The Week That Changed The World Devotional February 21
by David Joynt on February 21, 2024
Stress Test Devotional April 27
April 27, 2024
MARK 11:17a | 17a He was teaching and saying, Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’?
ZECHARIAH 14:21b | 21b And there shall no longer be traders in the house of the Lord of hosts on that day.
Jesus explains His anger by quoting two prophets. First, He uses Isaiah 56:7, a prediction and a call that the Temple become an international asset, a focus for the world’s spirituality. Part of Jesus’ anger was that the commercial exchanges took place in the court of the Gentiles and so visiting pilgrims who were not Jewish, and not allowed into the inner court areas, faced a market-like atmosphere, rather than a quiet and contemplative one. The location of the sellers and buyers was problematic. Secondly, the idea of purchasing divine assurance for a fee, lent itself to abuse. The motivation became less about fostering a true worship experience and more about running a successful financial operation, from which the high priests benefitted.
Have you ever felt you were being sold something in a church setting?
Gracious God,
Give us sincerity in our worship and transparency in our finances. Help us to be good stewards of souls and dollars!
Amen.
