“And the Jews’ Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise. And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”
(John 2:13-17)
The Gospels tell us that Jesus cleansed the temple on two separate occasions (John 2:15; cf. Luke 19:45-46; Matt. 21:12). In both instances He did this because the religious leaders were using the temple commercially for their own financial gain rather than for what God intended, which was to help those in attendance worship the Father rightly.
But why did Christ respond with such force? John’s Gospel explains that it was because of the zeal He had for His Father’s house. Holy zeal is an intense passion and jealousy for God’s name and His holiness. Christ, in His perfect righteousness, could not bear to see His Father’s house defiled. So He responds as John says, quoting Psalm 69:9: “For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”
As the New Year approaches, we Christians must make a distinction—a zealous distinction—between godly resolutions and worldly resolutions.
The world’s idea of a “New Year’s Resolution” is one concerned with some minor self-improvement, like I want to lose weight, or I want to be a kinder person. But Scripture does not instruct us to only modify a few aspects of our behavior or tidy up some corner of our lives. Rather, it calls for the whole man to be reformed, to rid ourselves of every unclean thing, that is to say, to cleanse the whole temple.
That’s because partial obedience, in reality, is no obedience. The Christian’s body and soul are the blood-bought temple of the Holy Spirit. And God expects His people to provide a holy temple for His Spirit to dwell in. But how do we do this? By conforming every thought, word, and deed to His Word and the image of His Son (Rom. 8:29, 12:2).
Jonathan Edwards understood this well. As a young man, he wrote seventy resolutions that guided the rest of his life. He read them weekly to remind himself of the zeal he ought to have as a Christian. Here are just three:
“1. Resolved, that I will do whatsoever I think to be most to God’s glory, and my own good, profit and pleasure, in the whole of my duration, without any consideration of the time, whether now, or never so many myriad’s of ages hence. Resolved to do whatever I think to be my duty and most for the good and advantage of mankind in general. Resolved to do this, whatever difficulties I meet with, how many and how great soever.”
“5. Resolved, Never to lose one moment of time, but to improve it in the most profitable way I possibly can.”
“6. Resolved, To live with all my might while I do live.”[1]
I challenge you to never make another New Year’s resolution the way the world does. Instead, resolve to put away all sin and to “live with all your might while you do live,” for you are bought with a price, and your body is His temple (1 Cor. 6:19).
Contemplations:
- The Zeal of Christ for Holiness. Christ’s zeal for His Father’s house consumed Him, compelling Him to drive out what defiled it. That same zeal should burn in me for personal holiness. Do I tolerate sin in my life that must be cleansed? Do I love holiness with the fervor Christ did?
- A Whole Cleansing, Not a Partial One. The world aims for minor self-improvements, but Christ calls for the cleansing of the entire temple. Lord, help me see the difference between full reformation and just trying to manage my worst sins. For I must take up the fight against all sin in my life if I am to be fully obedient to You.
- Resolutions That Matter. Jonathan Edwards resolved to use every moment for God’s glory, which compels me to consider how I spend my time. Do my ambitions align with eternity, or am I wasting my energies only on passing concerns?
- Bought With a Price. If I belong to Christ, He has rightful ownership over my life. And I am His temple, for His Spirit lives within me. But do I live in submission to His will, or do I reserve parts of my life for myself? Have I truly surrendered all to Him?
Prayer:
O Lord, You are holy, and Your name is glorious. You alone are worthy of all honor, all zeal, and all devotion. Your Son, my Savior, was consumed with holy zeal for Your house, which means He would not tolerate defilement in Your temple. Grant me that same fervor for holiness that I may cleanse my heart of all that offends You, driving out every lingering sin.
I confess that I have too often tolerated what should be removed. I have swept around the edges of my life while allowing sin to remain. I have treated holiness lightly and pursued righteousness halfheartedly. Forgive me, Lord, for my complacency. Forgive me for desiring small adjustments when You call for full reformation. Forgive me for allowing worldly resolutions to take the place of godly resolve.
I thank You, Father, that Christ was not halfhearted in His obedience but set His face like a flint to redeem His people. Thank You that He did not resolve merely to improve us but to cleanse us wholly. Thank You that He was zealous unto death, that I might live.
Lord, work in me a holy resolve to put away every sin, to redeem every moment, and to walk in full obedience to Your Word. Let me not live for trivial things but for eternal glory. Make me steadfast in holiness, fervent in spirit, and unwavering in my pursuit of You. Let my zeal be shaped by the example of my Savior, that I may live with all my might for Him who lived and died for me.
For Christ’s name’s sake, Amen.
Further References for John 2:13-17
Ps. 69:9; Luke 2:49; Isa. 59:17; John 4:34, 9:4; Acts 10:38
[1] Samuel Hopkins and Jonathan Edwards, The Life and Character of the Late Reverend Mr. Jonathan Edwards, President of the College at New-Jersey. Together with a Number of His Sermons on Various Important Subjects., (Boston: Printed and sold by S. Kneeland, opposite to the Probate-Office in Queen-Street, 1765), 6.
