My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves (Matthew 21:13, KJV).

ABSTRACT

This article delves into the biblical narrative of Jesus cleansing the temple, highlighting themes of reverence, purity, and God’s love, drawing on Scripture and Ellen G. White’s insights to apply these principles to modern worship.

REVERENCE RALLY! WORSHIP’S WAKE-UP!

Reverence in worship is a cornerstone of spiritual life, yet history reveals moments when sacred spaces were defiled. The story of Jesus cleansing the temple offers profound lessons on purity, respect, and God’s unwavering love. This blog examines this event through biblical texts, Ellen G. White’s writings, and its relevance to contemporary society. The Bible also teaches that God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him (Psalm 89:7, KJV). Scripture further supports this as it states, But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple (Psalm 5:7, KJV). Sr. White emphasizes, “Reverence is inspired by a sense of God’s greatness and a realization of His presence. With this sense of the Unseen the heart of every child should be deeply impressed. The hour and place of prayer and the services of public worship the child should be taught to regard as sacred because God is there. And as reverence is manifested in attitude and demeanor, the feeling that inspires it will be deepened” (Education, p. 242, 1903). She also states, “If when the people come into the house of worship, they have genuine reverence for the Lord and bear in mind that they are in His presence, there will be a sweet eloquence in silence” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 492, 1889). Let us reflect on what it means to honor God’s house, fostering a sacred atmosphere in worship. But what happens when sacred spaces become centers of greed?

GREED’S GRAB! SACRED SHAME!

The temple in Jerusalem, meant to be a sanctuary for communion with God, had become a center of greed and corruption by the time of Jesus’ ministry. According to John 2:13-14, the temple courts were filled with merchants and money changers exploiting worshippers. Sr. White describes this scene vividly: “The money changing gave opportunity for fraud and extortion, and it had grown into a disgraceful traffic, which was a source of revenue to the priests” (The Desire of Ages, p. 155). Instead of spiritual reflection, worshippers faced sharp bargaining and chaos, making it difficult to focus on prayer and devotion. This desecration disrupted the sacred purpose of the temple. Ezekiel 22:26 highlights how neglecting God’s law led to confusion in worship: “They have profaned my holy things: they have put no difference between the holy and profane.” Scripture further supports this as it states, Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts. But who may abide the day of his coming? and who shall stand when he appeareth? for he is like a refiner’s fire, and like fullers’ soap (Malachi 3:1-2, KJV). The Bible also shows that Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people (Isaiah 56:7, KJV). Sr. White explains, “When Jesus began his public ministry, he cleansed the temple from its sacrilegious profanation. Among the last acts of his ministry was the second cleansing of the temple. So in the last work for the warning of the world, two distinct calls are made to the churches. The second angel’s message is, ‘Babylon is fallen, is fallen, that great city, because she made all nations drink of the wine of the wrath of her fornication.’ And in the loud cry of the third angel’s message a voice is heard from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues. For her sins have reached unto heaven, and God hath remembered her iniquities’” (The Ellen G. White 1888 Materials, p. 1078, 1888). She also notes, “Now the work of corruption rapidly progressed. Paganism, while appearing to be vanquished, became the conqueror. Her spirit controlled the church. Her doctrines, ceremonies, and superstitions were incorporated into the faith and worship of the professed followers of Christ” (The Great Controversy, p. 50, 1911). The temple’s atmosphere resembled a marketplace more than a house of prayer. This stark departure from its intended purpose challenges us to examine our own worship spaces and practices today. How did Jesus react to such defilement?

ZEAL ZAPS! CORRUPTION CRUSHED!

