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NASB | John 2:13 ¶ The Passover of the Jews was near, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. |
AMPLIFIED 2015 | John 2:13 ¶ Now the Passover of the Jews was approaching, so Jesus went up to Jerusalem. |
Subject: is selling in a church building fine? |
Bible Note: nimrod2 Sounds like you have been educated by someone that allows things to be sold in the church. The money changers and merchants in the temple were serving a very vital tasks. If you lived in Northern Israel and you went to Jerusalem you wouldn't/couldn't take a lamb for sacrifice with you. You sold you lamb at home then went to the temple and bought one of equal value to offer for sacrifice. Therefore the animal merchants were serving a needed task. Also only Temple money could be used to give in a offering so you had to convert your normal Roman money for Temple money to pay your tithe or offering. Again a money changer was needed. I’m sure there was a degree of larceny involved in the exchanges but probably no different than to today. No Jesus did not drive them out because they were cheats or the weren’t needed He drove them out for the reason he gave, This is to be a house of pray not of merchandise. Notice also he didn’t just drive out the merchants but also the buyers Mark 11:15. A church that allows any type of merchandising to take place is compromising it’s position. Believe me this does not go unnoticed by the unbelieving world. Their first reaction is see all the church is after is the money. We are to be a light and salt unto the world not fall into the same things they do. EdB |