When he had come into Jerusalem, all the city was stirred up, saying, “Who is this?” The multitudes said, “This is the prophet, Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.” Jesus entered into the temple of God, and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold the doves. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers!”
Matthew 21:10-13
Temple had an outer court, called the Court of the Gentiles, for Gentiles to come and find out about YHWH.
This is because YHWH doesn't only want the Israelites to know Him - He wants to save everyone.
However, most of the Jews of Jesus' day had totally forgotten this, and thought of YHWH only has their God. They had no interest to share the love of God with others.
Jews coming from far away needed a place to change their Roman money into Jewish money for their Temple offerings, and also they needed a place to buy sacrificial animals so that they wouldn't have to drag their lamb or other animal all the way from wherever they lived.
So the Temple authorities, having lost the missionary vision to reach out to the Gentiles, saw this Court of the Gentiles as a "wasted" space and turned it into a marketplace for Jews to do this.
That was why Jesus was so angry with them. They had lost the vision YHWH had given to Abraham, that through the YHWH would bless the nations. They were only interested in getting other Jews closer to YHWH.
How about us? Are we only looking to reach people like us for Christ? Christ died for all people groups. Including people who are not like us.
Do we look at people who are not like us with prejudice, thinking of them as less worthy of God's love because they are different from us? Do we spread racist ideas? Do we make remarks about how they are lazy, or dishonest, or dirty, etc.?
Father, open our eyes to our own prejudices, and help us to see everyone through Your eyes. In Jesus' name, amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment