Jesus at the Temple - Matthew 21:12-17
12 Jesus entered the temple courts 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. 13 “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.’” 14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. 16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. "Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” 17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.
Reflection: The first thing scholars debate is whether this is the same cleansing of the temple story that the Gospel of John includes near the beginning of Jesus' ministry, in John 2. If you do the dating with other historical details John gives in John 2:20, it would make sense that this happened around the first year of Jesus' ministry, at the time of Passover, when pilgrims were coming as prescribed by the Jewish Law. Since Matthew and the other synoptic accounts (Mark and Luke) record it as part of the Passion week, the third year of Jesus' public ministry, it is seems to be entirely two separate incidents. Scholars also note it is one of the only times Jesus uses coercive power to do something. While Jesus didn't take offense at things done to him, he takes offense at the things being done at His Father's house which demean His Father's name.
The specific incidence was the money changers were taking profits, as those who came for Passover needed to exchange their foreign currency for the currency the temple used. Notice the chief priests and the teachers of the Law were not at all concerned about their own misuse of power, but got jealous when the people, and specifically children, started shouting, "Hosanna, Son of David!" This was an obvious Old Testament passage that pointed to Jesus as the Messiah. And here's the real irony in the passage. The leaders are worried about the children shouting and chanting these Messianic verses, than their own abrogation of leadership.
Today's passage is all about integrity. Integrity in our worship, and integrity in our leadership of the Church. It is one thing to be dishonest in worldly matters, which is bad enough, but when we start cutting corners with things devoted to God we are on dangerous ground. You might say, "Well I'm not a pastor or church treasurer, so that doesn't really apply to me!" But anytime we are given spiritual authority, or are in charge of something that belongs to God, we are called to be faithful. God's house is to be devoted to lifting up His name and we are the body of Christ, who represent His name both at church and in the world.
One of the practical ways you can make God's house a house of prayer is by praying for it and it's leaders. As a pastor,I covet your prayers. Pastors need the prayers and the help of the members of the body. We need to work together to make Christ's name known by not only how we worship but through our lives. And let's remember to keep the kids involved in this process, as they often teach us what true worship is all about.
Jesus you have called us to keep Your house, a house of prayer. Teach us through the mouth of babes how we might keep the main thing the main thing. Amen.
Reflection: The first thing scholars debate is whether this is the same cleansing of the temple story that the Gospel of John includes near the beginning of Jesus' ministry, in John 2. If you do the dating with other historical details John gives in John 2:20, it would make sense that this happened around the first year of Jesus' ministry, at the time of Passover, when pilgrims were coming as prescribed by the Jewish Law. Since Matthew and the other synoptic accounts (Mark and Luke) record it as part of the Passion week, the third year of Jesus' public ministry, it is seems to be entirely two separate incidents. Scholars also note it is one of the only times Jesus uses coercive power to do something. While Jesus didn't take offense at things done to him, he takes offense at the things being done at His Father's house which demean His Father's name.
The specific incidence was the money changers were taking profits, as those who came for Passover needed to exchange their foreign currency for the currency the temple used. Notice the chief priests and the teachers of the Law were not at all concerned about their own misuse of power, but got jealous when the people, and specifically children, started shouting, "Hosanna, Son of David!" This was an obvious Old Testament passage that pointed to Jesus as the Messiah. And here's the real irony in the passage. The leaders are worried about the children shouting and chanting these Messianic verses, than their own abrogation of leadership.
Today's passage is all about integrity. Integrity in our worship, and integrity in our leadership of the Church. It is one thing to be dishonest in worldly matters, which is bad enough, but when we start cutting corners with things devoted to God we are on dangerous ground. You might say, "Well I'm not a pastor or church treasurer, so that doesn't really apply to me!" But anytime we are given spiritual authority, or are in charge of something that belongs to God, we are called to be faithful. God's house is to be devoted to lifting up His name and we are the body of Christ, who represent His name both at church and in the world.
One of the practical ways you can make God's house a house of prayer is by praying for it and it's leaders. As a pastor,I covet your prayers. Pastors need the prayers and the help of the members of the body. We need to work together to make Christ's name known by not only how we worship but through our lives. And let's remember to keep the kids involved in this process, as they often teach us what true worship is all about.
Jesus you have called us to keep Your house, a house of prayer. Teach us through the mouth of babes how we might keep the main thing the main thing. Amen.
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