Jesus began and ended His public ministry to Jerusalem with shocking judgements. John 2 reports the first encounter. Jesus used a make-shift whip to drive traders and their animals out of the temple. He overturned their tables and scattered their money. “His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for Your house will consume Me’” (John 2:17, quoting Psalm 69:9).
Mark 11:15-17 reports the second encounter, which took place on Jesus’ final visit to Jerusalem.
He entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. And He would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. And He was teaching them and saying 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 den of robbers” (Mark 11:15-17 quoting Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11 cf. Matthew 21:12-13; Luke 19:45-46).
If you think of Jesus as a soft character, think again. He is strong and passionate. His particular concern is for God’s “house of prayer” which at that time was the temple in Jerusalem. He forcefully corrected those who corrupted that temple’s purpose. But Jesus was also thinking of us, as shown by His reference to Isaiah 56:7 which says,
These [foreigners] I will bring to My holy mountain, and make them joyful in My house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on My altar; for My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.
Isaiah looked forward to Jesus and His kingdom, and pictured it as a high and holy mountain that attracts people from all nations (Isaiah 2:2-3; 11:9; 25:6-7; 27:13; 57:13; 65:25). Isaiah 56 was one of these prophetic passages. As the fulfillment of prophecy unfolds, Jesus does indeed build His “house of prayer.” But His temple is not made of lifeless stones. It is made of “living stones” (2 Peter 2:5). We are Jesus’ spiritual temple in whom God dwells, and we are drawn from all nations (1 Corinthians 3:16; Ephesians 2:19-22).
While clearing out the temple, Jesus was also sending a message to us. He quoted the prophecy about us, who have now become His house. As His new temple, we are to welcome and bless all nations. As His spiritual house, we are to focus on prayer not profit, worship not wealth, holiness not selfishness, sincerity not hypocrisy. And if we corrupt His house, He will drive us out also (1 Corinthians 3:16-17 cf. Acts 3:23; Revelation 3:16).