The King Cleanses The Temple Of Corruption

Spring, c. 33 AD

The King Cleanses The Temple Of Corruption

Following His entry into the city, Jesus has returned to the Temple with a righteous fury. He has overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those selling doves, driving out the commercial interests that have turned the "House of Prayer for all nations" into a "robbers' den."

This cleansing is a prophetic act, signaling that the current religious system is ripe for judgment. By clearing the Court of the Gentiles, Jesus is reclaiming the sacred space for the true worship of God. As the sun sets on this day of upheaval, the Master has withdrawn to Bethany, leaving the capital city in a state of shock.

"And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple... and He began to teach and say 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 ROBBERS' DEN.'"
— Mark 11:15-17 (LSB)

Timeline Box: The Cleansing of the Temple occurred on the Monday of Passion Week.

Divided Kingdom Era, c. 715 BC

Hezekiah Crushes The Bronze Serpent

As part of his massive religious reforms, King Hezekiah of Judah has not only cleansed the Temple but has also gone after the high places and sacred pillars throughout the land. He even took the bronze serpent that Moses had made in the wilderness—a relic that the Israelites had begun to burn incense to—and smashed it to pieces, calling it "Nehushtan" (a mere piece of brass).

"He removed the high places and shattered the sacred pillars and cut down the Asherah. And he crushed to pieces the bronze serpent that Moses had made..."
— 2 Kings 18:4 (LSB)

Timeline Box: Hezekiah's radical removal of idolatrous items aligns with the theme of cleansing the place of worship.

Mosaic Era, 1405 BC

The Reproach Of Egypt Rolled Away At Gilgal

Encamped at Gilgal on the plains of Jericho, the new generation of Israel has undergone a mass circumcision. This act of obedience has "rolled away" the reproach of Egypt from the nation. They are now a circumcised people, holy and ready to celebrate their first Passover in the Promised Land.

"Then Yahweh said to Joshua, 'Today I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.' So the name of that place is called Gilgal to this day."
— Joshua 5:9 (LSB)

Timeline Box: The circumcision at Gilgal occurred in the days leading up to the 14th of Nisan.

Editorial: Breaking The Idols

There is a dangerous human tendency to take the things of God and turn them into idols. The Israelites took the bronze serpent—a former instrument of healing—and turned it into an object of false worship. In Jesus' day, the religious elite took the Temple—a place of prayer—and turned it into a profitable marketplace.

True spiritual reform always requires a turning over of tables and a smashing of "Nehushtans." When Hezekiah and Jesus saw that the sacred had been corrupted, they did not compromise; they cleansed it aggressively. Today, we must ask the Lord to walk through the courts of our own hearts and drive out anything that competes with His glory.

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