“Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there.  He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.  It is written, he said to them, “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” (Matthew 21:12-13 NIV)

The action of Jesus physically disrupting the commercial market that was operating inside the sacred temple grounds, shows us that God’s house is a place where you meet God not a place to exploit worshippers for profit.

Jesus was angry, not because of a personal insult or selfish grievance.  His anger is directed at the corruption of God’s house and the exploitation of people coming to worship.  This anger focus’ on a powerful emotional response driven by justice, love, and holiness rather than malice, pride, or selfishness.

In 1 Corinthians 3:16-17 we are told, “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in your midst?  If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy that person, for God’s temple is sacred, and you together are that temple.”

In both scriptures, the context is of personal ethics, self-care, and avoiding immoral choices. Don’t you think we should get angry too at the personal insult or selfish grievances that we inflict upon ourselves and the things we do to our bodies?   Because when we do not take care of ourselves it is a grievance upon God.  Taking care of ourselves, doing the right thing, these things are important in our walk in life.  

Think about it when we view our bodies as God’s temple it makes self-care a spiritual practice rather than just a physical routine.  When we truly realize that our bodies are God’s temple it changes how we view ownership, worship, and our purpose in life.  

When we think of our body as a house of worship and do what Jesus did when he overturned the tables of the money exchangers.  Maybe then we would treat our bodies with respect, and our health would be better.  Because our bodies need care so that we have the energy, clarity, and longevity to serve God and others.  For we are God’s temple.  It is something to think about.  God Bless. Amen.

denise