Temple Etiquette

Temple Etiquette Michael Morse / General CrossFit / Authority; Elders questioning Jesus' Authority; Sacrifice; Jesus Was a Rejected Cornerstone; Worship / Luke 19:45-20:19 Introduction Back towards the beginning of this CrossFit series we went over a lot of terminology related to crossfitness. One of the new terms we learned was that the CrossFit gym was called a box not a gym. The Box is where you go to maintain your fitness and to commune with other crossfitters. Every "box" somewhere has rules posted - usually known as "etiquette". How you are to handle yourself within the "Box". Most rules are the same more or less - but I found humorous ones - like no tripping people on the stair climbers??? Don't Smell, dont sing, no sleeping eating or lounging. The Box Etiquette actually keeps the Box used as it is intended and also for what it is intended for. Last week Jesus made His Big Reveal and entered into Jerusalem to the praise of the disciples and those who saw Him as Messiah. Today Luke brings us to a couple of interactions of Jesus in the Temple - and we see that Jesus does not like how the Temple is being used and so He is going to enforce some Temple etiquette. Temple Etiquette is important for those who seek to be crossfit as proper temple etiquette allows us to worship God as He intends us to. Luke 19:45-47 CSB 45 He went into the temple and began to throw out those who were selling, 46 and he said, "It is written, my house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves!" 47 Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people were looking for a way to kill him, Luke 19:48-20:2 CSB 48 but they could not find a way to do it, because all the people were captivated by what they heard. 1 One day as he was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the scribes, with the elders, came 2 and said to him, "Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?" Luke 20:3-5 CSB 3 He answered them, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me, 4 was the baptism of John from heaven or of human origin?" 5 They discussed it among themselves: "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why didn't you believe him?' Luke 20:6-8 CSB 6 But if we say, 'Of human origin,' all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet." 7 So they answered that they did not know its origin. 8 And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things." Luke 20:9-10 CSB 9 Now he began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the farmers so that they might give him some fruit from the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Luke 20:11-13 CSB 11 He sent yet another servant, but they beat that one too, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he sent yet a third, but they wounded this one too and threw him out. 13 "Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What should I do? I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him.' Luke 20:14-15 CSB 14 "But when the tenant farmers saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, 'This is the heir. Let's kill him, so that the inheritance will be ours.' 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. "What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? Luke 20:16-17 CSB 16 He will come and kill those farmers and give the vineyard to others." But when they heard this they said, "That must never happen!" 17 But he looked at them and said, "Then what is the meaning of this Scripture: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone? Luke 20:18-19 CSB 18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it falls, it will shatter him." 19 Then the scribes and the chief priests looked for a way to get their hands on him that very hour, because they knew he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. Use As Intended Luke 19:45-46 CSB 45 He went into the temple and began to throw out those who were selling, 46 and he said, "It is written, my house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves!" Luke 19:47-48 CSB 47 Every day he was teaching in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people were looking for a way to kill him, 48 but they could not find a way to do it, because all the people were captivated by what they heard. Luke records that Jesus went right into the temple and began to throw out those who were selling (other translations include buying as well). This is either still Palm Sunday or this is the next day - Monday. The language here is very clear Jesus drove out and expelled those selling within the temple. This was a moment of passionate desire in Jesus to drive these people out. This is not the first time Jesus has done this in His public ministry either - John records the first time in John 2:14-22 at the start of His public ministry 3 years ago. The abuses within the temple revived in a short 3 years. It seems fitting that Jesus cleansed the temple at the start of His ministry and then again here at the end of of His public ministry. As He drove those selling out - He said "it is written my house will be a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves." Quoting from two places of scripture. Isaiah 56:7 CSB 7 I will bring them to my holy mountain and let them rejoice in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." Jeremiah 7:11 CSB 11 Has this house, which bears my name, become a den of robbers in your view? Yes, I too have seen it. This is the LORD's declaration. We will deal first with the quote from Jeremiah Jeremiah 7:9-10 CSB 9 " 'Do you steal, murder, commit adultery, swear falsely, burn incense to Baal, and follow other gods that you have not known? 