Msg #24030 Cleaning Out the Temple
What The Bible Says
Good Samaritan’s Penny Pulpit by Pastor Ed Rice
“And (he) found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said … make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise” (Jhn.2:14-16). The Bible records three times that Jesus purged the temple, here at the beginning of his ministry; then twice after his triumphal entry into Jerusalem; on the Sunday he got there, then on Monday after cursing a fig tree. It is written, “My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Matt.21:13, Mrk.11:17, Luk.19:46).
We often consider Jesus’ zeal, passion, and authority, and even the scourge of small cords in his hand, as he cleared the money changers from the temple, but for a moment, consider how much he desires a cleaned out temple today. “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? … for ye are the temple of the living God” (1Co 3:16, 2Cor.6:16). Some of what Jesus drove out of the temple was needful to its sacrificial operations, but attitudes there had “den of thieves” motivations. When I look through the chunk of his temple that I am, examining my motivations, and my priorities, while considering “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Rom.14:23b), well, … I know about his zeal and authority, and I’ve seen the scourge of small cords. A good Bible reading schedule, and a good Pastor of integrity, keep us up to date on our temple cleaning practices. I pray you have all three.
An Essay for week #30, Jul 28, 2024
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