Jesus’ reaction to the temple’s defilement demonstrates His zeal for God’s glory. Entering the temple, He overturned the tables of the money changers and drove out the animals, declaring, “Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house a house of merchandise” (John 2:16). Sr. White underscores the significance of His actions: “Christ’s indignation was directed against the hypocrisy and greed that desecrated the temple” (The Desire of Ages, p. 157). This bold act revealed Jesus’ commitment to restoring holiness. It also serves as a metaphor for cleansing our hearts from sin. The Bible also shows that Every room in the soul temple has become more or less defiled, and needs cleansing. The cobwebbed closet of conscience is to be entered (Mind, Character, and Personality, vol. 1, p. 327, 1977). Scripture further supports this as it states, We need, like them, to bring forth fruit meet for repentance,—to put away our sins, cleansing the defiled temple of the heart that Jesus may reign within (The Signs of the Times, January 26, 1882, 1882). Sr. White elaborates, “He rejoiced in the consciousness that He could and would do more for His followers than He had promised; that from Him would flow forth love and compassion, cleansing the soul temple, and making men like Him in character; that His truth, armed with the power of the Spirit, would go forth conquering and to conquer” (The Acts of the Apostles, p. 23, 1911). She also notes, “You may have a conscience and that conscience may bring conviction to you, but the question is, Is that conviction a working agent? Does that conviction reach your heart and the doings of the inner man? Is there a purification of the soul temple of its defilement? That is what we want, because it is a time such as it was in the days of the children of Israel; and if there are any sins upon you, do not stop till they are corrected and put away” (Manuscript 13, 1894, 1894). Just as Jesus purified the temple, He calls us to purify our lives. Are we harboring distractions or habits that hinder our worship? His example encourages us to remove anything that detracts from reverence for God. How does God’s love shine through such holiness?

DIVINE DEVOTION! HOLINESS HUG!

God’s love shines through His desire for a pure and sacred worship space. This is not about enforcing rules but about creating an environment where we can connect with Him. As Sr. White writes, “The precincts of the church should be invested with a sacred reverence” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 494). This reverence reflects our gratitude for His presence and grace. Habakkuk 2:20 reminds us, “But the Lord is in his holy temple: let all the earth keep silence before him.” The Bible also shows that Holiness is the gift of God through Christ. Those who receive the Saviour become sons of God. They are His spiritual children, born again, renewed in righteousness and true holiness (Our High Calling, p. 214, 1961). Scripture further supports this as it states, Righteousness is holiness, likeness to God, and God is love (Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, p. 18, 1896). Sr. White explains, “The love of God, cherished in the heart and revealed in the words and acts, will do more to elevate and ennoble human beings than all else can” (The Signs of the Times, 1902, 1902). She also notes, “There must be a power working from within, a new life from above, before men can be changed from sin to holiness. That power is Christ. His grace alone can quicken the lifeless faculties of the soul, and attract it to God, to holiness” (Steps to Christ, p. 18, 1892). Reverence acknowledges God’s majesty and invites His blessings. By maintaining holiness, we experience His love more deeply and demonstrate it to others. Are we honoring God through our attitudes and actions in worship?

MODERN MAYHEM! CHURCH CHALLENGE!

Modern churches face similar challenges to those in Jesus’ time. Distractions, commercialization, and lack of focus can disrupt worship. We must ask: Are our churches sanctuaries of prayer or places of distraction? Sr. White warns against casual attitudes: “Irreverence in the house of God is a great sin” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 492). Restoring reverence requires intentional effort. As a community, we must prioritize creating a sacred atmosphere. This involves educating members, fostering respectful behaviors, and eliminating distractions. The Bible also shows that With the elevation of human laws and traditions was manifest the corruption that ever results from setting aside the law of God (The Great Controversy, p. 55, 1911). Scripture further supports this as it states, While priests and bishops were themselves pleasure-loving, sensual, and corrupt, it could only be expected that the people who looked to them for guidance would be sunken in ignorance and vice (The Great Controversy, p. 57, 1911). Sr. White elaborates, “The nominal churches are filled with fornication and adultery, crime and murder, the result of base, lustful passion; but these things are kept covered. Ministers in high places are guilty; yet a cloak of godliness covers their dark deeds, and they pass on from year to year in their course of hypocrisy” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 2, p. 449, 1871). She also notes, “Fraud, avarice, and profligacy prevailed. Men shrank from no crime by which they could gain wealth or position. The palaces of popes and prelates were scenes of the vilest debauchery” (The Great Controversy, p. 60, 1911). Together, we can transform our churches into spaces where God’s presence is felt and His love is reflected. How can we apply this lesson personally and as a community?

