Mark 11:15-19
“So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching. When evening had come, He went out of the city.”
Matthew 21:12-13
“Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’””
Luke 19:45-48
“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.”
The Context
After Jesus’ Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem before Passover, during which Jesus was Hailed as Messiah, Jesus cleansed the temple [a close inspection of parallel texts in the synoptic Gospels indicates that Jesus may have done this twice during the Passion week (see Is Scripture Inerrant?)]. Why?
The temple of YHWH was to be a house of prayer; yet, it had become a den of thieves. Jesus was in part quoting from Isaiah, in which God contrasted His plan for His house with the hearts of those who were called to watch over His house (Isaiah 56:4-11):
4 For thus says the LORD:
“ To the eunuchs who keep My Sabbaths,
And choose what pleases Me,
And hold fast My covenant,
5 Even to them I will give in My house
And within My walls a place and a name
Better than that of sons and daughters;
I will give them an everlasting name
That shall not be cut off.
6 Also the sons of the foreigner
Who join themselves to the LORD, to serve Him,
And to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants—
Everyone who keeps from defiling the Sabbath,
And holds fast My covenant—
7 Even them I will bring to My holy mountain,
And make them joyful in My house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices
Will be accepted on My altar;
For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
8 The Lord GOD, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says,
“ Yet I will gather to him
Others besides those who are gathered to him.”
9 All you beasts of the field, come to devour,
All you beasts in the forest.
10 His watchmen are blind,
They are all ignorant;
They are all dumb dogs,
They cannot bark;
Sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber.
11 Yes, they are greedy dogs
Which never have enough.
And they are shepherds
Who cannot understand;
They all look to their own way,
Every one for his own gain,
From his own territory.
God’s house was to be a house of joy and prayer for all nations (Isaiah 56:7)! Yet, the leaders of Israel (the watchmen and shepherds) had become blind, ignorant, dumb, lazy, selfish, and greedy (Isaiah 56:10-11). Consequently, the temple had eventually become a place of corrupt commerce in which those who were charged with representing God to the nations were primarily focused on enriching themselves.
Misrepresentation of God
The misrepresentation of God and His word is a grievous sin that He judges accordingly. For example, in Numbers 20:1-13, we learn that Moses’ misrepresentation of God before the people of Israel resulted in His exclusion from the promised land! In 1 Samuel 8, the misrepresentation of God by Eli and his sons resulted in their ordained deaths! But why is the misrepresentation of God to people so grievous? If leaders misrepresent God to people, then the people may respond in the way that the Israelites responded to the ways of Eli and his sons three millennia ago; they will abhor the worship of the Lord. And is this not what is evident in the worldwide Christian church today? People are leaving and/or rejecting the Christian community in droves because of the evil perpetrated by so-called “Christian” leaders. For more on this topic see:
• Leadership in the Church
• What is an Elder?
Boldly Confront Sin Amongst Church Leaders
Therefore, when sin is manifest amongst church leaders, be like Jesus, and boldly confront them to seek either repentance or, if necessary, to purge the unrepentant person from the Lord’s body (according to the prescription set forth in Matthew 18:15-17). For more on this topic, check out:
• False Teachers
• Reject False Teachers
• Don’t Cause Others to Stumble
Expect Opposition
Notice that after Jesus’ bold confrontation with the Jewish leaders, they “sought how they might destroy Him (Mark 11:18).” Therefore, if and when you confront a church leader, Expect Opposition (but) Trust God.
