The Chosen and Friends: God With UsNäide

The Great Clearing
From Come and See

Those searing words you hear from Jesus—"You’re making it a den of robbers”—are aimed at the merchants and religious leaders in the Temple courts who had been selling animals for sacrifice to God.

And note that I said “had been selling,” because by the time Jesus says what he says, he’s made quite a scene by flipping the sales tables, scattering the money, and setting the animals free.

This story from the final few days of Jesus’ life is one of a handful of stories recorded in all four Gospels. That means it's a big moment with something big to say to about who God is.

Even a cursory glance at the Old Testament will show you that God did require sacrifices from his people for worship and atonement. But with holy rage, Jesus says the merchants and the religious leaders had found ways to rob God’s people as they purchased animals for sacrifice. They were doing so in two ways. First of all, animals were being sold at outrageous prices—made more outrageous for travelers who had to honor hiked-up exchange rates. And this, too: because some folks couldn’t afford to purchase an animal for sacrifice, they simply had to walk away, stripped of an opportunity to draw near to God.

The people were being financially and—even worse—spiritually robbed.

The merchants and religious leaders were stealing a straight and clear way to God. “Do this, or you can’t have Him”—“Do that, or you can’t be His”—and they made the “this” and the “that” impossible and unobtainable.

And so when Jesus arrives on the scene, he says, “Enough,” in both word and deed. He clears the Temple to clear the path to God of every man-made obstacle that had been constructed.

This decisive, incisive action echoes a truth to you and me, all these years later: every wall, door, and gate that someone has placed between us and God has been torn down, ripped from its hinges, and thrown open by Jesus.

God’s house will not be known for any obstacle courses.

It’s pretty beautiful, isn’t it?

About The Author
Come and See is a faith-based nonprofit that exists to share the authentic Jesus with at least one billion people worldwide. Because of the generosity of supporters around the world, Come and See is able to ensure that all seven seasons of “The Chosen” are produced, translated into 600 languages, made globally accessible, and free to all. Learn more at comeandsee.net.