As we continue to reflect on the events leading up to Jesus' crucifixion, it was on or about this day when Jesus went on a rampage through the temple complex. Mark captures the events in 11:12-19 (you can also find the story in Matthew 21:12-13, Luke 19:45-46, and John 2:13-17, although some wonder if this John account was a separate occasion).
"On the following day, when they came from Bethany, he was hungry. And seeing in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to see if he could find anything on it. When he came to it, he found nothing but leaves, for it was not the season for figs. And he said to it, "May no one ever eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard it. And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. And he was teaching them and saying to them, "Is it not written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations'? But you have made it a den of robbers." And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because all the crowd was astonished at his teaching. And when evening came they went out of the city."
It must have been a sight to behold, Jesus overturning tables in a zealous concern for the miss-use of the temple. He is particularly focused on those that were using the temple practices to make a quick quid - especially by selling pigeons. In certain sacrifices the birds were an acceptable offering if the poor were unable to afford a lamb.
There seems to be an element to this story of Jesus ridding the temple of people that were profiting from worship and obedience to God - especially at the expense of the poor.
However, what really stands out in this story is Jesus' motivation. He was not just concerned with justice and prayer, He was concerned with what God wanted. John records (John 2:17) how the disciples were reminded of Psalm 69:9,
There seems to be an element to this story of Jesus ridding the temple of people that were profiting from worship and obedience to God - especially at the expense of the poor.
However, what really stands out in this story is Jesus' motivation. He was not just concerned with justice and prayer, He was concerned with what God wanted. John records (John 2:17) how the disciples were reminded of Psalm 69:9,
"Zeal for your house will consume me."
Jesus was concerned, not just with right and wrong actions, but with what God wanted.
Sometimes we can think of sin as a line. We want to know 'how far is too far'; we want to know precisely when some action becomes sinful; we want a nice neat list of ethical rules that we can follow - when does an action becomes sin. Yet, sin and righteousness runs much deeper than a series of nicely defined dos and don'ts. Sin and righteousness can be defined by one's 'zeal for God.'
The Apostle Paul highlights this in Romans 14:35,
Sometimes we can think of sin as a line. We want to know 'how far is too far'; we want to know precisely when some action becomes sinful; we want a nice neat list of ethical rules that we can follow - when does an action becomes sin. Yet, sin and righteousness runs much deeper than a series of nicely defined dos and don'ts. Sin and righteousness can be defined by one's 'zeal for God.'
The Apostle Paul highlights this in Romans 14:35,
"...for whatever does not proceed from faith is sin."
Jesus echoes this understanding of sin when He pointed out a story from the life of King David - Matthew 12:3-7
"He said to them, "Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and those who were with him: how he entered the house of God and ate the bread of the Presence, which it was not lawful for him to eat nor for those who were with him, but only for the priests? Or have you not read in the Law how on the Sabbath the priests in the temple profane the Sabbath and are guiltless? I tell you, something greater than the temple is here. And if you had known what this means, 'I desire mercy, and not sacrifice,' you would not have condemned the guiltless."
This is a far more challenging understanding of sin and temptation. It is no longer just about following a series of rules and 'sacrifices', it is about where God places in our lives. When we understand sin and righteousness to be a matter of our 'zeal for God and His ways' there are many more instances of how far we fall short of His standard - far more instances of evil than we might care to admit.
Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones puts it this way when he refers to another of Jesus' statements in the days leading up to his crucifixion (Matthew 22:37),
Dr. Martin Lloyd-Jones puts it this way when he refers to another of Jesus' statements in the days leading up to his crucifixion (Matthew 22:37),
"The mistake is to think of [sin] in terms of particular things instead of thinking of it, as we should, in terms of our relationship to God. Do you know what sin is? I will tell you. Sin is the exact opposite of the attitude and the life which conform to, 'Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength.' If you are not doing that you are a sinner."
QUESTIONS TO ASK YOURSELF
- Do you ever find yourself wondering where the line between good and bad falls with regards to a particular action?
- How does this deeper understanding of sin challenge your heart and life?
- How does this deeper understanding of sin lead you to pray our final phrase in the Lord's Prayer?
Martin Lloyd Jones' comments can be found in his sermon series through Ephesians.