Clearing the Temple
April 13, 2014//
Topics to Dig Into
1
Corinthians 3:16-17 (NLT)
Corinthians 3:16-17 (NLT)
Don’t
you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit
of God lives in you? God will destroy
anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s
temple is holy, and you are that temple.
you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit
of God lives in you? God will destroy
anyone who destroys this temple. For God’s
temple is holy, and you are that temple.
We have celebrated Jesus’ triumphal entry
into Jerusalem. We know, and He knew, death
was imminent. What were Jesus’
priorities in those final hours? He went
straight to the office, so to speak.
Mark says that right after the parade Jesus went to the Temple and “looked
around at everything but since it was already late” He didn’t stay. Luke says Jesus taught at the Temple every
day while the Jewish leaders plotted his death.
But first….
into Jerusalem. We know, and He knew, death
was imminent. What were Jesus’
priorities in those final hours? He went
straight to the office, so to speak.
Mark says that right after the parade Jesus went to the Temple and “looked
around at everything but since it was already late” He didn’t stay. Luke says Jesus taught at the Temple every
day while the Jewish leaders plotted his death.
But first….
But first, Jesus cleared the Temple. He was justifiably angry at the Temple’s
misuse. Money changers were inflating
the exchange rate. Merchants were
profiting from the sale of sacrificial animals.
The Temple had become a tourist market place. There was no room for God in this space, no
quiet for prayer, none of God’s justice and mercy.
misuse. Money changers were inflating
the exchange rate. Merchants were
profiting from the sale of sacrificial animals.
The Temple had become a tourist market place. There was no room for God in this space, no
quiet for prayer, none of God’s justice and mercy.
Later, Paul tells us that we are God’s
temple, each of us individually and all of us together. What would Jesus see if He looked around now? Is your bustling life and faith community
honoring God properly? Is there quiet
space for prayer? Is God’s justice and
mercy active?
temple, each of us individually and all of us together. What would Jesus see if He looked around now? Is your bustling life and faith community
honoring God properly? Is there quiet
space for prayer? Is God’s justice and
mercy active?
You are that temple. What would Jesus clear out?
To comment, click the title at the
top of this email then comment at the bottom of the blog. If you’d like
to comment privately, you can email me at papachung3@aol.com.
top of this email then comment at the bottom of the blog. If you’d like
to comment privately, you can email me at papachung3@aol.com.
Spend a few minutes to plant a quick Seed. Or stay longer and plant a whole garden.
