during the spring of A.D. 28. At the beginning of his earthly ministry. By this, his authority was declared, this also announced his mission as the Messiah at Passover.

The second cleansing occurred three years later at the end of His public ministry, at the fourth Passover just after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem the last week of His life (Matt. 21:12–17; Mark 11:15–19: Luke 19:45–48.)

There were times where the temple in ancient Israel had become defiled as well. When Hezekiah succeeded Ahaz in Judah, he began to consecrate the house of the Lord, where he began to cleanse and repair the temple every unclean thing was removed from the house of the Lord and put out for disposal.

• 2 Chronicles 29:16 ‘The priests went into the inner part of the house of the Lord to cleanse it, and every unclean thing they found in the temple of the Lord they brought out to the courtyard of the Lord’ s house. Then the Levites received it to take out to the Kidron Valley [for disposal]. ‘

Our temple: 

We are the temple of the living God; Jesus is cleansing our temple just as he did during his earthly ministry. Our temples are defiled as well by sin and uncleanliness. Jesus wants to clean the spiritual thieves out of our temple with force. Will you allow Jesus to make you whole? 

• 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 ‘Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is within you, whom you have [received as a gift] from God, and that you are not your own [property]? You were bought with a price [you were actually purchased with the precious blood of Jesus and made His own]. So then, honor and glorify God with your body.’

• 1 Corinthians 3:16 Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?

If Jesus was upset about the pollution of the temple during his earthly ministry, we could only think about how he feels about our temples. When we turn from the living GOD to idols (sports, pornography, money, fame, success, etc.), this defiles our temple. Our temple should have no agreement with Idols, God wants to dwell in us and walk among us he wants to be our God, and we are called to be His people (2ndCorinthians 6:16)

It is easy to be led by our pleasure and carnal desires instead of the Spirit of the Living GOD. The blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin and uncleanliness, yet many have not received the free offer of salvation. We have to yield to the Spirit of God and allow him to shine his light on the dark areas in our lives. Sanctification is necessary as we continue in our daily lives as Born-again believers. If we walk in the light (in obedience to God’s word), the blood of Jesus will keep us cleansed from all manifestations of sin. 

A House of Prayer: 

Our temples should also be A house of prayer, and prayer builds our communication with God. We are to devote ourselves in prayer while being watchful and thankful (Col 4:2). We are called to present our requests to God by prayer and petition with thanksgiving (Phil 4:6). Our temples should also offer prayers of intercession, forgiveness, salvation and praise, and adoration. We should offer prayers continually to our heavenly father; our prayers are like A sweet-smelling aroma (Rev 8:3-4)

The blood of Jesus cleanses us: 

As I shared earlier, Jesus bought the church with his blood, he sacrificed himself once and for all and entered into the Holy of Holies (Heavenly places) he presented himself to God our father as an eternal sacrifice for our sins. Jesus has now reconciled all things to himself by making peace through his blood that he shed on the cross. In Jesus, we now have redemption through his blood and the forgiveness of sins. The blood of Jesus cleanses our consciences from dead works so that we may serve the living God; this is good news. Since we are to be vessels of prayer, we can now enter the Most Holy Place via prayer by the blood of Jesus. 

Thank God for the gift of salvation and the gift of his precious Holy Spirit! I pray that you will abstain from every form of evil withdraw and keep away from it, I pray that the God of peace will sanctify you through and through and separate you from profane, vulgar and unclean things that defile your temple. Allow God to make you pure and whole, undamaged, and consecrated to him allow God to set you apart for his purpose lets all be found blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. (1st Thess 5:22-23)

Additional Scriptures to Meditate on:

• Psalm 51:2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.

• 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

• Psalm 51:7 Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

• Psalm 51:10 Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me.

• Ezekiel 36:25 Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.

If you have not accepted Jesus as Lord, begin to pray and invite him into your life. He is waiting to hear from you; he has already sacrificed himself for you, he bought you with A precious price. Jesus is knocking now is the time to answer. Will you allow Jesus to cleanse you and make you whole? If you have just received Jesus into your life, please email us at ministryoftruth41@gmail.com 

We offer free bible studies via our online ministry website http://omegaministries.org/ We look forward to hearing from you and to disciple you further in the ways of the Lord! 

God Bless You All,

Tanicia P.