God for Sale

God for Sale Matthew 21:12-17

Worship

Matthew 21:12–13

12 Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. 

13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ” 

Here, we see God for Sale. Come worship for a fee. Perhaps its started out as a friendly convenience. Helping weary Jewish travellers, getting them quick replacements or selling pre-approved sheep for the sacrifice. Then the guys just wanted to get just a little more money, then the levites asked for a little, then they needed to make more, and oh, lets have a money exchange! Cant take nasty foreign money into the temple, lets make them change it out for temple bucks, etc. They were making a killing on killing.

He drove them out.

John says, John 2:13–17 “ 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, (implied whipping but as paul says, it don’t say that) 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.””

Malachi 3:1  “ “Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight. Behold, He is coming,” Says the Lord of hosts.”

Luke 19:47–48  “ And He was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, 48 and were unable to do anything; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.”

Hebrews 12:6–7  “ For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.” 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?” Jesus loved and died for the world. He cared about every person in that temple but cannot allow sin into the camp. Its supposed to be a place to Worship God. To be discipled, to be forgiven and celebrate freedom in Him.

House of Prayer: in Hebrew Beit Talifah, lets read the context of this quote. Some say its just the verse but they would quote part of the verse so you would be reminded of the text. Isaiah 56:7–8  “ Even them I will bring to My holy mountain, And make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices Will be accepted on My altar; For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.” ethnesin in the greek sept. which is all people 8 The Lord God, who gathers the outcasts of Israel, says, “Yet I will gather to him Others besides those who are gathered to him.””

den of thieves: Jeremiah 7:11  “ Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” says the Lord.” another reading hideout for bandits, brigands.

Commercializing the woship of Yahweh has been going on as long as people have been have been meeting together. They

Matthew 21:14–16 NKJV

14 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant 16 and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?”

The leaders of Israel see him healing blind and crippled men/women. Hear the people & these crazy kids, praising Him. Save us King of Israel! And they chastise Jesus! Were indignant = stirred up in anger

HTurn to John 11, This is why they would think they were saving israel to kill jesus. John 11:49–53  “ And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, “You know nothing at all, 50 nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.” 51 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, 52 and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad. 53 Then, from that day on, they plotted to put Him to death.”

Turn Psalm 8: Jesus responds from a Psalm, Psalm 8:1–6  “ O Lord, our Lord, How excellent is Your name in all the earth, Who have set Your glory above the heavens! 2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength, Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger. 3 When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, The moon and the stars, which You have ordained, 4 What is man that You are mindful of him, And the son of man that You visit him? 5 For You have made him a little lower than the angels, And You have crowned him with glory and honor. 6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet,”

Jesus responds that this is perfect. This is what is supposed to happen this again is the fulfillment of the prophecies given. Things are as they should be. This isn’t fate. Its a guiding to the completion of what will be.

they are crying Hosanna because its who He is, son of David, the son of kings. We also know he is the Son of God. In every respect, He is worthy of King. Worthy of all praise and honor and glory.

Even though right now anyone worshipping Jesus is taking a chance on losing it all. Life home, temple, synagogue, family, etc. All gone.

Matthew 21:17 

17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.

Map 01/02 - cant see Bethany from Israel, but its just right over the mount. I bet you could see the light from Jerusalem from Bethany, shining over the top of the hill. Its about 2.5 miles - but up/down/up to Jtown

Video 03 - Bethany today

One of the greatest events in history is playing out and Jesus and the guys go to stay quite possibly in the courtyard of the home of Mary and Martha. Singing, teaching, rejoicing at what they had seen that day.

what must it have been like. Exhausted terrified, no doubt the entourage had shrunk, many were fearful of the leaders but his apostles trust Him more than they feared the leadership.

It would be like waiting for the door to kick in or for jesus to actually takeover as King.

But it would be so much more than this!

What do we get from this? We should not be making money on the faith, we should not be taking advantage of the congregation Jesus doesn't just frown on this, He is violent in his reaction to this.

When God begins to do a work, He doesn't seek our permission or even suggestions. He does what He purposes to do. With the market cleared more people, more kids, more love was shown to so many. More healing, and more worship. Amazing love, how can it be, that you my king would die for me, for all you do, I worship you!

Do we worship something more than God? Do we have things on our hearts that are getting in the way of our service and worship of Jesus? Do we value things more than the Gospel? What really is most important to us?

Come let us worship our king, he has done, Great Things!