FAR TO NEAR
Susan Murray
Today’s Scripture: “He said to them, ‘It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.’” Matthew 21:13, ESV
Theme: As we enter the Lord’s house, are we focused on the spiritual or the material? It matters to Jesus.
MY HOUSE
My house is where I reside. It is my home. How near you come to my house depends on the relationship. The trash men stop at the end of the driveway. (I wish they would walk down and get my trash can when I forget to put it out.) The delivery gal comes no farther than the porch to drop a package. A neighbor or friend will knock, waiting to be invited to come inside. My kids just walk right in and have full access to me and to the house.
PRESENCE OF GOD
In the beginning, Adam and Eve had complete and total access to God: face to face conversations; naked and not ashamed. Then they sinned and were cast out of the garden. Flaming swords were placed at the entrance of the garden so that they could not return. (See Genesis 3.) Since then, there has been distance between God and man. The overarching theme of the Bible is about that distance and what God did about it.
TEMPLE PRESENCE
God chose to live with the Israelite people, choosing the city of Jerusalem as the location for His temple. This is where God’s Name would reside (I Kings 8:29). It was where the Israelites were required to go to offer proper worship to God, through prayers and sacrifices to atone for sins. Even foreigners were allowed to go to the temple to worship God (2 Chronicles 6:32) This temple had several courts, divided by walls and a curtain. Who and what you were would determine how far you could go in coming closer to God’s presence.
The most outer court was for the foreigners: Gentiles (all non-Israelites). They were allowed to come to worship, but no farther than this outer court. The next court inside allowed for Israelite women, and then one for Israelite men. The priests were the only ones who could enter the next inner court, including the outer temple room. Finally, the High Priest was the only one allowed into most inner court, called the Holy of Holies and that was only once a year. Lots of rules and regulations described who, how, when, and where to worship God (see the Book of Leviticus). People could not just go near God any way they wanted. His holiness would destroy them. The temple structure allowed nearness, but barriers were required for safety.
When coming to the temple to worship, people were required to bring sacrifices to make atonement for their sin. The animals used in the sacrifices were bulls, goats, and sheep (which were expensive), but if you were poor, just a couple of birds were acceptable (Leviticus 5:7). If they lived far away, they were allowed to buy an animal in Jerusalem (Deuteronomy 14:24-26). The required temple tax was a half shekel, but the currency of the day was the Roman coin, so money exchanges were needed. Buying and selling an animal for sacrifice and exchanging money in the city was not bad in and of itself. It was necessary.
THE PROBLEM
Yet in Matthew 21:12-13, we read of Jesus coming into the temple, seeing this activity, and becoming angry. WHY? What was the problem? The people providing the money exchange and selling animals were not looking to meet the worshiper’s needs, but opportunities to make money for themselves. Money changers charged exorbitant fees. Those who examined animals brought in for sacrifice could deem them “unworthy,” requiring the purchase of a “worthy” animal again for an exorbitant price. Doves being sold meant that the poor were being taken advantage of.
For these businessmen, it wasn’t about service or facilitating worship but about money. Also, these businesses were set up in the temple’s outer Gentile court, which was intended for worship. Not only were they making immoral profits, but they were also prohibiting others from coming to God. Who could worship with all that activity, noise, and frustration?
The purposes of the temple - to be close to and worship God - had been corrupted into profit-making. It was supposed to be that through the Israelites, God would be revealed to the whole world (Ezekiel 37:28). Jesus came to show us who God is (John 14:9). He did not come to gain a profit from us but to have a relationship with us (Hebrews 8:10). This had been forgotten.
PRESENCE WITHIN
Today, a temple building with its animal sacrifices is no longer needed. It was destroyed and God did not allow it to be rebuilt. It is obsolete. It was only a foreshadow, pointing to something better. It is now possible to draw near God and be in His presence with confidence to worship—and not be destroyed. “In him and through faith in him [Jesus] we may approach God with freedom and confidence” (Ephesians 3:12, NIV).
No longer is a physical barrier needed between man and God. How is it possible for a pure and holy God to allow sinful human beings to be in His presence? Because on the cross, Jesus was cast out of God’s presence so we could be brought in. The final, complete, perfect, atoning sacrifice of Jesus restored our relationship with God, allowing us to be in His presence. In fact, He resides within us. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20, NIV). Jesus not only invites us in but comes to us where we are right now. “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (Revelations 3:20, NIV).
In Jesus, you’re God’s kid, giving you full access to Him without a single barrier. So run on in; He’s looking for you.
Make It Personal: If you have never opened the door to Jesus, I invite you to do so now. He wants a relationship with you, but sin is in the way. All you need to do is admit your sins and believe that what He did on the cross paid your debt to God, giving you a clean new perfect record – His record. “He lived the perfect life which you can’t, and died the death you should have received. It’s the great exchange” (Dr. Tim Keller). Open the door and invite Him in. He is waiting.
If you are a Jesus follower, have you forgotten who you are? Are you coming to God to worship and give thanks ...or are you looking for a profit? Are you making an exchange to gain a blessing from God, or are you drawing near, just to be with God? Is Jesus someone who is useful to you, as if you believe that by following the rules, He then owes you a good life on earth? Or do you see the beauty of Jesus on the cross, dying for you, so you could have the gift of eternal life? Take this moment to examine your heart and be honest with yourself. God already knows your heart and He stands ready to forgive. He desires you and He loves you. Ponder this love until your heart desires only Him and His presence.
Pray: Father, we praise Your Holy Name. Everything You do is right and good. We confess that we often want earthly, material things You can give us more than we want the gift of You. We can treat you as a business transaction, serving You only to serve ourselves. You see this and yet You still love us. Give us a heart that sees Your beauty in Jesus until our hearts melt in love with You. In His Name, Amen.
Read: Psalm 84; Hebrews 10:1-18
Weekly Memory Verse: Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6 (ESV)