And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and He overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you make it a den of robbers." And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant, and they said to Him, "Do you hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes; have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise'?" And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there. (Matt 21:12-17)It was a sequel, actually. He did it right after the wedding at Cana as well (John 2:13-17). According to that account, "His disciples remembered that it was written, 'Zeal for Your house will consume Me.'" (John 2:17). Jesus's zeal for God's house was aimed at religious corruption. The sellers and moneychangers were earning a profit on the requirements of the sacrificial system. They turned God's worship into profit by exploiting worshippers. They overcharged and underdelivered. They had to go. The repetition certainly indicates its importance. I think there may be some significance to the placement of the two events, too, coming at the beginning and end of His ministry -- God's holiness must be respected above all.
The whole action hit the religious leadership where it hurt. They questioned His authority. Jesus, the Son of God, demonstrated His authority in this act -- twice. He demonstrated the necessity of our own zeal for the sanctity of "God's house." Today, that's us. It's us as individuals and us as the Body of Christ. It isn't "opinion" or "preference." It's tied to God's holiness. We, too, should be consumed with a zeal for holiness -- our own and that of His Church.
22 comments:
This passage seems under appreciated by many today. That Jesus' held the Temple is such high regard, knowing that He would soon render it obsolete, tell us so much about how He regarded that OT commands. It tells us that The Temple (up to that point) was what YHWH said it was, and that Jesus treated it that way.
I've seen people use this as an excuse to engage in acts of violence or harshness against others. I'd argue that Jesus was protecting what was His Father's and that we are not Jesus. Therefore maybe we should not usurp things the are reserved for Jesus.
Jesus did it. He did it right. He did it perfectly. I'm disappointed that some see it as permission to use violence against others and others see it as an attack on those outside of their particular system. Like equating your enemies with Hitler, they'll equate their opponents with the moneychangers and tell you how bad you are ... as if their side isn't without fault. Jesus wasn't looking at "sides." He sought to protect His Father's name.
It is passages like this that make me wish people would take what they say and do in church more serious. It may not be the temple of old, but it is still a place that we come to worship and praise Him, and yet we can't be bothered to even think about what our clothing says about our attitude toward God. We should have a zeal for our Father, but treat Him more like a buddy.
I recognize Jesus’ actions here as an example of righteous indignation. Sinful humans, however, are more prone to expressing unrighteous anger (James 1:19-20)--some even disregarding exhortations from Paul (Rom. 12:19-21, Eph. 4:26-27, 2 Tim. 2:24, etc.) and many others.
I can’t read or hear about the money changers in the temple without thinking of the RCC practice of selling “indulgences” to earn “credit” towards one’s salvation (as if!). No wonder Martin Luther was led to oppose that wicked practice so vehemently in the 16th century. As a youth, when I entered the building where our weekly “mass” was held (it was a high school gymnasium, as it happens, not a church), I saw a large table set up in the lobby, covered with multiple stacks of quarters, where attendees could exchange their dollar bills for four quarters for the multiple passings of the collection baskets (one collection did not suffice). (It was an odd practice, which I mistook as people paying admission!) Although people were not cheated in the money exchange (like at the temple), reading either Matt. 21:12-13 or John 2:13:17 always conjures up that memory for me.
Exactly. This passage does reinforce the notion that some things are so important that force/violence might be necessary to protect them, but that just reinforces their importance. To equate oneself with Jesus and to assume that Jesus protecting His Father's house allows one to engage in all sorts of vitriolic behavior to defend one's personal convictions seems a step or two too far.
I completely agree that our attitude towards YHWH is very important, and I personally have chosen to follow some guidelines, as to how I dress, yet I've been thinking that it's more about the internal and less about the external. Likewise, scripture does speak of YHWH as a friend, yet I agree that we often take Him for granted and forget our proper place in relationship to Him. Clearly this can be taken to an extreme in both directions, but we absolutely need to balance our attitude towards Him.
I've had this debate internally for some time now (since nobody wants to talk about it otherwise). And as is true in many things, the heart is what is important. But we can all agree that our clothing choices communicate something about ourselves and our attitudes. I can't help but think of Nadab and Abihu, or of Uzzah. God says that by those that serve Him, He will be regarded as holy. In those times, it was the priests and the Levites. Today, that is every one of us. Mercifully God is not striking us down for each offense, but that doesn't make it any less an affront to His holiness. So many of us will dress nice for weddings, funerals, and job interviews, but couldn't be bothered to even think about what we wear when we gather to worship our Lord and Savior.
