Matthew 21:13

John 2:19-21 records a question the Jews asked Jesus: “What sign do You show us as your authority for doing these things?” The “things” Jesus had done included driving sheep and oxen out of the temple, overturning the money changers tables, ordering them, “Stop making My Father’s house a place of business,” and in Matthew 21:13 chiding them, “My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you are making it a robbers’ den.” Jesus’ comment in John 2:19, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” wasn’t understood. The people didn’t know Jesus was talking about His body, the temple of God living among men.

There are two points Jesus is driving home. First, the stone temple wasn’t divine because of the rocks but rather because of God’s presence and it being a place of prayer. The stone temple no longer exists. Rather, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 explains that God lives among believers through His indwelling Holy Spirit. Every Christian houses the glory of God and is a temple of God, of prayer. What does that mean for us? First, it’s a reminder that Jesus drove from the temple things that weren’t supposed to be there. Likewise, He wants to purify us of anything that hinders God’s glory from shining in us.

Second, since we are temples of the Holy Spirit and a place of prayer, we’re to not only be pure, but we’re also to be prayerful. We’re to seek Christ’s will, intercede for others, and listen and obey God’s voice, as Jesus did when He tabernacled among men. 

Lord Jesus, thank You for being the TEMPLE of God, of glory, and prayer who lived among men. Cleanse me of anything that hinders Your glory from shining in me and me being a place of prayer.

Debbie talked about Jesus driving out the money changers from the temple in her teaching on John 2. Listen to her teaching on the subject HERE.