10 Then do you come and stand before me in this house that bears my name and say, "We are rescued, so we can continue doing all these detestable acts"? The sellers were in cahoots with the religious leaders - ripping off the visitors and travellers by making them purchase temple authority approved animals and changing currencies at highly inflated rates. In observance of Passover Jews were required to offer a sin offering and pay a temple tax - 1/2 shekel and only the approved coinage was accepted to pay the tax or purchase the animals. So the currency exchange took advantage of this fact and visitors suffered at this practice. On top of the currency exchange - Passover required the sin offering and a traveler could come from afar with one of their own animals one they have known and cared for (in fact the passover lamb was to be brought in prior to passover and treated as a pet) and make the journey and come all the way to the temple to offer the animal and at the inspection of the Temple Priests the animal could be deemed unworthy and then they would have to buy an animal anyways. The easiest and most convenient would be to buy the animal there and skip the priest inspection. This practice however led the people to become disconnected with the sin offering and the sacrifice system. They didnt have to do anything with the animal - buy and take it and have it sacrificed - in one sense it didnt cost them anything - they were gonna have to buy it anyway. This way however separated them from the sacrifice and made it impersonal and less costly on a personal level - only a mere formalism. We must not give the Lord anything that costs us nothing 2 Samuel 24:24 CSB 24 The king answered Araunah, "No, I insist on buying it from you for a price, for I will not offer to the LORD my God burnt offerings that cost me nothing." David bought the threshing floor and the oxen for twenty ounces of silver. 1 Chronicles 21:24 CSB 24 King David answered Ornan, "No, I insist on paying the full price, for I will not take for the LORD what belongs to you or offer burnt offerings that cost me nothing." The other part of the quote that came from Isaiah 56:7 Isaiah 56:7 CSB 7 I will bring them to my holy mountain and let them rejoice in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be acceptable on my altar, for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." His house will be a house of prayer for ALL nations - any nation not Israel was considered Gentile. You see why this is important is that the money changing and the buying and selling took place in a specific area of the Temple. In fact this part of the temple wasnt even seen as being important for its intended use and so the people used it for whatever they wanted - including just as a shortcut through the temple compound in their business dealings. Mark 11:15-16 CSB 15 They came to Jerusalem, and he went into the temple and began to throw out those buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, 16 and would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple. So what was this area? Well the temple had several designated areas - The Holy of Holies in the very center, the holy place, the court of priests, court of Israelites, court of the women, court of the Gentiles. The commercial system the sellers and the religious authorities setup took place in the court of the Gentiles - the area designated for Gentiles to pray - but Israels religious leaders - didnt care for the Gentiles to have a place to pray seek and worship God - they decided it could serve another use rather than its intended use. Instead of Gods intended use of praying it was now used for preying by the thieving religious leaders. The intended use of God's house is for confession of sin not hiding or proliferating sin. Everyday of teaching Jesus taught in the temple - this area of the public court of the Gentiles. Using it as God intended a gathering place for those who needed help, needed healing, and were afflicted, as well as teaching the Word of God. The religious leaders tried to harm Him and wanted to kill Him but could not - it was not yet Jesus' time. Recognize and Respect the One of Authority Luke 20:1-4 CSB 1 One day as he was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the good news, the chief priests and the scribes, with the elders, came 2 and said to him, "Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?" 3 He answered them, "I will also ask you a question. Tell me, 4 was the baptism of John from heaven or of human origin?" Luke 20:5-8 CSB 5 They discussed it among themselves: "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say, 'Why didn't you believe him?' 6 But if we say, 'Of human origin,' all the people will stone us, because they are convinced that John was a prophet." 