David, I cannot stifle my curiosity about this, so I must ask you: Have you formed any conclusions about why “nobody wants to talk about” this particular issue?
I agree that one we we communicate our attitude about YHWH is how we dress when we come to worship him. Yet somehow, I don't think the worship of those who can't dress nicely is less valid. I think it's one aspect, but it's still external and our internal motivation is more important.
Another aspect I've noticed in myself, is a tendency to judge those who don't share my beliefs about what's appropriate attire for church.
I agree with you, and have my personal "dress code", but I'm less sure about what that looks like for others.
We have our own version of "indulgences" in the churches where they tell you to pay big bucks for God's rich blessings, even pointing to the "hundredfold" promises as if it's an actual number.
The reason David can't get people to talk about it is because the conversation is out there around "clothing" and the actual issue is heart attitude. Clothing is NOT the issue. Are we too cavalier about God? I think most of us are.
I don’t know if “David can’t get people to talk about it” is in reference to at this blog or elsewhere (i.e. in his private life). If the former, I would say that I’ve talked about it a good bit with him (but apparently to no avail). In any event, I agree with you that “clothing is NOT the issue”--at least not to me--but heart attitude is.
I don't bring it up to people because a) I don't think it is something most people put any thought into, and b) I don't want people to think I'm being judgmental. Even the few times I've brought it up here, every one immediately either gets defensive or accuses me of being judgmental. What I want is people to think about why they do what they do, and it is my belief that most people don't. Most of us simply do what we do because that's how we were brought up, or that's just the way they do it. I'm not arguing for a dress code, but everyone dismisses my concern about their heart and focuses on the external about clothing. If the best you have is a clean t-shirt and jeans, and you save those as your "Sunday best" out of respect for God and His people, then that's what I'm after. But I think most people don't even put that much thought into what they wear and what it says about their attitude and thoughts. We all make discernments about people based on their clothing because clothing is a form of communication. Maybe, the people who go so far as to read blogs about theology are more discerning, but I don't see that in most people. Even here, I one time mentioned someone that came to church in a hoodie that had skulls with mushrooms growing out of them, and the response I got here was, "Maybe they aren't Christians", which tells me you made guesses about their heart based on clothing. All my concern is, as Christians, we should be making all our decisions based on what those choices say about God. Or, in all you do, do for the glory of God. And if you can honestly answer that you choose your clothing with purpose, then I'm not talking to you.
Lorna, in my experience this issue is discussed to some degree. Especially as it pertains to those up in front of the congregation.
I'd guess that some don't want to talk about it because they are concerned about being judgemental based on external appearances. Some because they consider it a secondary of tertiary issue. Some because they don't want to evaluate themselves, their motivations, and their actions.
Stan, I'm a little late to this, but I think that you are correct.
a) I agree. b) I can see this being a problem. Both a problem of perception, which you've experienced, as well as a real problem of judging based on outward appearance.
FWIW, I think that you are coming at this from the right perspective, and are up against everything you've mentioned.
Is there a way to have the bigger conversation, respect for YHWH, that doesn't start with what we wear?
David, I appreciate your indulging my curiosity with your reply. As I commented to Stan above, I wasn’t sure which discussion group you meant--here or apart from Winging It. I can’t speak to anything outside of the blog, of course, but regarding your “talking about it” here, I would refer you back to the comment threads at Stan’s posts for 9/27/24 and 10/2/24. (At the first one, you will see that the “hoodie with the mushrooms” comment went a bit differently than you related above. Also, I find it interesting that you began that whole discussion by saying, “Does God care about how I dress? Probably not.” Hmmm.)
In any case, the main comment I keep hearing you express on this topic is that others are not thinking about their choices and how their appearance reveals their hearts’ attitudes towards God--particularly acknowledging His holiness. I was hoping that you had come to see that this is an unfair assumption to make about others, as the actual situation might be that they have indeed given it much thought but have simply formed different convictions from you. Of course, if you do “bring it up to people” outside the blog, you might glean insight into the (equally valid) perspectives and persuasions held by others.
