HOW JESUS LOVED, Part 13
"SHIFTS GEARS EASILY:
CONCEPT OF THE DAY:
From Authoritative and Firm to Pastoral and Kind"
Scripture reference: Matthew 21:12-14:
"And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out
And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be
And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple;
Try to imagine this scene. You are in the outer court area of the temple of God.
"Great corruptions and abuses come into the church by the practices of those
What frequently happened was the sellers sold inferior quality sacrifices, causing
Jesus had to purge the temple and clean it out to be ready for the coming Passover.
With authority and strength, Jesus, single-handedly, with God's help, cast out all those
Then, right after that, the blind and lame came to him and he healed them.
What a contrast! Jesus exercised great authority, boldness, strength, and adamancy against
Jesus was able to quickly move from one necessary characteristic to another, without missing a beat.
-Carol Kenreigh
[eject, drove out] all them that sold and bought in the temple, and
overthrew [turn upside down] the tables of the moneychangers,
[coin dealers] and the seats of them that sold doves,
called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a
den of thieves.
and he healed them."
People are milling about. Some have traveled from very far to be at the temple
and did not bring any animal sacrifices, (doves and oxen) with them. They knew
they could buy them once they arrived in Jerusalem. The Law of Moses allowed this.
What was not permissible, however, was to offer blemished animals to God, or to
price gouge the customers, or exact high usury (interest) from your brethren. The
sellers and money exchangers were using the Law to profit unjustly by it.
whose gain is godliness, that is, who make worldly gain the end of their godliness,
and counterfeit godliness their way to worldly gain (1Ti 6:5); from such withdraw thyself."
(Matthew Henry's Commentary)
the people to transgress Mosaic Law. The moneychangers were there to offer foreign
currency exchange, converting it in to the currency at use for the temple service.
Gauging from Jesus' harsh words denouncing the "den of thieves," it is obvious that
these sellers were actively ripping the buyers off. The buyers, knowing the animals
were blemished, bought them anyway. The priests and elders allowed these abuses to go on.
He would be the final Passover Lamb, sacrificed for sin, once and for all, in the days
ahead. Part of the Law covers the purging and cleansing necessary prior to the yearly
sacrifice for it to be done properly.
people that had made the house of prayer into a den of thieves. Imagine, a young man,
going about from one table to the next, over turning each one. Money, perhaps cages,
were crashing to the ground, with doves flying about in frenzy. The sellers were scared!
They are getting out of the crazy man's way! People were highly motivated to get out of there FAST!
sin. He went through the whole outer temple area and thoroughly purged it of the evil
operating there. Then, immediately following, he switched gears and tenderly healed the
blind and lame. With tender love, mercy and compassion, Jesus freed the oppressed.
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c.Carol Kenreigh, 2001. All rights reserved.