7 So they answered that they did not know its origin. 8 And Jesus said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things." One of the days (actually this believed to be the last day of Jesus teaching ministry - so Tuesday) as Jesus was teaching the people in the temple and proclaiming the good news (these were the words that the people loved to hear - that they were hung on and captivated by). The good news of Jesus proclaimed hope and love - as opposed to the religious condemnation and laws and how they failed. It was on this day however that the chief priests, scribes and the elders came to question Jesus about His authority. • What authority are you doing these things? • Who gave you this authority? We read from this side of the encounter - but Jesus knew their hearts and intentions and what looked like a normal innocuous question was really a carefully laid trap that they had hoped to catch Jesus in so that they could find fault and turn the people against Him. The chief priests were temple officials - scribes were made up of both Sadduccees and Pharisees and the elders possibly political laymen. The first question was with what authority do you do these things - perhaps cleansing the temple but also in proclaiming the kingdom of God. As prophet, priest, or as king. The second question sought to determine who was backing Jesus - what group was He with? Jesus with perfect wisdom instead of supplying an answer that would give them what they wanted instead posed His own question. Tell me was the baptism of John from heaven or human origin? This question perfectly reveals His authority and also expose their hypocrisy. If they answer that the baptism (ministry of John) was from God, then he was right in proclaiming Jesus as the Messiah. John 1:29 CSB 29 The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him and said, "Look, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world! If this is true then that is Jesus' authority and backing. The leaders discuss amongst themselves and realize the quandary they entered - if they answer from heaven then we must believe John. If we answer that John was of human origin then all the people will stone us - for they believe John was a prophet of God. Rather than admit their sin they choose no answer at all and say they dont know the authority. Jesus then says neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things. One who truly exercises authority given by God fears no man A Tenant Not The Owner Luke 20:9-10 CSB 9 Now he began to tell the people this parable: "A man planted a vineyard, leased it to tenant farmers, and went away for a long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the farmers so that they might give him some fruit from the vineyard. But the farmers beat him and sent him away empty-handed. Luke 20:11-13 CSB 11 He sent yet another servant, but they beat that one too, treated him shamefully, and sent him away empty-handed. 12 And he sent yet a third, but they wounded this one too and threw him out. 13 "Then the owner of the vineyard said, 'What should I do? I will send my beloved son. Perhaps they will respect him.' Luke 20:14-15 CSB 14 "But when the tenant farmers saw him, they discussed it among themselves and said, 'This is the heir. Let's kill him, so that the inheritance will be ours.' 15 So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. "What then will the owner of the vineyard do to them? Luke 20:16-17 CSB 16 He will come and kill those farmers and give the vineyard to others." But when they heard this they said, "That must never happen!" 17 But he looked at them and said, "Then what is the meaning of this Scripture: The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone? Luke 20:18-19 CSB 18 Everyone who falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but on whomever it falls, it will shatter him." 19 Then the scribes and the chief priests looked for a way to get their hands on him that very hour, because they knew he had told this parable against them, but they feared the people. Now Jesus gives a parable to illustrate the error and sin of the religious leaders. The parable includes a vineyard, an owner, tenant farmers, servants and the owners son. The owner planted a vineyard and leased it out to some tenant farmers and then went away for a long time. Well around harvest he sent a servant to the farmers that they might give him some fruit from the vineyard, instead they beat him and sent him away empty-handed. He sent another servant and they beat him and treated him shamefully and sent him away empty-handed as well. He sent a third servant but they wounded this one and threw him out. The owner decided to send his son hoping they would respect his own son, but instead the farmers saw him and discussed and decided to kill him so the vineyard would be theirs. So they threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. Now at this point of the story Jesus asks the question - what then will the vineyard owner do to them. Perhaps immediately or after a dramatic pause even Jesus answers and says plainly He will come