There are three major annual feasts in Mosaic Law, where every Jew would have to go to Jerusalem, and present their sacrifice in the Temple. This was something EVERYONE had to do, since no one could appear empty-handed (Deuteronomy 16.16-17).
While meditating on the following passage, my eyes focused in on this topic:
“Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers doing business. When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money 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!’ Then His disciples remembered that it was written, ‘Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up’.” John 2.13-17
Jesus knew that it was time for the people to go up and offer their sacrifices, so He went as well, because He wanted to see firsthand what kind of faith those people had. And what did He find? Absolute neglect, irreverence with such a Holy place. For this reason, it is obvious why he reacted with such anger, indignation.
Throughout His ministry, He was always peaceful, a Prince of Peace, Loving, Merciful, Kind; we lack the words to describe Him. He had compassion on the adulterous woman, the thief on the cross, Zacchaeus, those who killed Him, yet we see another side to Him here, to the point where he made a whip and start hitting the men that were selling animals and turned over the money tables. This was a completely different Jesus. Hadn’t they brought the animals to be offered as a sacrifice? Wasn’t there money involved? So what was the problem? The answer is simple: THE KIND OF SACRIFICE THAT WAS BEING OFFERED.
Many unbelievers have turned their sacrifice into a negotiation because they see it as money. They criticize us because they think that God can be pleased with anything. If this were true, He would accept what was being offered. However, this is not what happened. He was upset because there was a lack of respect, consideration for the TEMPLE OF THE MOST HIGH, for the HOUSE OF SACRIFICE.
He saw how people were disregarding God because of their religiousness and were neglecting what was holy. There was complete disregard from the priests and the people who went to the Temple, but did not revere it as a HOLY PLACE.
You cannot turn sacrifice into chaos, because it reflects your faith.
No wonder that Temple was destroyed, why would you have a HOUSE OF SACRIFICE if it was being disregarded?
It has taken nearly two millennia for God to find people who really understand the true meaning of sacrifice, and therefore rebuild a place where He can be worshiped and honored, like He deserves.
We are these people, those who believe in true sacrifice. How could God give the HOUSE OF SACRIFICE to someone who is against sacrificing? We are UNIVERSAL and the TEMPLE is Ours, LOL, and everyone else that believes.
It is with this reverence, fear, respect and PERFECT SACRIFICE that we go to the TEMPLE OF SOLOMON. We will all be clothed in this faith.
Or is a whip necessary?
Let’s get back to the basics!
Our God is worthy of all honor, glory, respect and consideration!
The Temple brings back all of these things to the Church of the Lord Jesus. It is the restoration of the true faith in the ONE AND TRUE GOD.