Regarding attire for weddings, funerals, and job interviews (which you frequently mention): In my experience, these events run the gamut from very informal to very formal; there is no set standard these days (and therefore the event organizers often suggest a “dress code”). Neither is there uniformity regarding “church” gatherings, which also range from casual (i.e. sunrise services on the beach) to very formal (i.e. a “high” cathedral service), while the varying physical settings for such assemblies (i.e. homes, schools, store fronts, chapels, etc.) might each promote a different manner of attire. Clothing choices for all these events and occasions usually draw upon convention, comfort, appropriateness, consensus, propriety, etc. (with some people having no sense of any of those, to be sure!). To assume that the attendee’s manner of dress for any of these events reveals his/her heart’s attitude about the occasion or towards the participants is a mistake, to my mind.
I pondered about God caring about how I dress fit the very same reason that I get disagreed with, God doesn't care about my clothing, but about my heart.
I doubt very many people have given much thought about what our clothing says about our attitudes about God based on other discussions I've had about other topics. I've been told by people that they believe Calvinism to be unbiblical, but then turn around and admit they've never studied it or know anything about it other than TULIP. I have a co-worker that I've been evangelizing, and he's admitted that he's never really thought about God. I hear people argue about all sorts of positions that they hold even though they've never put any effort into understanding what they believe or why, simply that they do. Too many of us do this, even me at different times in my life. The only argument I've heard four casual dress in church is that God doesn't care about clothing. But I don't think that's true, otherwise we wouldn't have so much instruction in the Bible about clothing. My argument about clothing and what it says about our attitudes stems from my understanding of the Law. There is an entire portion of the Law dedicated not to morality, or ceremony, but to Israel simply being different from the world around them. While I agree we're not beholden to those Laws, they do teach us something about how we should interact with our world.
I understand that there are different cultural standards for church clothing around the world, but I don't live around the world. I live in a culture that used to have a term "Sunday best". I bring up social functions only as an example of places where we are more considerate of our attire than we are of our time coming before a holy God to worship. Everything we do says something about what we believe. If we hold God's holiness in low regard, while elevating our friendly Father, then of course our clothing is going to reflect that. If we can't be bothered to dress differently for the special occasion of worship than we do any other day of the week, then that speaks to our attitude. You may be fine with that attitude. But over recent years, my realization of my lack of respect for the holiness of God has humbled. My prayer is for a revival of the Church with a heart for more than a love of a God that has given us such great gifts, but for who He is. I see this in more than our clothing, but I see it clearly there. I see it clearly in the fact that most of our music (at least in the churches I've visited and attended) is praising God for all He's done for us and very little is worshiping who He is. We need both, but as one of my elders said, if you're only worshiping God for what He's given you, are you truly worshiping God? It is this attitude that brings people to reject God because He didn't give me what I asked for. I see clothing in church as a small mark of a greater illness in the Church.
It seems to me that the majority of the Church today sees God as Lucy did Aslan. We see His mercy and goodness and gentleness and blessing, but we forget that He is also holy and righteous and hates sin and requires honor and devotion. We want to curl up in the warmth of His mane, but forget to fear His claws and teeth.
You're not wrong.
David, I suspect that it would take too much time and effort on my part to fully respond to your words, so I won’t do that.
I will just restate that my position on “how to dress for church” remains the one I expressed at Stan’s 9/27/24 post--i.e. one of Christian liberty and individual conscience. Each should do as the Lord leads--to His glory. If you believe you honor God through your clothing choices, you should follow your convictions. If another person is convinced that thinking about their appearance too much or worrying about looking “nice” at church is vanity on their part, you should respect their convictions (with no judgment about their heart or their regard/disregard for God’s holiness in the process). If it helps you to understand their choice, perhaps you should talk with them about it, rather than assume “they can’t be bothered to think about” it. (In my case, as an example, I believe my proper response to God’s holiness is to forsake sin and pursue Christlikeness--i.e. seeking the Lord’s work of sanctification in my heart; this would be pursued 24/7 and would manifest itself in my daily walk--not necessarily showing up in a special way on Sunday mornings.)
P.S. My point about the variation in social events and in church assemblies (right here in the U.S.A., not “around the world”) is that there are no absolute standards for these kinds of things, so thinking rigidly about “church” is not appropriate. These events can run from casual to formal, and participants’ clothing choices most likely reflect that--with no disrespect in view. To charge that people don’t think about their appearance for all these occasions with equal and appropriate consideration seems unfounded.
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