And He said to them, “It is written: ‘MY HOUSE WILL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you are making it a DEN OF ROBBERS.” (Matthew 21:13)

In this passage, John describes that the event happened near the Passover. Like Ezekiel, John puts emphasis on when the event happened. The true Passover lamb is Christ.

It appears that selling animals for sacrifices was legally accepted possibly because of what is written in Deuteronomy 14:24-27:

But if the distance is so great for you that you are not able to bring the tithe, since the place where the LORD your God chooses to set His name is too far away from you when the LORD your God blesses you, then you shall exchange it for money, and bind the money in your hand and go to the place which the LORD your God chooses. And you may spend the money on whatever your heart desires: on oxen, sheep, wine, other strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; and there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God and rejoice, you and your household. Also you shall not neglect the Levite who is in your town, for he has no portion or inheritance among you.

Some interpret that Christ was angry because people were buying and selling on the temple grounds. But I think Christ was angry because of what was in their hearts. Christ is the true temple.

Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews then said, “It took forty-six years to build this temple, and yet You will raise it up in three days?” But He was speaking about the temple of His body. (John 2:19-21)

Because of Christ, we can pray to God and God accepts our prayers.

Through Him then, let’s continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips praising His name. (Hebrews 13:15)

Be pleased to accept the voluntary offerings of my mouth, LORD, And teach me Your judgments. (Psalm 119:108)

Take words with you and return to the LORD. Say to Him, “Take away all guilt And receive us graciously, So that we may present the fruit of our lips… (Hosea 14:2)

Many of the Jewish leaders were confident that they were keeping the law. But they loved money more than anything. Therefore, they were angry at Christ.

And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written: ‘MY HOUSE WILL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS’? But you have made it a DEN OF ROBBERS.” And the chief priests and the scribes heard this, and they began seeking how to put Him to death; for they were afraid of Him, because all the crowd was astonished at His teaching. (Mark 11:17-18)

Now the Pharisees, who were lovers of money, were listening to all these things and were ridiculing Him. (Luke 16:14)

They were afraid that their position as leaders, reputation, and money would be taken away by the Romans. Hence, they put Christ to death.

If we let Him go on like this, all the people will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take over both our place and our nation. (John 11:48)

Christ came to redeem us from slavery and make us the children of God. But those who put all their hope in the law did not accept Him. They understood neither the law nor the prophets. They instead loved to put yokes on others’ shoulders. They used the church system to exploit the poor and needy. This is happening even now. Theologians and ministers love money and use the church system to get money from others. They write books and go around the world to promote their new books. But they could not foresee the coming of the white horse. They are not interested in looking after God’s flock. There are few who really love God and do the tasks given by God quietly and diligently. False shepherds teach that Christ had to keep the law perfectly and that our righteousness is tied to the law. They are trying to take us back to Egypt.

Christ, the Son of God, became the Son of Man and freed us from the bondage to sin on the cross. Nathanael confesses that Jesus is the Son of God. He understood that One who is above the law must come and free His people. Although Christ was born under the law, it is clear that He is above the law. He came to fulfill the law. No other sacrifice can satisfy the Father except the Son who knows and loves Him. The ultimate sacrifice needed to be God. Righteousness is not about Christ’s moral perfection or merely external keeping of the law. Righteousness is about being united with God and knowing His will. There is no action without knowing God and His will.

Therefore, when Christ came into the world, He said: “Sacrifice and offering You did not desire, but a body You prepared for Me. In burnt offerings and sin offerings You took no delight. Then I said, ‘Here I am, it is written about Me in the scroll: I have come to do Your will, O God.’ ” (Hebrews 10:5-7)

The apostles emphasize that Christ is the ultimate Passover lamb. He is also the temple. True knowledge of God brings true faith. The Book of John (and other book in the NT) tells us about the contrast between the Pharisees and Christ in regard to the interpretations of God’s words. The Pharisees pursued a moral living shown externally like the Puritans, but God was angry at them. External piety attracts many people but there is no piety without being truly united with God.

No one has seen God at any time; God the only Son, who is in the arms of the Father, He has explained Him. (John 1:18)