Temple Cleansed Again
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destroyed. The indignation of Jesus was stirred; He knew that His
blood, so soon to be shed for the sins of the world, would be as little
appreciated by the priests and elders as was the blood of beasts which
they kept incessantly flowing.
Against these practices Christ had spoken through the prophets.
Samuel had said, “Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings
and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is
better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams.” And Isaiah,
seeing in prophetic vision the apostasy of the Jews, addressed them as
rulers of Sodom and Gomorrah: “Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers
of Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah.
To what purpose is the multitude of your sacrifices unto Me? saith the
Lord: I am full of the burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts;
and I delight not in the blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats.
When ye come to appear before Me, who hath required this at your
hand, to tread My courts?” “Wash you, make you clean; put away the
evil of your doings from before Mine eyes; cease to do evil; learn to
do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless,
plead for the widow.”
1 Samuel 15:22
;
Isaiah 1:10-12, 16, 17
.
He who had Himself given these prophecies now for the last time
repeated the warning. In fulfillment of prophecy the people had pro-
claimed Jesus king of Israel. He had received their homage, and
accepted the office of king. In this character He must act. He knew
that His efforts to reform a corrupt priesthood would be in vain; never-
theless His work must be done; to an unbelieving people the evidence
of His divine mission must be given.
Again the piercing look of Jesus swept over the desecrated court
of the temple. All eyes were turned toward Him. Priest and ruler,
Pharisee and Gentile, looked with astonishment and awe upon Him
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who stood before them with the majesty of heaven’s King. Divinity
flashed through humanity, investing Christ with a dignity and glory He
had never manifested before. Those standing nearest Him drew as far
away as the crowd would permit. Except for a few of His disciples,
the Saviour stood alone. Every sound was hushed. The deep silence
seemed unbearable. Christ spoke with a power that swayed the people
like a mighty tempest: “It is written, My house shall be called the house
of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” His voice sounded
like a trumpet through the temple. The displeasure of His countenance