and kill those farmers and give the vineyard to others. Now to bring light to the parable - the owner is God, the vineyard is Israel, the farmers are the religious leaders of Israel, and the servants are the prophets whom God has sent, and the son is Jesus - the Son of God. The prophets were sent by God to gather the harvest by calling Israel to repentance - when they returned empty and abused - God sent His son - but they the religious leaders will kill him outside of Israel (at Calvarys Mountain on Golgotha). You see in the parable the tenant farmers started out well enough - but they started to through the passing of enough time begin to see themselves differently. As opposed to tenants - perhaps making a lot of day to day decisions they felt like they were owners. They lost sight of whose vineyard it was and claimed it for their own. Movie producer got permission to use the front of a house to film some car chase scenes. After a couple of high adrenaline crashes and some scorched lawn later - the phone rang and the property owner was dismayed at the news that the yard has been destroyed. Turns out the permission granted was from the tenants and not the owner The punishment to the tenant farmers in the parable was to have God come in judgment and kill them and remove Israel from their grasp. They recognized the parable was against them and so they said that must never happen - God forbid, Certainly Not Jesus does not directly argue but brings them to scripture and asks what then is this that is written? Psalm 118:22 CSB 22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. This quote comes from the same Psalm that the people were shouting on Sunday - its the Hosanna Psalm. Psalm 118:22-26 CSB 22 The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone. 23 This came from the LORD; it is wondrous in our sight. 24 This is the day the LORD has made; let's rejoice and be glad in it. 25 LORD, save us! LORD, please grant us success! 26 He who comes in the name of the LORD is blessed. From the house of the LORD we bless you. Jesus at the triumphal entry was presented as Messiah - the one who comes in the name of the Lord and is the Son of God. The religious leaders reject the cornerstone because they no longer see themselves as tenants in Gods vineyard but as owners of their own vineyard. We make the same mistake and reject Jesus because we see ourselves as owners when we are only tenants - God is the owner and we owe and answer to Him. We are all either broken at Jesus or we will broken by Jesus Conclusion My brother and sister in Christ - this morning we may admit our love for Christ and we may want to praise Him, but He challenges us to allow Him to cleanse the temple in our lives. It is time things are used for the intended purposes. Will you let Jesus flip some tables in your hearts restoring some temple etiquette? 1 Corinthians 3:16 CSB 16 Don't you yourselves know that you are God's temple and that the Spirit of God lives in you? 2 Corinthians 6:16 CSB 16 And what agreement does the temple of God have with idols? For we are the temple of the living God, as God said: I will dwell and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they will be my people. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 CSB 17 Therefore, come out from among them and be separate, says the Lord; do not touch any unclean thing, and I will welcome you. 18 And I will be a Father to you, and you will be sons and daughters to me, says the Lord Almighty. Jesus made room in the temple and made changes so that they could worship. As goes the worship so goes the worshippers. Let us worship as intended Malachi 3:1-2 CSB 1 "See, I am going to send my messenger, and he will clear the way before me. Then the Lord you seek will suddenly come to his temple, the Messenger of the covenant you delight in-see, he is coming," says the LORD of Armies. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming? And who will be able to stand when he appears? For he will be like a refiner's fire and like launderer's bleach. Malachi 3:3 CSB 3 He will be like a refiner and purifier of silver; he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver. Then they will present offerings to the LORD in righteousness. If we want answers from Jesus we must deal with the truth of Jesus already revealed. The religious leaders knew Jesus was the Messiah - they were not willing to accept it. Jesus differs from the prophets - they were mere servants - Jesus is the Christ described as God's beloved son. Jesus' role is unique - He is not merely a favorite servant or the most beloved servant - no He is the beloved Son of God - the only begotten of the Father. Jesus' identity as revealed is the foundation of the Church Anyone who comes to Jesus will be broken of their pride and self-will, those who refuse to come will be crushed by Christ in judgment. We as the Church are tenants in God's vineyard - responsible to share the grace and mercy of God through the proclaiming of the Gospel - let us not profane the worship of God but continue to be good tenants recognizing God as the rightful owner. Page . Exported from Logos Bible Software, 5:47 PM March 27, 2021.