CLEANSING THE TEMPLE by Ellen G. White

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Sep 16, 1897

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 23, No. 36.

CLEANSING THE TEMPLE.

By Ellen G. White

“And the Jews’ Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting.” Christ went to the temple, the place where God should have been worshiped, where heart-searching prayers should have been made, and thanksgiving offered to God for the great ransom he had provided. But the scene that met his eye was strangely different from this.

The Jewish leaders had instructed the people that at Jerusalem they were to be taught by precept and example to worship God. Here, during the Passover week, large numbers assembled from all parts of Palestine, and from distant lands. Many were unable to bring with them the sacrifices which were to be offered up as typifying the one great Sacrifice. For the convenience of these, animals were bought and sold in the temple courts. Here all classes of people assembled to purchase their offerings. Here foreign coins were exchanged for the coin of the sanctuary.

The dealers asked exorbitant prices for the animals sold. And the priests and rulers, as well as the dealers, enriched themselves at the expense of the people. They gathered riches by selling to the worshipers, who had been educated to believe that the blessing of God would not rest upon their children or their lands if they did not offer sacrifice. The animals sold at a high price; for after coming from so far, they would not return whence they came without performing the act of devotion for which they had come.

The precincts of God’s temple should have been regarded as holy. The temple was dedicated to the Almighty, and should have been jealously guarded. But in contrast to this, it was made a market-place, and a house of merchandise.

The priests and rulers should have kept the fear of God before their eyes. The buying and selling should have been carried on with an eye single to the glory of God. The dealers should have sold their oxen, sheep, and doves at a just price. They should have been able to appreciate the situation of the purchasers, and been willing to help those who were not able to buy the required sacrifices. But this

they did not do. The spirit of avarice, the desire to accumulate riches, by unfair means, had become more and more common.

There came to this feast those who were suffering, who were in want and distress. The blind, the lame, the deaf, were there. Some were brought on beds. Many came who were too poor to purchase the humblest offering for the Lord, too poor even to buy food with which to satisfy their own hunger. These were greatly distressed by the statements of the priests. The priests boasted of their piety and compassion; they claimed to be the guardians of the people; but they were without sympathy or compassion. The sick, the suffering, the dying, made their vain plea for favor. Their suffering did not awaken any pity in the hearts of the priests.

As Jesus came to the temple, he took in the whole scene. He saw the unfair transactions. He saw the distress of the poor, who thought that without shedding of blood there would be no forgiveness of their sins. He saw the outer court of his temple converted into places of unholy traffic. The sacred inclosure had become one vast exchange.

Christ saw that something must be done. Numerous ceremonies were enjoined upon the people, without the proper instruction as to their import. They offered their sacrifices without understanding that they were typical of the only perfect sacrifice. And among them stood the One symbolized by all their service. He was the foundation of the whole Jewish economy. He had given directions in regard to the offerings. He understood their symbolic value, and he saw that they were now perverted and misunderstood. The temple service had become a mere form. Spiritual worship was fast disappearing. No link bound the priests and rulers to their God. Christ’s work was to establish an altogether different form of worship. He had come to the world as a man, that he might meet humanity where it was, and show men what constituted true worship.

With searching glance Christ took in the scene before him, as he stood upon the steps of the temple court. With prophetic eye he looked into futurity, and saw not only years, but centuries and ages. Indignation, authority, and power were expressed in his countenance. Instantly every voice was hushed. The eyes of those engaged in their unholy traffic were riveted upon his face. They could not withdraw their attention from him. It was as if they were arraigned before the Judge of the whole earth.

Divinity flashed through the garb of humanity. When Christ had made a scourge of small cords, “he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; and said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.” He drove out the sacrilegious robbers, saying, “It is written, My house is the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” Overpowered with terror, the priests and rulers fled from the temple courts, and from the searching glance that read their hearts. Christ looked upon the fleeing men with yearning pity for their fear, and their ignorance of what constituted true worship. In this scene he saw symbolized the dispersion of the Jewish nation for their wickedness and impenitence.

Why did the priests flee from the temple? Why did they not stand their ground? He who commanded them to go was a carpenter’s son, whom they regarded as a poor Galilean, without earthly rank or power. Why then did they not resist him? Why did they leave the gain so ill acquired, and flee at the command of One whose outward appearance was so humble?

Christ spoke with the authority of a king, and in his appearance and the tones of his voice, there was that which they had no power to resist. At the word of command, they realized as they had never realized before their true position as hypocrites and robbers. When divinity flashed through humanity, not only did they see the expression of indignation on Christ’s countenance, they realized the import of his words. They felt as if before the throne of the eternal Judge, with their sentence passed upon them for time and for eternity. For a time they were convinced that Christ was a prophet; and many believed him to be the Messiah. The Holy Spirit flashed into their minds the utterance of the prophets concerning Christ, “The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.” Would they yield to this conviction?

Repent they would not. They knew that Christ’s sympathy for the poor had been aroused. They knew that they had extorted from the people more than what they had sold

Repent they would not. They knew that Christ’s sympathy for the poor had been aroused. They knew that they had extorted from the people more than what they had sold them was worth. Because Christ discerned their thoughts, they hated him. They would challenge him as to the power by which he had driven them forth, and who gave him this power.

Slowly and thoughtfully, but with hate in their hearts, they returned to the temple. But what a change had taken place during their absence! When they fled, the poor remained behind; and these were now looking to Jesus, whose countenance expressed his love and sympathy. With tears in his eyes, he said to the trembling ones around him, Fear not; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify me. For this cause came I into the world.

The people pressed into Christ’s presence with urgent, pitiful appeals, Master, bless me. His ear heard every cry. With pity exceeding that of a tender mother, he bent over the suffering little ones. All received attention. Every one was healed of whatever disease he had. The dumb opened their lips in praise; the blind beheld the face of their Restorer. The hearts of the sufferers were made glad.

As the priests and temple officials witnessed this great work, what a revelation to them were the sounds that fell on their ears! The people were relating the story of the pain they had suffered, of their disappointed hopes, of painful days and sleepless nights. But when the last spark of hope seemed to be dead, Christ had healed them. The burden was so heavy, one said; but I have found a Helper! He is the Christ of God; and I will devote my life to his service. Placing palm branches in their children’s hands, parents said to them, He has saved your life; lift up your voice and praise him. The voices of children and youth, fathers and mothers, friends and spectators, blended in thanksgiving and praise. Hope and gladness filled their hearts. Peace came to their minds. They were restored, soul and body, and they returned home, proclaiming everywhere the matchless love of Jesus.

At the crucifixion of Christ the voices of those who had thus been healed did not join with the rabble throng in crying, Crucify him, crucify him. Their sympathies were with Jesus; for they had felt his great sympathy and wonderful power. They knew him to be their Saviour; for he had given them health of body and brought light to their souls. They listened to the preaching of the apostles, and the entrance of God’s words into their hearts gave them understanding. They became agents of God’s mercy, and instruments of his salvation.

So Christ fulfilled the words of prophecy: “The Lord hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound. . . . To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.” MRS. E. G. WHITE.