Hindered Worship

The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables. And He made a scourge of cords, and drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen; and He poured out the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables; and to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away; stop making My Father’s house a place of business.” -John 2.13-16

Jesus has gone to Jerusalem for the celebration of the Passover, and once in the city, He enters the temple. There, in the central place of Jewish worship, He finds money changers and vendors selling animals for sacrifice. The thing that drives Jesus to action is that the selling is taking place in the outer court of the temple, the only place that Gentiles were allowed to enter.

Gentiles who were seeking God were not permitted to enter the temple, but could enter the outer court for prayer. Gentiles seeking God were given access to the outer court where they could pray, but this very court has become a market place for the Jews to purchase their animals for sacrifice. Those seeking a place of quiet solitude are instead met with chaotic noise, and this is what prompts Jesus to act. He makes a whip out of cords, flips tables, dumps bags of money, drives these merchants from the temple. Jesus is opposed to anything that hinders worship.

When worship is hindered by distractions the anger of God is aroused. When those who desire to seek God are prevented from doing so, Jesus makes a whip, flips tables, and drives people out. This needs to be our reaction as well. What things prevent worship in your life? What keeps you from reading the Bible? What keeps you from prayer? What keeps you from living in trust and obedience to God? What tables need to be overturned? What distractions need to be driven out?

Anything that hinders worship angers God. Anything that hinders worship needs to be driven out.

TO GOD ALONE BE THE GLORY!