WHEN JESUS WENT TO “CHURCH” (Matthew 21:12-14)
What would happen if Jesus physically and bodily came to your place of worship this week? Would you give him a name tag? Where would he sit? Would you let him speak? How long? Would you take an offering?
Mathew 21 begins the final week in the life of Christ. Jesus is presented as the rightful King and Messiah as prophesied in Zechariah 9:9.
In verse 12, Jesus entered the temple and cleanses it. It had become a place of corrupt commercialism where people were charged inflated prices to purchase animals for sacrifices. He changed traditions by overthrowing the tables and seats of those money changers. When Jesus showed up, he didn’t take sides, he takes over and illuminates the darkness. I wonder what changes Jesus would make as he purifies his Church today.
In verse 13, Jesus reminds us that the temple is His House. We are just tenants; we don’t own it. Some people and pastors have attended their fellowships so long that they think it belongs to them. Jesus desires our places of worship to be houses of prayer. Isn’t it sad that typically the least attended service in most churches is the Prayer Meeting. Many no longer even has a special time dedicated to this practice.
At the end of verse 13, Jesus said that we have made his house a “Robbers’ Den.” How can God’s House become a robbers’ den? We can rob God of his priority. “But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). We can rob God of finances. “Will a man rob God? Yet you are robbing Me! But you say, ‘How have we robbed You?’ In tithes and offerings” (Malachi 3:8). We can rob God of his glory. “Whether, then you eat or drink or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God” (I Corinthians 10:31).
Not until we are cleansed and not until we seek God’s face in prayer will God move in power to heal (verse 14). Could our lack of repentance, our carnality, and our lack of hunger for righteousness be holding off God’s hand of revival and transforming ministry in our lives and in the lives of our local fellowships?
