THE ARRIVAL OF THE KING (5 OF 6)
by Zach Terry
Scripture: Matthew 24:29-31
This content is part of a series.
The Arrival of the King (5 of 6)
Series: The Second Coming
Zach Terry
Matthew 24:29-31
INTRODUCTION: Jerusalem was filled with the standard hustle and bustle of any first century capital city. Business was booming in the Temple complex.
Enterprising entrepreneurs had set up shop in the court of the Gentiles providing the required sacrifice to the foreign sojourners who had come to learn of the gracious God of Israel, at a price.
The required temple tax had caused money changers to set up tables in alignment along the Temple walls with various signs indicating that day's rate of exchange. One shouted over another, urging the passing worshipper into their particular booth. What had begun as a convenience had devolved into a carnival.
The Father's House that had once been a house of prayer for the nations, now sounded more like the opening bell of Wall Street.
But this day Christ has come...He had been touring his homeland of Galilee to the North where he had heard rumors and seen evidence of the sacred Temple being overrun by irreligious opportunists.
As he enters the Temple courts, he pauses, he listens, he gazes around... then suddenly, compulsively he runs over to grab a bundle of cords which had been used to lead the sacrifices into the Temple. He fashions the cords into a weapon, a whip and begins thrashing the money changers with one hand and flipping tables over with the other.
Consumed with zeal, he shouts repeatedly, ''my Father's house is to be a house of prayer for the nations, but look what you have done to it!'' Despite being well armed, the temple guards were the first to flee. Followed quickly by the businessmen, some angry, others confused, all afraid.
When the dust settled that day, the bustling sounds of the market place could no longer be heard, just the faint whispers of prayer amidst the bleating of sheep that one by one were offered in sacrifice. The King had come home... and things were made right.
The Bib ...
Series: The Second Coming
Zach Terry
Matthew 24:29-31
INTRODUCTION: Jerusalem was filled with the standard hustle and bustle of any first century capital city. Business was booming in the Temple complex.
Enterprising entrepreneurs had set up shop in the court of the Gentiles providing the required sacrifice to the foreign sojourners who had come to learn of the gracious God of Israel, at a price.
The required temple tax had caused money changers to set up tables in alignment along the Temple walls with various signs indicating that day's rate of exchange. One shouted over another, urging the passing worshipper into their particular booth. What had begun as a convenience had devolved into a carnival.
The Father's House that had once been a house of prayer for the nations, now sounded more like the opening bell of Wall Street.
But this day Christ has come...He had been touring his homeland of Galilee to the North where he had heard rumors and seen evidence of the sacred Temple being overrun by irreligious opportunists.
As he enters the Temple courts, he pauses, he listens, he gazes around... then suddenly, compulsively he runs over to grab a bundle of cords which had been used to lead the sacrifices into the Temple. He fashions the cords into a weapon, a whip and begins thrashing the money changers with one hand and flipping tables over with the other.
Consumed with zeal, he shouts repeatedly, ''my Father's house is to be a house of prayer for the nations, but look what you have done to it!'' Despite being well armed, the temple guards were the first to flee. Followed quickly by the businessmen, some angry, others confused, all afraid.
When the dust settled that day, the bustling sounds of the market place could no longer be heard, just the faint whispers of prayer amidst the bleating of sheep that one by one were offered in sacrifice. The King had come home... and things were made right.
The Bib ...
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