In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money changers sitting there.

And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen…

And he poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.

And he told those who sold the pigeons, ‘Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade’.

And his disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for your house will consume me….’

– John 2:14-17

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money changers, and the seats of those who sold pigeons.

He said to them, It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’, but you make it a den of thieves…

– Matthew 21:12-13

It seems I have this need today that’s like what Jesus did once, or more than once, when he drove all the merchants and money changers from the temple. {I read it was twice, but I’m sure it was more than that, and really that it continues to this day…}

But first,

What were they doing there? we may ask,

or,

How common was it then?, and How common is it now?

and,

What are the analogies we can find in our own lives and makeup that would make such forceful divine action necessary?

Those greedy folk, preying on people’s superstitions, we could think, had set up shop there, and they needed to be evicted, not with a genteel, polite notice, asking them, when it was convenient for them, oh would they please find another place to hawk their goods?

No, not like that.

They would not have listened, or they would have drunkenly laughed it off.

Something else entirely was needed to throw them out.

And after all, what is a temple? or What should it be?

It should be a place where people can go that is safe, and where they can be restored; it should be a place of healing, where we get ourselves back from whatever precipice or whatever trial we were going through;

It should be a place where we can meet the Divine, that is so personal, and intimate, we would call it sacrosanct,

but instead, this sacred reserved place somehow becomes just another market, and so we need a great spiritual authority to come in, with all his power to remove them.

And this is not done early in the morning, when they are just setting up, or as they are packing it in and getting ready to return home, fat and happy.

No, as I can see it, this – turning over all their tables and kicking them all out is done in full public view, as a lesson for us all.

This is a muscular Jesus, one seldom seen in the rest of the parables. No one would mess with him, as I’m sure all kinds of fiery angels made their presence felt when he brought his divine rage against their desecration.

Some housecleaning needed to be done, and He was the person to do it.

Now when I reflect on my own life, I can see those same shifty eyed merchants who have practically moved in with me, and set up shop in my humble temple, this body, this mind and heart of mine. What they are selling today I’m not sure, only that not a one of them recognizes this place for what it is and can be.

My temple becomes something coarse then, unruly, chaotic with bargaining and ripoffs. Oh my.

I’m thinking especially about those who sell me on intractable, mundane views of myself and others and this world we share. We call that materialism, with all its false values. O, such ugly blasphemy!

Throw them all out, all of them! And if they don’t leave after being politely asked, well, there are those we can call on who can heft the tables they’ve set up, and make a scene of putting them back on the street, outside the temple, where they belong.

I see Jesus snarling, which is a cool image, to go with and complete all the beautiful, gentle scenes we have of him. This is beautiful also, in a way, and sometimes needed, it’s true.

And who is with him, acting on his will but the angels, and his foremost disciples.

Before we know it, the place is put back in order, incense and candles are devotedly re-lit, hymns rise up again, and we have this story to tell our children, and to pass down through the generations, for all to hear and re-enact, as needed.