Mark 11:15-17 - Judgment on the Temple

Mark 11:15-17
15 Then they *came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves; 16 and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. 17 And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.”

Message: Judgment on the Temple

Time: Mark's personal connection with Peter gave him the source material for this book. This book was composed probably between AD 57 and AD 59. It's a book that is on the move, leading to the cross. 39 times is the word 'immediately' used. Mark reveals Jesus as God's servant, reaching into the lives of people and effecting physical and circumstantial change.

What the Lord is Saying:

Preface - Jesus is headed to Jerusalem to begin his time before going to the cross. He first has the disciples go get the donkey he would then ride into Jerusalem on and fulfill messianic prophecies. He would go the temple but not do anything and then retreat to Bethany. The next day he was hungry and saw a leafy fig tree which meant it should have had fruit on it, but it didn't and pronounced a judgment on the tree that it would never bear fruit, which was likened to Israel and being a people that looked fruitful but were not.

Now they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple. What do we see here? We see Jesus entering the synagogue, which we have many records of occurring, but he saw something happening in the temple that wasn’t part of the purpose of the temple and he quickly drove those people out. The temple or church is the place for worship, teaching - nothing else. It is not a place to take advantage of those that are there. I have heard of this and thought of this as if church is a place to make business connections, but I must remember it has one singular purpose.

One of the problems that the old covenant people had was that they never really made a good effort in reaching the Gentiles.

In the first century, the Jerusalem temple did have a court of the Gentiles that measured some thirty-five acres where non-Jews could come and pray to Yahweh, the God of Israel. However, the Gentiles were not really welcome there. The popular Jewish mind-set hoped that the Messiah would cleanse the temple of all Gentiles. Moreover, when the Gentiles came to the court of the Gentiles in first-century Jerusalem, there was no welcome awaiting them. - Tabletalk, October 19, 2016

So this was the setting and Jesus would even remark in his response - My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations. This was a quote from Isaiah 56:7 - Even those I will bring to My holy mountain And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples." Perhaps the previous section and the pronouncement of judgment on the house of Israel for not bearing fruit was a foreshadow now of this event. Rather than bearing fruit here in the temple and reaching out to the Gentiles or all the nations, the temple priests were focused on themselves and looking out for their own interests and their own gain. Again, this is contrary to Jesus' message previously as well about the need for us to be servants. We may have power but our role as a leader is to serve.

The temple is called My house. It is a place set apart for the worship of God. Yes, we are the church, but I personally think we as Christians need a place to go to, like a church, like a temple each week as it is a place set aside for a specific purpose, to worship God. Someone was telling me that it wasn't important to go to church because we are the church. That is true, but Jesus mentions the importance even here of being in the house of God. 

Summary - Jesus has come upon the temple now in Jerusalem and sees that its purpose has not been fulfilled. The temple is not just for the Israelites. It also has a section for the Gentiles, but he is bothered because the priests are not fulfilling their role to reach everyone and welcome everyone, but instead are focused on their own selfish desires and setting up the temple as a place to exchange goods and make for themselves a profit. 

Promise: From R.C. Sproul - "The Jews hoped that the Messiah would cleanse the temple of Gentiles, but Jesus cleansed the temple for the Gentiles." Jesus is Savior of all, not some. 

Prayer: O Lord Jesus thank you for showing that you are intended for all people and the Gentiles had a place set up for them in the temple. Your people are to reach all people, all the time. I want to be intentional in my walk with you and be open to all people as well. Give me the courage to be that person and love the way you love.