After the Triumphal Entry, Jesus went to the Temple area and drove out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers who were making a profit by selling animals for sacrifice. He quoted words given by the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah, “’It is written,’ he said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ for all nations, but you are making it a ‘den of robbers.’” [Mark 11:17, Isaiah 56:7, Jeremiah 7:11]
When the religious leaders heard this, and saw Jesus healing the sick in the Temple area, it angered them beyond belief, so much so, that they began looking for ways to kill Him.
There are times when I read about the events of the last week of Jesus’ life that I wonder what He would do if He came into our “temple area,” into our places of corporate gathering. Would He be allowed to sit and heal the sick and wounded, or would He have to drive out the moneychangers first.
You might think we don’t have moneychangers in our modern day church … but we do. Moneychangers are anything in our churches that have taken the place of the presence of Jesus and the fire of the Holy Spirit. They can be amenities, attitudes, false teaching or an incomplete Gospel. They must be driven out so that Jesus can once again teach and heal and set free.
Today (and perhaps for many weeks) the meeting-sites are closed. The church must be creative in how we worship our God, minister grace and bring hope to the world. What we have to offer now are the great eternal truths and the love and care that will lead others to salvation and strengthen those who are bound with fear.
There’s no room for the moneychangers in our temple areas. Maybe that’s something we need to remember when the doors open once more.
Jesus, we welcome you into our “temple areas” with great joy. Amen.
