Christian Mission Outreach

Jesus cleansed the temple at the beginning and end of His ministry. But do we realize that years before, God had warned against His house becoming “a den of thieves” in another sense? And it has applications to our lives today. Let us prepare the way before the Lord who “‘will suddenly come to His temple’” refining His servants, shaking them, “‘that they may offer to the LORD an offering in righteousness.’” (Mal. 3:1-3)

 “Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, …[Jesus can be our Passover Lamb.] He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, … and overturned the tables. And He said to those who sold doves, ‘Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!’” (John 2:13-17)

 Three and a half years later, after He had taught much, done great miracles and triumphally entered Jerusalem, things had not changed yet.

“[Jesus wept over Jerusalem] saying, ‘If you had known, even you, especially in this your day, the things that make for your peace! But now they are hidden from your eyes. For days will come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment around you, surround you and close you in on every side, and level you, and your children within you, to the ground; and they will not leave in you one stone upon another, because you did not know the time of your visitation.’

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.” (Luke 19:41-48)

Likewise today, judgment is close to some who will not listen and obey Him although His word is preached and He has visited multitudes. When a house is cleansed, it is to be filled with His Spirit who reminds us of Jesus’ words. Let us attentively listen to, honor and obey God’s word. Then mercifully, we will not receive what we deserve. Welcome His loving, refining baptism of fire.

 Trust Jesus. In Mark’s account, “Jesus [looked things over in the temple after the triumphal entry. Since it was late, they went to Bethany, returning the next day.] He was hungry. And seeing from afar a fig tree having leaves, He went to see if perhaps He would find something on it. When He came to it, He found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. In response Jesus said to it, ‘Let no one eat fruit from you ever again.’ And His disciples heard it.

So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus …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… Now in the morning, …they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, ‘Rabbi, look! The fig tree which You cursed has withered away.’ So Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Have faith in God…’” (Mark 11:11-22) 

Interestingly, the fig tree is a symbol of His first chosen people, Israel, and since largely, it did not bear good fruit when He came two thousand years ago, it withered like a branch which is cut off the vine. But the first Christians were Jews who remained attached to Jesus, the true vine. With His word abiding in them they bore much fruit to feed even the least of His brethren today. Jesus loved/loves His chosen people, Jew and Gentile. Judgment still begins with the house of the Lord, and then to His enemies. For children who learn from chastening by a loving Father, “afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.” (Heb. 12:11) Let us have leaves of healing, plus good fruit.

 Years ago, when the main way of giving money to the church was through bingos and bazaars, Holy Spirit convinced me that was like making the Father’s house a “den of thieves.” I began to learn to return to Him what is rightfully His – the tithe, and to “not put fear of spending money” before God. There are blessings for tithing and seeking first “the kingdom of God and His righteousness,” (Matt. 6:33) so we may be a blessing. Instead of praying to saints, I returned to Him the glory His name rightly deserves.

 A church or temple (even of Holy Spirit) can become a “den of thieves” by people religiously gathering and then doing what is evil in God’s eyes instead of trusting and obeying Him. To avoid taking His name in vain, “If you call yourself a Christian, act like one,” the Lord told me.

 Beware of deception! Jeremiah prophesied, “‘Do not trust in these lying words, saying, “The temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD are these.” For if you thoroughly amend your ways and your doings, …execute judgment between [neighbors], if you do not oppress the stranger, the fatherless, and the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, or walk after other gods to your hurt, then I will cause you to dwell in this place, in the land that I gave your fathers forever and ever.

Behold, you trust in lying words that cannot profit. Will you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and walk after other gods whom you do not know, and then come and stand before Me in this house which is called by My name, and say, “We are delivered to do all these abominations”? Has this house become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,’ says the LORD.” (Jer. 7:4-11)

Let us learn from history. When they did not repent, God’s judgment fell. Many died, Jerusalem and the temple were burned, and many became captives in Babylon until God mercifully brought them home after 70 years. 

 Is your "temple" a “den of thieves” or really the Father’s house, a “house of prayer for all nations”?