Thoughts for the Day

Then he entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling things there; and he said, ‘It is written,

“My house shall be a house of prayer”;
but you have made it a den of robbers.’

Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people kept looking for a way to kill him; but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were spellbound by what they heard.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

In Luke's Gospel we see Jesus causing havoc in the Temple. On one level this is understandable, for those who sold the animals and those who changed money, were fleecing the people. It was possible to buy an animal for sacrifice in the town, but if the Temple inspectors found a blemish, you had wasted your money, so most people bought them at inflated prices inside the Temple. Temple tax had to be paid by all men over twenty, in an exact amount of half a shekel (around two days pay), and excessive fees were charged when changing other currencies say Greek or Roman.

If we look at the notion of sacrifices, what can we learn? Basically the Temple is a 'house' with different courtyards (for men, women, gentiles) and the sacrifice is about enjoying a fellowship meal with God in His temple, where he dwells in the holy of holies. Leviticus 1.13, says 'the priest shall offer the whole (animal) and turn it into smoke on the altar; it is a burnt-offering, an offering by fire of pleasing odour to the Lord.'

Jesus seems to be quoting Isaiah (36.7) when he says "My house shall be a house of prayer". The pleasing odour of the sacrifice is but the beginning, the real action is prayer, but somehow the people have forgotten why they are in God's Temple. As well as challenging the people to go back to their roots, Jesus is preparing them for the future when the Temple and animal sacrifice will no longer be needed because Jesus himself will be the final, perfect, sacrifice offered for the sins of us all.

Father-God,
we no longer offer You burnt offerings,
for Your Son, our Lord Jesus,
gave His life as a sacrifice for our sin,
and taught us to offer You
our worship and prayer.
We ask that our praise,
our confessions, and
our petitions are all acceptable
to You this day.
Amen.