Matthew 21:12-17; “Zeal for Your house has consumed Me.”

“My house shall be called a house of prayer; but you are making it a robber’s den.”  Jesus in Matthew 21:13

It is true that our country has many problems; however the greatest problem we have is that God does not live in our land any longer.  Seventy years ago we closed Him out of our country, and it has caused so many problems in our society we cannot count them.  We must put God back into our country.  And we must begin with our children.  (Evgeniy Kurkin, Deputy Minister of Education in the Republic of Russia)

God is infinite and God is gracious.   We experience the grace of an infinite God but grace is not infinite.  God sets limits to His patience and forbearance.   He warns us over and over again that someday the axe will fall and His judgment will be poured out.    (R.C. Sproul, Holy Justice, p. 198)

Upon being lavished with praise when entering Jerusalem, Jesus chooses to not relish in that.  Instead Jesus entered the temple and drove out all 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 (v. 12).   Instead of serving the needs of worshipers and helping people draw near to God, the temple became a place to make a quick buck.  The “almighty dollar” had taken the place of Almighty God. Instead of money being used to draw near to God, drawing near to God was used to make money.   

Israel’s history is pock marked with the worship of other gods rather than the Lord.   One of the more well-known examples is when Israel created a golden calf and worshiped it (Exodus 32:1-10).   Idol worship was such a problem that the first of the Ten Commandments reads, “You shall have no other gods before Me,” (Exodus 20:3).  And here in Matthew 21, Israel has rejected Yahweh right in His very temple and has set up altars to earthly treasure.   

As John Piper reminds us, God has a passion for His glory. His glory He will share with no other (Isaiah 42:8).   What the Jews did to God in the temple, Europe has done to God in His church.   And the American church is on the same path; for we pursue the god of comfort and ease and not the God whose name is to be proclaimed all over the world.   

The very first miracle Jesus did was at the wedding in Cana.   As He turned water to wine, He told Mary His mother, “My hour has not yet come” (John 2:4).   Even when Peter told Jesus, “You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God” (Matthew 16:16), Jesus told His disciples to tell no one that He is the Christ (Matthew 16:20).   

But here in the temple Jesus’ hour has come; His Messiah-hood is in full flower.   Yet this is not Jesus “meek and mild.”  This is not the Jesus of flannel boards with lambs and bunnies pasted at His feet.  This is Jesus, with a passion for His glory, flipping tables and throwing chairs.   Our first reaction is to shrink back.   But our God is holy.  As we embrace His grace, may we revere His holiness.  “It is a terrifying thing to fall into the hands of the living God” (Hebrews 10:31).  

Yet even in the midst of His righteous anger, Jesus is desirable and approachable.  For the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple and He healed them (v.14).  They were not intimidated by Him; He did wonderful things and healed them.  Even the children continued to praise Him with “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (v.15).    

The chief priests and the scribes, probably profiting from the temple abuse of business, became indignant (v.15).   Yet our Lord reminded them that God will receive the praise that He is due.    He quotes Psalm 8:2 to them, “Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babes Thou hast prepared praise for Thyself.”  This is very similar to when the Pharisees just hours before told Jesus to rebuke the crowd for worshiping Him as God.   Jesus response: “I tell you, if these become silent, the stones will cry out!”  (Luke 19:40).

Who is this God that is simultaneously holy and terrible yet approachable and healing?  The Creator God, our Redeemer, the Lover of our Souls, the Almighty, is worthy of our worship.  The more we are honest and weak, the more attractive He becomes.  Likewise, the more we merely play the religious game, the more distant and alien He becomes.