Wednesday, 15 July 2015

21. Jesus on money teaches us to clear the temple

11:51 Posted by Matthew Beaney No comments
This is the 21st post as I attempt to visit everything (pretty much!) Jesus said about money in the gospels over 2 weeks. In order to do this I will be putting up around two posts each day. This is coinciding with a 2-week preaching series that we are going through at Community Church Putney- Jesus On Money.

‘On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ (Mark 11:15-17)

Jesus is not upset by their trading, He is upset by where they are doing it; they are hindering non-Jews from worship by turning their space into a market. 

Jesus on money teaches us not to let the pursuit of money be a hindrance to your or another’s worship.

How could this be applied in our age?

       We put work above meeting with Christians.
       We put work before spending time with Jesus.
       As employers we hinder people from devotion to their church.
       We make too much of the collection of money during our services.
       The finances become too big a focus for leaders of churches.
       Selling ministry- ‘ministers' who put a price-tag on their services. 

Take a moment to ask God to search you: Are you a man or woman of prayer? Is this personal and communal activity of greatest priority to you? Does it trump money-making? 

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