Jesus Cleanses the Temple (Matthew 21:12-17; Isaiah 56:6-8)
Sermon Summary
Pastor David Yan
17 August 2025
It was the desire of Jesus that people from all nations enter God’s presence. The cleansing of the temple was conducive to fulfillment of this desire.
Consider the actual cleansing. Jesus cleansed the outer court of the temple—the part reserved for Gentiles. His righteous anger showed his authority, boldness and decisiveness. No one could stop him. The temple had become a den of thieves. Something needed to be done. Jesus did that something. He purged the temple.
Consider the reason for the cleansing. The outer court had become a place of trading. First impressions are important. The Gentiles were given the wrong impression of the faith. They saw the love of gold; not the love of God. Imagine people coming to our country enquiring about the church. Their first impressions might be the overly loud music or lack of dress code or love of prosperity for sadly, these things are present in many of our churches.
In purging the temple Jesus functioned as a prophet. Like Elijah the prophet, Jesus proclaimed God’s word and took action. The people in the temple knew a prophet was in their midst.
Consider the result of the cleansing. Jesus opened the way for people to worship the Lord. The blind and the lame came to him. There was now access to God. Jesus not only was a prophet—he was a priest.
The result of Jesus cleansing the temple is that people experienced true worship. There is joy. The children in the temple understood this. They sang. There is healing. The sick and blind came to Jesus for healing.
But there was also opposition. The chief priests and scribes sought to destroy Jesus. The enemies of God fail; Jesus the Son of God prevails.
The cleansing of the temple opened the way for people from all nations to enter the presence of God. Jesus has made this possible. Come now and follow Jesus into the presence of your Creator. By his death and resurrection Jesus has broken down the partition between Jew and Gentile. The curtain that separated Jew from Gentile has been torn down.
Perhaps you have had unpleasant experiences in a previous church. Let the Lord deal with those who have offended you. Judgement begins in the household of God. The purging of the temple by Jesus demonstrates this. It is important that you dwell in the divine presence than on perceived wrongs.
Christians! Witness to new immigrants. Governments have a duty to control immigration. We have a duty to obey Jesus and proclaim the gospel.
Jesus cleansed the temple so that seekers may find the way into the presence of God. There are seekers coming into our city; into our churches. Be not a stumbling block. Be a blessing.