Jesus made a whip

You've heard of Jesus flipping tables and clearing the temple with a whip.

But why is this the most misunderstood story in the bible?

Because this story is actually about a 2500 year old prophecy fulfilled by you. Once you see it, you’ll never view this story the same:

A thread by Austin Smith @TheHustleCritic

Original Post: https://x.com/TheHustleCritic/status/1882452064187670769

First, we need to set the scene.

Jesus has traveled to Jerusalem for the Jewish festival of Passover.

According to Jewish law, Passover required sacrifices and the payment of the temple tax.

Animals needed to be sold and currencies converted to pay the tax.

Markets were set up so pilgrims could purchase what they needed.

So, why did Jesus react so severely if people were simply following Jewish law?

For context, we need to understand the layout of the temple.

Inside there were two sections divided by the “dividing wall.”

Outside the wall, the gentiles (non-Jews) were allowed to worship. But past the wall, in the actual temple, was only for Jewish citizens.

So the worship of God could only be done in one place for gentiles. And this is where the problem lies:

The merchants set up shop outside the diving wall, making it impossible for gentiles to worship.

This is where Jesus drew a line. People came from all over the Middle East to come and pray, but they couldn’t.

But here’s where things get interesting:

Jesus said this as he drove the merchants out: “My house will be called a house of prayer.” Jesus is quoting Isaiah 56:7, and the reason is astounding…

Isaiah 56:7

these I will bring to my holy mountain
    and give them joy in my house of prayer.
Their burnt offerings and sacrifices
    will be accepted on my altar;
for my house will be called
    a house of prayer for all nations.” - NIV

Isaiah 56;7 was written 500 years before Jesus.

It says, “My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

Did you catch it?

It says for "all nations." Something that isn’t mentioned in gospel account of this story. Here’s why it matters:

God’s intention was always to bring all nations to Himself, not just Israel.

Israel’s role was to be a signpost that points the world to God. However, the opposite occurred by the selling in the temple.

So after clearing the temple, Jesus took on the dividing wall, starting to fulfill the Isaiah 56:7 prophecy:

In Ephesians 2, Paul said that Jesus “Has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility.”

Ephesians 2:14-16

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility ¹⁵ by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, ¹⁶ and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility. - ESV

Jesus went one step further than simply driving out merchants. He made peace between Jews and gentiles by going to the cross.

There is no longer one group who can approach God to worship. Now anyone who believes in Jesus can cross the dividing wall and meet with God Himself.

This was accomplished by God making His temple inside human hearts. He wasn’t satisfied with only meeting certain people inside the temple in Jerusalem.

This has been God’s plan since the very beginning.

The passion He showed driving the merchants away is the same passion He had for destroying sin on the cross.

It was all to have a relationship with you.

And now, all this time later, you are His temple. You are His house of prayer.

Take a moment to contemplate this passage: “While we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son.” (Romans 5:10).

Romans 5:10

For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! - NIV

Jesus cleared the temple not out of anger, but out of a desire to reconcile people to Himself.

God has always been breaking down barriers to win human hearts.

He did it in the temple, He did it on the cross.

So next time you read this story, don’t see the anger in the eyes of Christ. See the unfolding of God’s mysterious plan: Humanity becoming the temple of God.

A thread by Austin Smith @TheHustleCritic