…all the people hung on his words.
First, the people must have been transfixed by what they saw Jesus doing.
Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. "It is written," he said to them, "’My house will be a house of prayer; but you have made it 'a den of robbers.'"
Surprised by his bold action, but riveted by His teaching! The religious leaders – whose playhouse He had upset – wanted to kill the Teacher. But…all the people hung on his words.
Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him.
Spellbound, the people couldn’t get enough.
Ever experienced this?
Context is everything isn’t it? If we can’t identify with these people’s enthusiasm for the Teacher, maybe it’s because we aren’t as desperate for change as they.
But we know better. People today are just as desperate for change as those who heard Him teach in the temple.
More likely, most people mistakenly think they know all about this Teacher. Isn’t there a Bible which contains His teaching in every home in the country? Isn’t ours a Christian nation?
The fact is, today there is a dearth of knowledge about what Jesus actually says. Why don’t we hang on His every word?
That’s a question people must ask and answer for themselves. And a question of particular importance to those who call themselves students of this Teacher!
Are we spellbound?
Good morning! Was out hunting. Missed these daily readings and comments.
ReplyDeleteVery good thoughts, Denny. We should be spellbound, and hanging on His words.
"My house will be a house of prayer."
He was speaking of the temple in Jerusalem.
Now we are the temple of God. He has given us His spirit that is within us. So, are we a "house of prayer"?
Consider how often Jesus went to lonely places to pray. Or that after the institution of the communion feast He went to the mount of olives as "was his custom"
Jesus had a routine - when in or near Jerusalem - after dinner - he went to pray. So much that even though Judas had left the supper early, he knew where to find Jesus with the soldiers.
How is our prayer life?
If Jesus, the son of God, knew the importance of prayer - why do we not follow his example more?
What can we do to become more of a "house of prayer"?