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NASB | Matthew 21:12 ¶ And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | Matthew 21:12 ¶ And Jesus entered the temple [grounds] and drove out [with force] all who were buying and selling [birds and animals for sacrifice] in the temple area, and He turned over the tables of the moneychangers [who made a profit exchanging foreign money for temple coinage] and the chairs of those who were selling doves [for sacrifice]. [Mark 11:15-18; Luke 19:45-47; John 2:14-16] |
Bible Question: Annually, our church hosts a chicken barbeque supper to raise funds for some special project. Recently some ladies of the church had a "yard sale" at the church to raise money to purchase new bibles for the children. Additionally, one of our members plans on setting up a table to sell jewelry she makes. A portion of her profit will be given to the Church. In relation to to Matthew 21:12, I have a problem with all of this, especially the jewelry table. Please help. |
Bible Answer: smerka Let us look at what the verse says and what is going on and who all is involved. Jesus drove out both sellers and buyers. The sellers were money changers and dove or sacrifice sellers. First I have heard many pastors explain Jesus did this because these men were cheating and they probably were but if that is reason Jesus drove them out why did He include the buyers or the victims also? I don't think this was the reason. Next who were these sellers? In the Jewish temple you couldn't pay your tithe or offering using Roman money it had a picture of people on it and it was considered a graven image. Deuteronomy 4:16 (NASB) 16 so that you do not act corruptly and make a graven image for yourselves in the form of any figure, the likeness of male or female, Therefore worshipper to pay their tithe and offerings had to get temple money and there was only one way to do it. See a money changer. So you see the moneychangers were needed for someone to properly worship, they were doing a service. Also there were the sellers of doves or sacrifices. People travel by foot or caravan from outlying places to go to worship. It was impractical to travel those distances with an animal for sacrifice. What they would do is pick the best animal they had and sell it. Taking the money to Jerusalem and then buying the best animal that money would buy. Again they needed a sacrifice to worship and this was the only way to get it. Again the sellers of the animals were doing a very needed service enabling strangers to worship in the temple. So we see again they were doing it for the right reasons. However we see Jesus drive them out. Why if they were needed and they were doing it so God would be honored? Jesus said my house will be known as a house of prayer not of commerce. We buy and sell in church allowing traveling singing groups to set up tape tables, having a church book store, having yard sales all good things but is it what God wants? We complain the church doesn't have the prestige in the community it once had, the church doesn't get any respect. How does the world view a church that has yard sales, bake sales, fund raising drives? Do they view it as a house of prayer or a house where they are always after your money? My belief is the people of the church and only the people of the church should support the church through regular tithes and offerings. If they won't then they shouldn't have a church because their money means more to them than the church does. This should be taken to the point of asking visitors not to put anything in the offering, but instructing them to pay it to their church when they get home. Someone said that if the money is going to a good cause then it is okay. Is that right? Does the end justify the means? Perhaps the church should have a house of prostitution if they use the money for benevolence. I’m sure everyone will shout NOT! But tell me the difference, in light of what Jesus did when he cleansed the temple. The church is out of order in respect to money and I believe that is one of the main reasons we see people resisting Christianity as we do today. EdB |