“And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons” (Matthew 21:12, ESV). In John 2:15, we read, “And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables” (ESV).

This cleansing of the temple, as it’s called, happened twice. It happened at the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry in the flesh, and it happened at the end. Jesus had to do it again. After He first drove everyone out, dramatically reminding them of the Scripture that God’s house will be called a house of prayer and not a den of thieves, they all just came back and set up shop again. They went right back to the same thing. Have you ever been convicted that something was wrong and then just go back to it?

God is forgiving. God is patient. That is true. But God’s house will be called a house of prayer. He’s not going to change who He is to accommodate their sin. There is a limit. Jesus won’t drive them out a third time. But the entire temple will come down. Not one stone will be left one upon another.

God’s forgiveness and loving patience isn’t an excuse for our sin. It’s not a loophole to live in the world and according to the desires of our flesh. Don’t force Him to take up His whip even the first time, and most certainly not a second. If He has to, beware. The next step is the tearing down of the temple.