Explosion at the Temple

August 24

(Luke 19:45-48 NIV) “Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. {46} “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” {47} 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. {48} Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.”

(Mark 11:15-18 NIV) ““On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, {16} and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. {17} And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: "'My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations' ? But you have made it 'a den of robbers.'" {18} The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.””

(John 2:13-17 NIV) ““When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. {14} In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. {15} So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. {16} To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!" {17} His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me.””

Pilgrims coming to the Jerusalem Temple were forced to buy sacrificial animals at obscenely high prices. They also had to pay a temple tax with temple currency, and the money changers charged exorbitant rates for the exchange. Jesus was angered and got physical. He drove the merchants and money changers out, and overturned their tables. God’s “house of prayer” had become a “den of robbers”. Profit had replaced piety with the priests. People were being exploited. The Court of the Gentiles had been compromised and profaned. No one could pray there. It had become a loud and obnoxious market place. Many ministries today have a similar feel. They exploit rather than edify. People are cajoled into giving, or “We’ll go off the air.” Merchandise trumps ministry. Healing is offered, but only to those with enough faith. Maybe it’s time for a house cleaning. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day