PERSONAL POWER! COMMUNITY CALL!

Personally, I am reminded to approach worship with humility and focus. Reflecting on Jesus’ actions inspires me to examine my own heart and remove anything that hinders my connection with God. As a community, we are called to uphold reverence in our worship spaces, ensuring they remain dedicated to God’s glory. This responsibility extends beyond the physical church. In 1 Corinthians 6:19, Paul writes, “Your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost.” How do we treat our bodies and lives as sacred? The Bible also shows that Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s (To Be Like Jesus, p. 327, 2004). Scripture further supports this as it states, The word of God declares. Know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price; therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s (Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, p. 144, 1890). Sr. White explains, “The drunkard sells his reason for a cup of poison. Satan takes control of his reason, affections, conscience. Such a man is destroying the temple of God. Tea drinking helps to do this same work. Yet how many there are who place these destroying agencies on their tables, thereby quenching the divine attributes” (Manuscript 130, 1899, 1899). She also notes, “Gross and stimulating food fevers the blood, excites the nervous system, and too often dulls the moral perceptions so that reason and conscience are overborne by the sensual impulses” (Christian Temperance and Bible Hygiene, p. 134, 1890). Through healthy choices, prayer, and service, we honor God’s dwelling within us. How will you contribute to restoring reverence in your life and worship?

FINAL FURY! REVERENCE RESTORED!

The story of Jesus cleansing the temple is a powerful reminder of the importance of reverence, both in our worship spaces and in our lives. It challenges us to remove distractions, focus on God’s presence, and create an atmosphere that reflects His love. As Sr. White writes, “The house is the sanctuary for the family, and the closet or the grove the most retired place for individual worship; but the church is the sanctuary for the congregation” (Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p. 491). The Bible also shows that True reverence for God is inspired by a sense of His infinite greatness and a realization of His presence. With this sense of the Unseen, every heart should be deeply impressed. The hour and place of prayer are sacred, because God is there; and as reverence is manifested in attitude and demeanor, the feeling that inspires it will be deepened (Gospel Workers, p. 178, 1915). Scripture further supports this as it states, Well would it be for young and old to study and ponder and often repeat those words of Holy Writ that show how the place marked by God’s special presence should be regarded (Education, p. 243, 1903). Sr. White elaborates, “The humility of Solomon at the time he began to bear the burdens of state, when he acknowledged before God, ‘I am but a little child’ (1 Kings 3:7), his marked love of God, his profound reverence for things divine, his distrust of self, and his exaltation of the infinite Creator of all—all these traits of character, so worthy of emulation, were revealed during the services connected with the completion of the temple, when during his dedicatory prayer he knelt in the humble position of a petitioner. Christ’s followers today should guard against the tendency to lose the spirit of reverence and godly fear. The Scriptures teach men how they should approach their Maker—with humility and awe, through faith in a divine Mediator” (Prophets and Kings, p. 47, 1917). She also notes, “Reverence should be shown also for the name of God. Never should that name be spoken lightly or thoughtlessly. Even in prayer its frequent or needless repetition should be avoided. ‘Holy and reverend is His name.’ Angels, as they speak it, veil their faces. With what reverence should we, who are fallen and sinful, take it upon our lips!” (Education, p. 243, 1903). Let us honor these sacred spaces, allowing God’s love to transform us and our communities. Together, we can create an environment that reflects God’s holiness and invites His presence.

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SELF-REFLECTION

How can I, in my personal devotional life, delve deeper into the lessons of Jesus cleansing the temple, allowing them to shape my reverence and priorities?

How can we adapt these complex themes of temple purity to be understandable and relevant to diverse audiences, from seasoned church members to new seekers or those from different faith traditions, without compromising theological accuracy?

What are the most common misconceptions about reverence in worship in my community, and how can I gently but effectively correct them using Scripture and the writings of Sr. White?

In what practical ways can our local congregations and individual members become more vibrant beacons of purity and hope, living out the reality of holiness and God’s love in daily worship?