John 2
3 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”
This verse really intrigues me. Here we see Jesus in Jerusalem a few days before the passover and he entered the temple, finding it overrun with money changers and those who sold animals for sacrifice. Jerusalem would have been packed with pilgrims from all parts of the world wishing to participate in the feast of the passover and money changers would have profited greatly in the business of exchanging foreign coins for shekels more appropriate for temple tax and at a higher rate. Jesus was angry at the scene before him and after making a whip out of cord, he drove out the money changers along with those who sold sheep, oxen and doves for sacrifice. Isaiah 56:7, Psalms 69:9
Now imagine the Churches of today... would Jesus be angry at the sale of books by well known Christian authors?, the sale of food and drink or other goods? or having an eftpos machine in the foyer of the church for convenience sake? :unsure: any thoughts?
3 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”
This verse really intrigues me. Here we see Jesus in Jerusalem a few days before the passover and he entered the temple, finding it overrun with money changers and those who sold animals for sacrifice. Jerusalem would have been packed with pilgrims from all parts of the world wishing to participate in the feast of the passover and money changers would have profited greatly in the business of exchanging foreign coins for shekels more appropriate for temple tax and at a higher rate. Jesus was angry at the scene before him and after making a whip out of cord, he drove out the money changers along with those who sold sheep, oxen and doves for sacrifice. Isaiah 56:7, Psalms 69:9
Now imagine the Churches of today... would Jesus be angry at the sale of books by well known Christian authors?, the sale of food and drink or other goods? or having an eftpos machine in the foyer of the church for convenience sake? :unsure: any thoughts?