The Plan to Assassinate Jesus

Mark 11:15 (NET) Then they came to Jerusalem. Jesus entered the temple area and began to drive out those who were selling and buying in the temple courts. He turned over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, 16 and he would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 Then he began to teach them and said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have turned it into a den of robbers!” 18 The chief priests and the experts in the law heard it and they considered how they could assassinate him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed by his teaching. 19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.

Turning the Tables

Jesus was not all peace and love. He was passionate. Passionate to love and serve. Passionate in righteousness. He had strong feelings and actions toward those who desecrated the temple. He turned over their tables and chairs. Then, he stood in the way as they tried to carry merchandise through the temple courts to do more selling.

He Taught

Interesting that the word teach is used here. Not correct. Not scold. Teach. He began to teach them. He quoted Scripture, “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” This was primarily a Jewish audience, yet he referred it as a house of prayer for all nations. Even here, Jesus had a broader scope for the reach of the gospel. It was not for Jews only, but for all nations.

Followed by a Rebuke

“But you have turned it into a den of robbers!” They had desecrated the temple. What was a place of prayer, a place to meet with God, they turned into a marketplace.

There is a place for the market. There is a place for buying and selling and for doing business. But not the temple. It had a different purpose. It was a place of prayer.

They Feared Him

Fear was the motive for trying to assassinate him. He had authority. He was popular. He was righteous. Because of that, they feared him. Their response to fear was to make plans to destroy him.