PALACE
OF PRAYER
FOR
ALL PEOPLES
Luke
19:45-48
(Matthew
21:12-15 & Mark
11:15-17)
Luke
19:45-46 And he went into the temple, and began to cast out them that sold
therein, and them that bought; Saying unto them, It is written, My house is the
house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Susie: John
records that earlier in His ministry, Jesus had cleared the temple (John
2:14-16), but now in His final week before the crucifixion, He does it again.
Susan: The
two occasions are like bookends to His ministry. Both times, Jesus emphasized
the true purpose of the Temple, to worship God and seek Him in prayer. Jesus
quoted from the prophet Isaiah:
Isaiah
56:7 Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my
house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted
upon mine altar; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all
people.
Susie: Isaiah
pointed to the day that all nations (both Jews and Gentiles) would worship God
together or as Jesus would say, “one fold, and one shepherd”:
John
10:16 And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must
bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one
shepherd.
Susan:
Jesus found merchants in the temple instead of true
worshipers. It was as if Jesus could see dollar signs in their eyes because He
sees into people’s hearts.
Susie:
Not only were they profiting from the sale of animals to be
sacrificed, but the exchange rate offered to replace Roman coins with temple
coins was exorbitantly high, giving them a tidy profit.
Susan:
They were building their own affluence by robbing the people
who desired to worship sacrificially. This egregious behavior troubled and
angered Jesus to His very core.
Susie:
Again, Jesus reference an Old Testament prophet when He
accused them of turning the Temple into a den of thieves:
Jeremiah
7:11 Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your
eyes? Behold, even I have seen it, saith the Lord.
Luke
19:47-48 And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the
scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, And could not find
what they might do: for all the people were very attentive to hear him.
Susan: Jesus
methodically, fearlessly went to the Temple to teach every day, being about His
Father’s business.
Susie: This
seems to be a bold move since He (being omniscient) knew the hearts of the
priest and scribes. However, as the Apostle John stated over and over in His
gospel, “His time had not yet come.” Jesus knew they could not seize Him until
the time the Father had foreordained.
Susan: The
hearts, motives, and evil agenda of the religious leadership did not move or
threaten Jesus. The only thing that fueled His actions was His Father’s
purposes. Jesus’s tenacious pursuit was the will of God the Father.
Susie: Although
the Jewish religious elite wanted to get rid of Jesus, to kill Him, they were
inhibited by the crowds of people who were in awe of Him. As Luke says, the
people were hanging on His every word. Therefore, those who wanted Jesus dead
backed off for the moment, all the while plotting to find a way to end Him.
Ponder
this and Apply it: We may not turn the worship center into a
“house of robbers,” but do we consistently enter into the sanctuary with an
attitude of worship, praise, and prayer? Are we there each Sunday to be
involved in a nice social club, or are we there to worship and seek a Holy God?
Do we examine our hearts, desiring to know God more intimately; or are we just
checking off a list of things we “should” do. Are we there for intimacy (into
me see), a transparent exchange with the all-seeing Father, or are we there
only to receive blessings? Is God a vending machine that dispenses fulfilment
of promises, or is He the Master to be obeyed? This week before entering your
place of worship, perform a heart check. Check your spiritual pulse and prepare
yourself to worship, praise, and pray to the Holy, Sovereign Lord of all
creation.
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