This morning I am continuing my reading of Mark's Gospel, and today I pick up where I left off yesterday. Jesus, after entering Jerusalem to the acclaim of many people, had left the Temple complex without doing anything. The next day He returned to the Temple and these following verses describe His actions - Mark 11:15-18 NIV:
[15] "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, [16] and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. [17] 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.' ”
[18] "The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching."
The very first thing Jesus does when entering the Temple is to drive out those doing business there. Apparently this business was allowed because it was related to the sacrifices that people needed to offer as a part of their religious duty. The money-changers were those that converted different types of money into that which was used in the courts, and the doves were used as sacrifices, as proscribed in the Law. The question that has always been in my mind is why was this such a big deal to Jesus and the Father?
I believe there are a couple of reasons. First, Jesus addresses them and calls these businesses a "den of robbers". Clearly there was money being made, and likely it was significantly to the advantage of the business owners. People were coming to do what they believed was their religious obligation and the money-changers and sellers of doves were most likely taking extreme advantage of them. If that wasn't bad enough, they were probably doing it in God's name, as they were likely there with some permissions from the Priests. Thus, in the name of God, the businesses were stealing from who the people were coming to be in God's presence. I can't imagine the Father NOT being angry about how He was being represented.
When I think of the money focus that many ministries have these days, I see some strong parallels. In the name of God and for the sake of their continued ministry there are many that unabashedly make strong pushes for tithes (that which we should give back to God). There are stories of Pastors living in extravagant houses, flying on personal jets, and all sorts of luxurious lifestyles, riding on the backs (as it were) of needy people who are coming to experience God's presence.
We can try to rationalize the ministry being done as the reason, but it seems to me to be exactly the same issue Jesus was addressing here. Later in Marks account Jesus specifically addresses some of religious leaders in the following verses - Mark 12:38-40 NIV: "As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, [39] and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. [40] They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”
The second reason, I believe, that Jesus addresses this issue is directly related to the first - they are doing this in God's name! Rather than focusing on prayer and communication with God, they were making it about money and sacrifice, religious obligation. Let's be clear, God doesn't need our money, He doesn't want our tithes, He doesn't require our religious acts of sacrifice. God doesn't cheat us, doesn't treat us harshly, doesn't take advantage of us in our need! All of these things could be seen as part of how God acts, as represented by the businesses being conducted in the Temple. Many times in the Old Testament God said that what He wanted was people to act rightly, to value mercy over sacrifice, to do acts of kindness rather than offer burnt sacrifices. He was after people hearts, desiring relationship and right action because of that relationship.
Although the Law was given by God through Moses, there had been hundreds of years of prophets calling the people back to relationship with God, to not focus on the sacrifices, but to return to Him with their hearts. These businesses basically just ignored this whole theme and discouraged real relationship. I can just imagine the system set up for the processing of people's sacrifices. They would go to the money changers, exchange their money into the temple money, then get in line to purchase the doves, then get in line to offer the dove as a sacrifice, all the while hearing those conducting the business shouting "Next!" There was likely very little in the experience of encountering God. I imagine it wasn't much different than what we experience when we go to the Department of Motor vehicles for a new License, long lines of people, each waiting to get processed.
Jesus cries out that the Temple was supposed to be a "house of prayer for all nations" and in doing so is drawing their attention back to what the Temple was supposed to be , a place to encounter God. God wants to encounter us! Here is the Son of God calling people to prayer, to conversing with God! He isn't after our rote prayers, but after intimate encounters of God's presence. Later in Mark, Jesus and a teacher have an exchange about the most important commandments as follows - Mark 12:28-31 NIV:
[28] "One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, “Of all the commandments, which is the most important?”
[29] “The most important one,” answered Jesus, “is this: 'Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. [30] Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' [31] The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these.”
In these verses Jesus is calling us to LOVE God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. This is not some perfunctory obligation that does not engage the heart, but is rather supposed to engage our whole heart! We can't do anything with our whole heart without significant experience! God desires that we experience relationship with Him! The call to prayer is exactly that, the call to experience God. God desires us all to know Him, to hear from Him, to experience His love! We do that most consistently in the place of prayer.
Thus, this morning I am encouraged that God is after relationship with me, not the business of ministry. It is my prayer that all churches and all ministries being done in His name would recognize this truth and represent God accordingly. Lord, I pray that people would encounter You, not the request for money the next time they walk into church!
Secondly, I am encouraged to make sure that I am never sliding into a perfunctory prayer time, but rather expect to meet God, to encounter Him in the midst of my prayer! Lord, I am so grateful for Your invitation to relationship, for Your presence and guidance, Your love and direction!
Thank You Lord!
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