What Does It Mean to Be A Temple of God?

John 2:19-21 records a question the Jews asked Jesus as well as Christ’s response. Their question? “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, pouring out the money changers’ coins, overturning their tables, ordering them, “Stop making My Father’s house a place of business,” and then as recorded in Matthew 21:13 chiding them, “My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you are making it a robbers’ den.” In other words, Jesus acted like He owned “the house – the temple.” He called for others to account for their behavior regarding His temple, His house.

Jesus’ comment in John 2:19, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” was not understood. The people thought Jesus was talking about the stone temple. Instead, He was talking about His body, the temple of God living among men. As Jesus foretold, He did raise His body three days after they destroyed it. Miraculous!

There are two points God is driving home to me regarding Jesus’ actions and words in relation to His temple. First, the stone temple from which Jesus drove out the money changers was not divine because of the rocks but because of God’s presence – it being a place of prayer. The stone temple no longer exists nor is Jesus tabernacling among us. Rather, since Christ’s resurrection, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 explains that God tabernacles among us through His indwelling Holy Spirit in each believer. Every Christian is a temple of the Holy Spirit. A temple of prayer. A temple housing the glory of God. What does that mean for us? First, it makes me incredibly mindful that Jesus drove from the temple the things that were not supposed to be there. It means Jesus wants to purify us of anything that hinders God’s glory shining forth in us.

The second point is that since we are temples of the Holy Spirit and God’s temple is a place of prayer, then we are to be not only in a constant state of being purified, but also mindfully praying, seeking the will and heart of Christ, interceding for others, and listening for as well as obeying God’s voice. What a blessing!

What glory for us to be partakers of the divine nature and to be God’s temples! Are you mindful of the blessing? Are you sensitive to what Christ is driving out of you? Are you becoming increasingly prayerful? That is your blessing.

Lord Jesus, You are the divine TEMPLE of the Most High. You have appointed us as temples in whom You dwell through the Holy Spirit, tabernacling among our families, friends, neighbors, and world. Increase our awareness of Your presence and the glorious position You have given us. Drive out anything that keeps Your glory from shining and from prayer flowing between us.

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.