Why did Jesus Drive the Money-Changers out of the Temple?
Posted : 2 Aug, 2011 06:17 AM
Kids Talk About God by Carey Kinsolving
"The temple is a holy place, not a place to charge money to people who come there," says Melissa, 12. "We should not go into a holy place and charge people money because a church or temple is not a tax department."
"Jesus drove the money-changers out because he said, 'My house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves,'� says Kosse, 10. �God's action teaches me that if you are deceitful or use the church for the wrong reason, you will not be rewarded.�
During the various religious feasts in which thousands of Jews traveled to Jerusalem, authorities allowed money-changers and animal sellers inside the outer court of the temple. People bought animals to sacrifice, and they had to exchange foreign money for money acceptable to religious leaders.
These temple-sanctioned businesspeople were inside a place of worship. When people profane sacred things by trying to profit financially from them, they become dull and callous to the ways of God's spirit. The problem only compounds when they become ministry leaders.
"Jesus drove them out because he didn't want the house of his father to become a house of merchandise," says Morgan, 10. "In the Bible, it also said, 'Zeal for your house has eaten me up.'"
Yes, Jesus got angry, but it wasn't the kind of selfish anger we so often exhibit.
The money-changers were making it hard for common people to worship God. The outer court of the temple was full of bleating sheep and money- changers. Jerusalem visitors had to exchange their money for the currency accepted by the temple priests.
Everyone was focused on money � or the lack of it.
"When Jesus said he could build the temple in three days, he was trying to get the people to believe in him," says Shelby, 8.
Jesus spoke of his body as the temple, and the three days he mentioned referred to his resurrection on the third day. Jesus was the reality to which the temple pointed.
"And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth" (John 1:14).
The next time your pastor refers to the church building as the house of God, please remind him that God doesn't dwell in buildings, but in the hearts of his people. When we come to worship God, we must put aside all distractions and agendas. Jesus wants his people to experience the joy and peace of undistracted devotion to him.
The Hebrew prophets foresaw a time when God himself would live in his people (Jeremiah 31:31-34 and Joel 2:28). That time is now!
Think about this: In Jesus' time, people traveled for days to visit the temple where God's presence dwelt. If you're a Christian, your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit.
Memorize this truth: "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?" (I Corinthians 6:19).
Ask this question: If you really believed your body is the temple where God's spirit dwells, how would the reality of God's sacred presence affect your thoughts, behavior, work and recreation?
Why did Jesus Drive the Money-Changers out of the Temple?
Posted : 3 Aug, 2011 09:27 AM
ELLA:
I had stayed in tune with the topic.
I made a comparrison with the moneychangers to modern worship bands.
As the moneychangers had made the people exchange their sacrifices for the TEMPLE sacrifices which the moneychangers had.
These robbed the people by selling the same animals,which the people needed for worship of YHWH.
The priests and moneychangers worked together.
The sold sacrifices at a high rate,more then the worth of the animal.
In the same way,the assemblies have been bamboozled into believing that the worship offered in fellowship,is the same worship ascribed by YHWH in His word.
1Co 14:26 Then what is it, brothers? When you come together, each one of you has a psalm, he has a teaching, he has a language, he has a revelation, he has an interpretation. Let all things be for building up.
1Co 14:27 If one speaks in a language, let it be by two or three at the most, and in turn, also let one interpret.
1Co 14:28 And if there is no interpreter, let him be silent in the assembly, and let him speak to himself and to God.
1Co 14:29 And if there are two or three prophets, let them speak, and let the others discern.
1Co 14:30 But if a revelation is revealed to another sitting by, let the first be silent.
1Co 14:31 For you can all prophesy one by one, that all may learn, and all may be encouraged.
1Co 14:32 And the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets.
1Co 14:33 For God is not of confusion, but of peace, as in all the assemblies of the saints.
The type of worship ascribed by these so-called worship bands,and so-called pastors,is nothing by a 'CHEAP IMITATION' of the genuine article.
Shalom
Stand for truth,turn phony worship away from the assemblies.
Why did Jesus Drive the Money-Changers out of the Temple?
Posted : 3 Aug, 2011 01:45 PM
The type of worship ascribed by these so-called worship bands,and so-called pastors,is nothing by a 'CHEAP IMITATION' of the genuine article.
*** How about an Example of the Genuine Atricle George since you know so much about it. A Biblical Example would be so very nice to share with the captive audiance...xo
