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Mark 11:15-19
In Mark 11:11 Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem, went into the temple, and saw what was going on within the temple. In Mark 11:12-14, the next day, Jesus has cursed a fig tree for producing no fruit, even though it was out of season. He did this in response to the condition of Israel for not following God and producing “fruit,” which was a reflection of what He had seen in the temple the day before. As Jesus arrives in Jerusalem just after cursing the fig tree, He goes straight to the temple, the place that has caused His disgust from what He had seen there the day before. Jesus then purifies the temple in fulfillment of Malachi 3 as He drives out those who were exploiting the services of the temple – charging outrageous rates for those coming from other countries to sacrifice at the temple. The temple had become a business instead of being the house of God.
This is an example of how easy it is for money and the love of it to come between us and God.
The issue that caused this great displacement from God in the temple is that the hearts of the scribes and chief priests were not focused on worshiping God but making money from it. This does not mean that the priests and preachers today should not receive a wage for their service to God but that their focus should be on the task of sharing the Gospel and making disciples of all nations (Matthew 28:18-20). That is the task of all Christians; it is the focus of our hearts that is important to God; if our focus is where God desires it to be, then He will provide for our needs without our interfering on our own behalf. This is a good time for us all to do a focus check of our hearts; where is the focus of your heart? I hope and pray that it is on Christ Jesus and following His will for you.
Dear LORD,
Please help us all to not fall into the devil’s trap of putting money or anything else before You. Please help us to have pure hearts and intentions in our relationships with You, that we are seeking Your will for our lives and not our own will that leads us away from You. Please help us to be the people that You would have us to be in sharing the Gospel and making disciples of all nations as You have commanded us in Matthew 28:18-20; Mark 16:15; Luke 24:46-47; John 20:21; and Acts 1:8. In Jesus name I pray, amen.