Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. "It is written," he said to them, “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers."
Why is Jesus so upset? These merchants provided a valuable service for the people. Pilgrims coming to Jerusalem must purchase an offering and exchange their currency for a coin acceptable to the temple – one without an image on it.
Perhaps part of the problem was over-charging in the currency exchange rate or in their prices. Jesus called them robbers!
But what really caused Jesus to react so powerfully was they set up shop in the temple courts, interfering with those who came to pray. Their behavior did not reverence God’s presence there.
This is why Jesus forcibly reminded them that God intended the temple to be a house of prayer!
Today we wonder how those people could have been so callous to the presence of God. But wait! Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? God’s temple is sacred and you are that temple!
We are the House of God today. So the question must be asked – Is there something Jesus wants to drive out of our lives?
What’s disrespecting God in His Own House? Interfering? Keeping us from being a living House of Prayer to Him!
Denny--I appreciate so much the time and effort you put into this daily message. You lift me up!!!!kc
ReplyDeleteThanks KC. I'm encouraged that you
ReplyDeleteare encouraged! As for the time
and effort...it is helping me
to spend a little time
every day thinking about
the Teacher.
Great stuff, Denny!
ReplyDeleteDiamond Gem