Scripture Post #629: *MY FATHER'S HOUSE*

John 2:16: "And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise."

Disclaimer: The image used for this Scripture Post, in its original form, was from an image search engine. It is not an image of my own. 

This image is to show how it probably looked when JESUS drove the merchandisers out of HIS FATHER's HOUSE. It is not given to show how JESUS looked. Research suggests that CHRIST didn't look like this. And it was unseemly for Jews to have long hair unless they were Nazarites. But CHRIST wasn't a Nazarite. Here's what Apostle Paul stated about long hair: 1st Cor. 1:14: "Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?"

V. 15: "But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering." CHRIST didn't shame HIMSELF by having long hair. 

The Jews in CHRIST's day turned GOD's House (the Temple and worshipping place of the LORD) into a house of merchandise. JESUS was so heated by this, that HE made a whip and drove out those who sold in HIS FATHER's House! If you're mission is merchandising, then take it outside of GOD's House. Separate the 2. JESUS said, "Take these things hence…" Ministry is ministry, and it takes money to grow a ministry. Business is business, and it too takes money to grow. But the 2 mustn't intertwine. You don't go into ministry seeking profit$; you go into ministry seeking souls won for the Kingdom. You seek first the Kingdom! 

GOD is a GOD of grace and love. JESUS was very peaceful and humble. JESUS loved people greatly—loved them so much that HE died for us all. JESUS is all these things, but we mustn't overlook that some things upset our SAVIOR. GOD is love, but GOD hates some things. JESUS died for us out of love, but HE hated what these Jews did in HIS FATHER's House. JESUS had a whip in HIS hand (read the context below) and drove folks out of the Temple of GOD! HE was angry. Yes. Loving, peaceful, meek, grace-filled JESUS was angry. HE aggressively overthrew tables in the Temple in HIS anger over the situation! So it's not that JESUS is an aggressive GOD only. Nor is it that JESUS is a meek and nice GOD only. JESUS is not one way. HE has multiple feelings just like us. Are we meek all the time? No. Are we angry all the time? No. Some things should anger us. As should some things make us happy. We aren't 1 way and neither is GOD. If someone blasphemes GOD, I don't know about you, but I'm going to be upset over it. If it's praise and worship time, and a song comes on lifting up the name of the LORD, I don't know about you, but I'm going to, with joy in my heart, unleash a great praise to my GOD. We must grasp that we aren't to have a great big smile on our faces 24/7. If somethin' makes you sad, cry. GOD permitted us feelings for a reason. And we must also grasp GOD permitting HIMSELF to utilize HIS feelings also. As JESUS did when HE showed anger in driving out those who sold in the Temple. 

Context:

John 2:12: "After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days."

V. 13: "And the Jews’ passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

V. 14: "And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:"

V. 15: "And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;"

V. 16: "And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise."

V. 17: "And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up."

Originally Published: Tue. 6/3/14