Jesus Overthrowing the Temple Merchants - Mark 11:15

Mark wrote how, “Jesus entered into Jerusalem, and into the temple: and when he had looked round about upon all things, and now the eventide was come, he went out unto Bethany with the twelve. And on the morrow, when they were come from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing a fig tree afar off having leaves, he came, if haply he might find any thing thereon: and when he came to it, he found nothing but leaves; for the time of figs was not yet. And Jesus answered and said unto it, No man eat fruit of you hereafter for ever. And his disciples heard it”, and in chapter eleven and verse fifteen of his book, Mark shared how, “Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple” where we read:

And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;

The verse reads, “And they come to Jerusalem: and Jesus went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold and bought in the temple, ...” Mark began with the words, “and they come to Jerusalem” which means “and Jesus and His disciples entered into the city of Jerusalem which means set you double peace”: “and Jesus” which refers to “the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate whose name means Jehovah is Salvation” “went into the temple” which means “entered and came forth into the sacred worship place known as the temple”, “and began to cast out” or “started and made a beginning of throwing out and expelling” “them that sold” which means “the people who were bartering and selling” “and bought” or “and bartering and purchasing” “in the temple” which means “within the sacred place of worship known as the temple”. Mark shared how Jesus and His disciples entered into the city of “Jerusalem” again, and Jesus proceeded into the “sacred temple of worship” and began to “throw out” all the merchants who were doing business there.

The verse continues, “... and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves;” Mark added the words, “and overthrew the tables” which means “and turned over the tables standing there” “of the moneychangers” or “which belonged to the bankers, coin-dealers or changers of money”, “and the seats” which means “and the chairs which were used and occupied by men of eminent rank or influence such as teachers and judges” “of them that sold doves” or “belonging to the people who were sellers of pigeon like birds known as doves”. Mark shared how Jesus began to “throw over” the tables which were used by men who “changed money” into the temple money as well as the preeminent chairs of the people who were selling “doves”.

When we meditate upon Mark's words in this verse, we see the anger and power of Jesus demonstrated in the “temple” of God. Religious merchant men were exploiting others who were attempting to sacrifice to and worship God. They demanded the people to “change” their “monies” into the accepted temple currency, and they offered “kosher” “doves” which were already been approved for sacrifice. Jesus was angry when He saw these people taking advantage of others particularly in His “temple” where God was to be worshiped. We shall see more of this event in the next few verses, but for now let it suffice us to know that Jesus strongly disapproved of those who made merchandise of people in the “house of worship and prayer”.

Next time Mark shares how Jesus, “would not suffer that any man should carry any vessel through the temple” , so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".