Tuesday, March 11: “Off-track Identity”

John 2: 15, 16: “[Jesus] made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves, He said, ‘Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.’”

Jesus entered the temple to discipline the animal merchants and money changers. This was not out of anger, but out of zeal (v. 17) and love for His Father’s house, which was being profaned. His goal was to bring change, so that an offering of righteousness would be offered unto the Lord (Malachi 3: 3). For you see, the identity of those serving in the temple was intended to be that of Levites, not businessmen.