The Purification of the Temple and Jesus’ Authority
누가복음 19:45-20:8
Who is Jesus like? Vv. 45, 46- Jesus turned to the religious leaders and criticized them so severely saying that they turned the house of prayer into a den of robbers that their knees shook. And then he threw out all those who were selling there. Becoming Jesus’ disciple means to stop swindling people in a religion that has become a marketplace. Also one must stop repeating meaningless religious actions, break their daily sinful habits, and crack the shell of their idolized self. It is to break away from the world that is rampant with greed, competition and discrimination, which stand in stark contrast to the living God. It also means to get rid from envy and jealousy.
What lesson is God teaching me? Vv. 20:1-8- The leaders of the temple got angry at Jesus for kicking out those who were doing business in the temple and teaching there without their permission. Therefore foolishly they had the nerve to question Jesus’ authority even though he is the ruler of the temple. Jesus in response asks them if the baptism of John the Baptist was from heaven or from men. It is because during the baptism, heaven confirmed who he was (3:21, 22). They knew that they would be cornered no matter how they answered and thus said nothing. From the beginning they had no interest in the truth and only had interest in quarrelling about authority. Let us pray that there is no one in our community that sacrifices the truth to enjoy power.
Lord may my community and I be a place where we share you and the truth.
