Title The Cleaner/Luke 19:45-46
The person who purifies the contents
This text is a quote frequently quoted in the early days of the civil government, when the winds of reform blew. In Jesus' act of driving out those who traded in the temple, we see a true reformer who corrects the wrongs. This was not the only time Jesus cleansed the temple. He did this even when he first began his public ministry (John 2:13-17). Today, we will look at what the house of God should be like through the text.
First, the temple is the house of God.
Isaiah 56:7, quoted by Jesus as he drove out the people who traded in the temple, reveals that the temple is the house of God. Jesus himself said the same thing (Luke 2:49; John 2:16).
The house of God is the house that God owns. The house of God is the house where God is the owner. The house of God is a house in which everyone must obey God's will. The house of God is a house where you can meet God in a special sense. The house of God is a house where you can know a lot about God.
It is not only the temple that can be called the house of God. The sanctuary that existed before the temple is also the house of God. The body of saved believers is also the house of God the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16). The church is also the house of God (1 Timothy 3:15). Heaven is also God's house (John 14:2).
Second, the house of God is a house of prayer.
The book of Isaiah quoted by Jesus mentions that the temple is a house of prayer. God wants people to pray here. Hannah, the mother of the prophet Samuel, prayed to God in the sanctuary. Solomon's prayer for the dedication of the temple also clearly indicates that it was a place of prayer (1 Kings 8:30,33,41,42).
Considering the rituals performed in the temple, it was a prayer for reconciliation with God and forgiveness of sins. This was especially the case with peace offerings, trespass offerings, and sin offerings.
Prayer can be done anywhere, but the church is in a special sense the house of God. Come to this place and pray when you are sick and in pain. When you feel overwhelmed by various things, come out here and pray. A man named Asaph had doubts about his religious life, but he solved the problem in the sanctuary (Psalm 73:1-17). Come out and pray before the service time. Take time in the morning to pray with me. Other than that, whenever you want to pray, come out and pray. Just as God answered Hannah's prayer, He will answer your prayers.
Third, the house of God is a place where the Word is preached, taught, and listened to.
God gave Moses a detailed blueprint of the sanctuary and said:
"...I will meet you there and I will speak to you. There I will meet the children of Israel, and the Tent of Meeting will be sanctified by my glory" (Exodus 29:42,43).
The temple is the house of God, where we can meet God. And that's where God speaks. After Jesus cleansed the temple, he taught the Word every day in the temple.
The house of God must be a place where the Word can be preached and heard. The house of God should be a place where the Word can be taught and learned. And it should be a place where you can feel and experience the presence of God. How could that be? It may or may not be so, depending on what our believers do here. We must worship with fear and trembling with a clear awareness that the Lord is here, and we must have the right attitude.
Jesus still wants to purify the house of God. He is the one who purifies. He purifies our lives. He drives out the unworthy of our lives. In this way, God allows us to live according to the original purpose created by God. If you have not yet received him, I hope you will receive him now and start a new life.