Matthew 21:12 - Jesus entered into the temple of God, and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold the doves.
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What does "Matthew 21:12" mean?
This verse, Matthew 21:12, describes a pivotal moment in Jesus's ministry known as the Cleansing of the Temple. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"Jesus entered into the temple of God..." This establishes the scene: Jesus is in the most sacred area of the Jewish people, the Temple in Jerusalem.
"...and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple..." This is the core of the action. Jesus forcefully removes people engaged in commerce within the Temple grounds. This likely included:
Sellers: Merchants selling animals (oxen, sheep, doves) for sacrifices.
Buyers: Pilgrims who needed to purchase animals to offer as sacrifices.
"...and overthrew the money changers’ tables..." Pilgrims came from all over the world with various currencies. The money changers exchanged foreign currency into the local currency (likely Temple shekels) necessary to pay the Temple tax.
"...and the seats of those who sold the doves." Doves were a less expensive offering, particularly for the poor.
Underlying Meaning and Significance:
The Cleansing of the Temple is rich with symbolism and carries several layers of meaning:
Corruption and Profanation of Sacred Space: Jesus saw the commercial activity in the Temple as corrupting its sacred purpose. The Temple was meant to be a house of prayer and worship, but it had become a marketplace, focused on profit. He saw this as a desecration.
Exploitation of the Poor: The money changers and merchants were likely charging inflated prices, effectively exploiting pilgrims who had traveled long distances to worship. Jesus's action can be seen as a defense of the poor and vulnerable against economic exploitation.
Prophetic Act: This action was a powerful prophetic statement. It signaled Jesus's authority and his challenge to the religious establishment of his time. It was a dramatic way of saying that the current system of worship was unacceptable.
Judgment on the Temple System: Some scholars interpret this as a symbolic act of judgment on the Temple system itself. By disrupting the sacrifices and commercial activities, Jesus might have been indicating that the old covenant and its sacrificial system were becoming obsolete in light of his coming.
Zeal for God's House: This act demonstrates Jesus's intense devotion and zeal for God's house. He was unwilling to tolerate anything that dishonored God or exploited the faithful.
Contextual Understanding:
It's important to note that different Gospels provide slightly different accounts of the Cleansing of the Temple. John's Gospel places it earlier in Jesus's ministry, while the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) place it during the week of his Passion.
In summary, Matthew 21:12 describes Jesus taking decisive action to cleanse the Temple, driven by his outrage at the corruption and exploitation he witnessed. This act was not just about restoring order, but about challenging the religious authorities, defending the poor, and declaring the need for a more authentic form of worship. It's a powerful and important event that reveals much about Jesus's character and his mission.
Matthew 21:12 - Jesus entered into the temple of God, and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold the doves.
What does "Matthew 21:12" mean?
This verse, Matthew 21:12, describes a pivotal moment in Jesus's ministry known as the Cleansing of the Temple. Here's a breakdown of its meaning:
"Jesus entered into the temple of God..." This establishes the scene: Jesus is in the most sacred area of the Jewish people, the Temple in Jerusalem.
"...and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple..." This is the core of the action. Jesus forcefully removes people engaged in commerce within the Temple grounds. This likely included:
Sellers: Merchants selling animals (oxen, sheep, doves) for sacrifices.
Buyers: Pilgrims who needed to purchase animals to offer as sacrifices.
"...and overthrew the money changers’ tables..." Pilgrims came from all over the world with various currencies. The money changers exchanged foreign currency into the local currency (likely Temple shekels) necessary to pay the Temple tax.
"...and the seats of those who sold the doves." Doves were a less expensive offering, particularly for the poor.
Underlying Meaning and Significance:
The Cleansing of the Temple is rich with symbolism and carries several layers of meaning:
Corruption and Profanation of Sacred Space: Jesus saw the commercial activity in the Temple as corrupting its sacred purpose. The Temple was meant to be a house of prayer and worship, but it had become a marketplace, focused on profit. He saw this as a desecration.
Exploitation of the Poor: The money changers and merchants were likely charging inflated prices, effectively exploiting pilgrims who had traveled long distances to worship. Jesus's action can be seen as a defense of the poor and vulnerable against economic exploitation.
Prophetic Act: This action was a powerful prophetic statement. It signaled Jesus's authority and his challenge to the religious establishment of his time. It was a dramatic way of saying that the current system of worship was unacceptable.
Judgment on the Temple System: Some scholars interpret this as a symbolic act of judgment on the Temple system itself. By disrupting the sacrifices and commercial activities, Jesus might have been indicating that the old covenant and its sacrificial system were becoming obsolete in light of his coming.
Zeal for God's House: This act demonstrates Jesus's intense devotion and zeal for God's house. He was unwilling to tolerate anything that dishonored God or exploited the faithful.
Contextual Understanding:
It's important to note that different Gospels provide slightly different accounts of the Cleansing of the Temple. John's Gospel places it earlier in Jesus's ministry, while the Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) place it during the week of his Passion.
In summary, Matthew 21:12 describes Jesus taking decisive action to cleanse the Temple, driven by his outrage at the corruption and exploitation he witnessed. This act was not just about restoring order, but about challenging the religious authorities, defending the poor, and declaring the need for a more authentic form of worship. It's a powerful and important event that reveals much about Jesus's character and his mission.