Money & The Temple

Mark 11:15-18  And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons; and he would not allow any one to carry anything through the temple. And he taught, and said to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called ahouse of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a denof robbers.” And the chief priests and the scribes heard it andsought a way to destroy him; for they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching. And when evening came they went out of the city.


As we look at the gospels we see the many issues Jesus had with the clerical leadership of Israel. He calls them hypocrites and blind guides. He  then hits them where they would hurt the most. The had a monopoly on the exchange of cash from Roman to temple coin for a price. They controlled the sale of animals for sacrifice. Jesus really pushed their buttons by saying they had made his Father's house into a den of thieves. I don't think that is how to make friends and influence people. 


I love the beauty of some churches. My last church, St. Thomas Taunton was a magnificent building and complex. The rectory was colonial and historical as well as the church. It takes huge amounts of money for utilities and maintenance on such a complex. So much of the life of the church can become invested in survival of the institution and not the Lord we are meant to worship.


Whenever I had the chance I would emphasize that God doesn't need our money. The creator of the whole earth and universe does not need anything from us. He wants an offering but money is not it. He wants our hearts. The church needs to be careful that survival does not overtake the offering of our hearts. Money over relationship will never do.