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Cleansing of the Temple (Mk. 11:15-19)

'They came to Jerusalem, and on entering the temple area he began to drive out those selling and buying there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area. Then he taught them saying, “Is it not written: ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples’? But you have made it a den of thieves.” The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it and were seeking a way to put him to death, yet they feared him because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching. When evening came, they went out of the city (Mk. 11:15-19).’

Jesus’ actions fulfilled the prophesies foretold about the cleansing of the Temple (Mal. 3:1-5; Zech. 14:21).  There was a crowd buying and selling animals to be sacrificed as well as other ritual necessities in the Court of the Gentiles in the Temple area.  The money changers would be trading Greek or Roman coins for Jewish coins.  Doves were the appropriate sacrifice for women (Lev. 12:6-8), and paupers (Lev. 14:22).  Those going to worship in the Temple fulfilled all the requirements of the rituals to be performed but they did not have the correct inner disposition.  Jesus quoted passages from Isaiah and Jeremiah; 'For my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples (Is. 56:7).’  'Has this house which bears my name become in your eyes a den of thieves (Jer. 7:11)?’  It was the Chief Priests and the Scribes who were seeking to put Jesus to death.  The Pharisees were not mentioned.   

Almighty God, grant us the right spiritual disposition and the deep desire to worship you as you want to be worshipped.  Increase in us the virtues of faith, hope and love that we may serve you as you want to be served.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen!

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References:

Raymond E. Brown, Joseph A. Fitzmyer, & Roland E. Murphy, (Eds.). (1990, 1968). The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentis Hall, Inc.

Jose M. Casciaro, Santiago Ausin, Gonzalo Aranda, Claudio Basevi, Vincente Balaguer, Francisco Varo, James Gavigan, Brian McCarthy & Thomas McGovern (Eds.). (2017). The Navarre Bible - New Testament. Dublin 8, Ireland: Four Courts Press.

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