The Pulpit Commentary — John — Volume 1 — Section 245

n most nppropriate text to the symbolic sermon of onr Lord. Genuine religious zeal ns illustmted by the conduct of onr Lorcl here. Notice itr--- 1. IN THE OIIIEF OBJECT OF ITS CON0ERN. It i~ the glory of God and the purity of his house and worship. Under the inflnencc of this zeal: 1. O!!r refotionship to God and his relationsliip to tis are specially felt. It was so in the cMe of Christ now, and in a special manner he felt and proclaimed God to be hi3 Father. "My Father." Jesus over felt this rolntionship; and in the degree in which we are possessed of holy zeal, we shall feel our relationship to God and his to us. 2. God's relationship to his hoii.,e is felt. Jesus calls the temple liis Father's house. And so it wa.q. It was hi, earthly habitation, where his glory should have shone, his Name shonld be honoured, bis worship devotedly observed, and his people abundantly blessed. Holy zeal ever feels God's relationshi[l to his house, and looks at and speaks of it as the house of God, and not of men. 3 . .A burning interest in God's house is felt. Jesus could not look on the temple with indifference; but, feeling God to be bis Father, and the temple his Father's house, as a loving and dutiful Son, he felt an absorbinz interest in its welfare. His Father"s house was his own, and their interests and zeal were identical. This holy zeal does not stop with triBes, but is engaged with the highest and most momentous subjects-the glory and honour of God, and the purity and success of bis cause on earth. II. Tms ZEAL IN co~TACT WITH A GREAT ABUSE. The house of God was made a house of merchandise. 1. This abuse is quickly seen. No sooner had Jesus entered the temple than this terrible abuse attracted his notice. How many were there that saw it not! Coldness of the moral nature results in blindness to moral evil. But where this zeal is present, and burning in the breast, then the moral eye is keen and the morn! visions are clear, and iniquities and abuses are quickly seen in their magnitude and horror. 2. This abuse is lcetnly felt. No sooner seen than fully realized anrl feltr---felt as repugnant to Jesus as to God himself, and filled him with feelings of disgust nni1 indignation. Where this zeal is predominant, not merely the moral eye is keen to discern social and religious evils, but the moral heart is sensitive of their injuriousness and intolerant of their existence. 3. TMs abuse is tinmercifully condemned. Con- demned: (1) As an abuse of the place. Making God's house a house of merchandise. Merchandise in itself is not condemned. As such it is right and necessary, and was even necessary in connection with the service of the temple, but not in the temple. In the market it is proper; in the house of God it is profanation. (2) As an abuse of privileJes. People professed to come to the temple to worship Jehovah, but Divine worship is exchanged for human business. In our Father's house we should be about our Father's business. It is a house of merchandise, but merchandise of a spiritual order-not between man and man, bnt between man and God. It is an exchange, but not that of foreign coins for those of the temple, but an exchange of repentance for forgiveness, faith for Divine justification and peace. (3) As an insult to God. .A.n ins11lt to his authority, purity, and honour. What an affront to the Lord of the temple! what an insult to the Divine Father, to be turned out of his own home, and what is most distasteful to him, worldliness, admitted instead I and what a breach of trust, what irreligiousness of feelings and conduct, which are unmercifully condemned by holy zeal! III. Tms ZEAL EXERCISED IN THE REFORMATION OF ADUSES. As illustrnte<l in the conduct of our Lord, we see that: 1. It is ever active and aggressive. It does not remain in mere speech and sentiment, but ever rushes into aggressive action. It can no more remain long in the presence of evil without attacking it, than a hungry lion in the presence of his prey, or a powerful nrmy in the presence of the foe. 2. It is most sweep- ing in its demands. It will not be sntisfied with anything short of a complete reform. Our Lord entered the temple and drove out nil that sold o:ien, etc., aud even the innocent doves had to leave. The language of holy zenl with regard to social and reliiious evils, is, "Take these things hrnce; make not my Father's house," etc. Eetwee·1 good and evil, truth and error, there is an eternal difference, there can be no compromise; nn eternal war, there can be no truce; nothing will satisfy it but a complete surrender. 3. It is intensely earnest. How intensely earnest was our Lord on this occasion ! Ilo made a scourge of small cords~ a sign, not merely of authority, but also of terrible earnestness. 'l'his instrument was not apparently adapted to attain the end in view, but it was the best he could get, and answered his purpose. He wished to destroy the n1erchanrlise, not tho merchants. Holy zeal, while not regardless of adaptntion, will  108 THE GOSrEL ACCORDING '1'0 s·r. JOHN. [oH. II, 1-25.