Matthew 21:12-13 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. “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.’”
The Lord God looks at our ‘motives’ and our ‘faithfulness’ in our sacrifice and service. It is not the size but the significance of the sacrifice/service that will touch the heart of God. Rituals and rites do not make us righteous.
The temple that King Solomon built was destroyed by the Babylonians so, the magnificent temple that stood during the time of Jesus was the temple that was rebuilt and repaired by Herod the Roman Emperor and hence was called Herod’s temple. This temple was the hub for all religious activities. The Sanhedrin was the political and religious council of the Jews that governed the temple. They misused the guidelines of Moses on sacrifice and worship to exploit the innocent people who came to worship the Lord. They twisted the law to gratify their greed. The members of the Sanhedrin were from aristocratic wealthy upper class descendants who were politically powerful, socially opulent and religiously influential. Jesus did not tolerate their heresy and hypocrisy.
DWJD – ‘Do What Jesus Did’. It is very important to self-examine our “motives” and to walk faithfully before Him. ‘You can fool all of the people some of the time. You can fool some of the people all of the time, but you can’t fool God any of the time’ – Greg Laurie.
We need not take a whip and drive out the corrupt. Let God handle the whip while we win over our mind and motives.
DWJD – Deal with the opulent, affluent and influential as Jesus did.
1. Opulent: Lavish giving from great wealth did not impress Jesus. As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others (Luke 21:1-3). Don’t let opulence and flamboyance impress you.
2. Affluent: Jesus did not give undue importance to affluence, prosperity or wealth. If you show special attention to the man wearing fine clothes and say, “Here’s a good seat for you,” but say to the poor man, “You stand there” or “Sit on the floor by my feet,” (James 2:3). Respect should never be based on a person’s wealth, networth or financial status.
3. Influent: Influence should never be misused to mislead people. Jesus said to them, “Watch out and be on your guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.” (Matthew 16:6). Beware of who is influencing your thoughts, motives and ideas and use your influence to lead people to Jesus.
WWJD – Deal with opulence, affluence and influence the way Jesus did.
1 Timothy 6:10a For the love of money is the root of all evil.
Prayer: Jesus my Saviour, teach me to discern wrong influence and the ill-effects of opulence and affluence. Help me to do what you would do. Amen.
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