Wednesday, May 11
What offends Jesus?
Scripture: 1 Samuel 21-22, Proverbs 11, Mark 11
Mark 11:15–17 They came to Jerusalem, and he went into the temple and began to throw out those buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, 16 and would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple. 17 He was teaching them: “Is it not written, My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves!”
Observation
I’m struck by several things.
Jesus’ authority. He acts like the temple was His house and He had the right to put it in order. In fact, the religious leaders asked him, “Who gave you this authority to do these things?” Who do you think you are?
Jesus’ knowledge of Scripture. He quotes Isaiah 56:7 and Jeremiah 7:11. He didn’t need a search engine on His phone—He knew them, had them memorized and at hand.
Jesus’ love for God and people. Jesus cared deeply for God’s reputation which was being stained by this commercialization of faith—they really were “thieves.” Offerings had to be made with temple currency; the money changers would exchange whatever coinage you had for temple currency but at a handsome profit. Sacrifices had to be inspected and declared fit; those selling animals worked with the priests, who would declare the animal you brought unfit, forcing you to sell it to the animal vendors for cheap and buy another at an inflated price. They would resell your animal to another worshiper for a profit. It was a racket. Jesus was offended that people were being cheated in God’s name.
Also it was a racket in the most literal sense. The temple was intended to be “a house of prayer for all the nations,” a place where anyone, Jew or Gentile, could come to seek God. Instead, it had been turned into a bazaar, a loud raucous marketplace. Anyone coming to seek God would have difficulty hearing Him, finding Him above the din of commerce. Jesus was offended that seeking people couldn’t find God in the place that was set apart for that purpose.
Application
This story stands as a warning for every Christian leader. We must maintain a deep and genuine love for God and people, and guard against the religious tendency to institutionalize and commercialize our faith. Never take advantage of people; never seek selfish gain. Always think of the honor of God and the well-being of people. If we lose sight of those, we are in danger of repeating this story—which has been repeated in various ways thousands of times in our history…to our shame.
If Jesus visited our churches, what would He cleanse? What would offend Him?
If Jesus visited your life, what would He cleanse? What would offend Him?
It starts in our own hearts first. Love God, love people.
Prayer: Lord, give me Your heart for the Father and for people. Let whatever breaks Your heart, break mine. Please keep me from becoming religious—from my faith becoming institutionalized rather than personal.