Chapter 14—“Take These Things Hence”
The next day Christ entered the temple. Three years before, He
had found men buying and selling in the outer court, and had rebuked
them and driven them out.
Now as He came again to the temple, He found the same traffic still
carried on. The court was filled with cattle, sheep, and birds. These
were sold to those who wished to offer sacrifice for their sins.
Extortion and robbery were practiced by those engaged in this
traffic. So great was the babel of sounds from the court, that it seriously
disturbed the worshipers within.
Christ stood on the steps of the temple, and again His piercing gaze
swept over the court. All eyes were turned toward Him. The voices
of the people and the noise of the cattle were hushed. All looked with
astonishment and awe upon the Son of God.
The divine flashed through the human, and gave Jesus a dignity
and glory He had never manifested before. The silence became almost
unbearable.
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At last He said in clear tones, and with a power that swayed the
people like a mighty tempest:
“It is written, My house is the house of prayer: but ye have made
it a den of thieves.”
Luke 19:46
.
With still greater authority than He had manifested three years
before, He commanded:
“Take these things hence.”
Once before the priests and rulers of the temple had fled at the
sound of this voice. Afterward they were ashamed of their fear. They
felt that they would never flee in this way again.
Yet they were now more terrified, and in greater haste than before
to obey His command, and they rushed from the temple, driving their
cattle before them.
Soon the court was filled with people who brought their sick to
be healed by Jesus. Some were dying. These afflicted ones felt their
distressing need.
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