CLEARING THE BENCH (1 OF 5)
by Jeff Strite
Scripture: Matthew 21:12-17
This content is part of a series.
Clearing the Bench (1 of 5)
Series: The Road To The Final Door
Jeff Strite
Matthew 21:12-17
OPEN: About 50 years ago there was a great preacher in the Washington D.C. area named Peter Marshall. I once read one of his sermons and found the following description of the scene we just read about in Matthew:
"It is early morning, but already the temple court is a bedlam of activity and noise. (pause…) Among the tables of the moneychangers, the cages of doves and the stalls of cattle, people are crowding about, chatting with their friends, selecting a dove for sacrifice, getting their money from countries like Persia, Egypt or Greece exchanged into the sacred half-shekel of the sanctuary. It's convenient. It's convenient to buy sacrifices on the spot instead of having to drag them from a distance. It is helpful to be able to exchange money bearing upon it the head of the emperor (a graven image and therefore unacceptable in the Temple) for the statutory half-shekel. And SO, convenient for all - and profitable to many - the temple huckstering has become a recognized institution.
Shrill voices - arguing - bickering - swearing angrily - the metallic tinkle of coins as they drop into the moneyboxes on the table…all the signs of greed can be heard... (pause) just outside the Holy Place.
There is no serenity.
No peace.
No one can pray there.
Suddenly there is a lull in the confusion. Startled at the sudden quiet, we look up to find a strange yet hauntingly familiar figure standing between 2 of the gigantic stone columns.
(pause…)
It's Jesus.
His face burning with intensity.
His face magnificent in its wrath.
As He steps forward with a resolution and firmness born of the terrible conviction within Him, there is a look in His eyes before which men break away.
His lips are drawn into a thin line.
Stooping down, He picks up some binding cords which the merchants have discarded.
And deftly He knots them into a whip.
There is something in ...
Series: The Road To The Final Door
Jeff Strite
Matthew 21:12-17
OPEN: About 50 years ago there was a great preacher in the Washington D.C. area named Peter Marshall. I once read one of his sermons and found the following description of the scene we just read about in Matthew:
"It is early morning, but already the temple court is a bedlam of activity and noise. (pause…) Among the tables of the moneychangers, the cages of doves and the stalls of cattle, people are crowding about, chatting with their friends, selecting a dove for sacrifice, getting their money from countries like Persia, Egypt or Greece exchanged into the sacred half-shekel of the sanctuary. It's convenient. It's convenient to buy sacrifices on the spot instead of having to drag them from a distance. It is helpful to be able to exchange money bearing upon it the head of the emperor (a graven image and therefore unacceptable in the Temple) for the statutory half-shekel. And SO, convenient for all - and profitable to many - the temple huckstering has become a recognized institution.
Shrill voices - arguing - bickering - swearing angrily - the metallic tinkle of coins as they drop into the moneyboxes on the table…all the signs of greed can be heard... (pause) just outside the Holy Place.
There is no serenity.
No peace.
No one can pray there.
Suddenly there is a lull in the confusion. Startled at the sudden quiet, we look up to find a strange yet hauntingly familiar figure standing between 2 of the gigantic stone columns.
(pause…)
It's Jesus.
His face burning with intensity.
His face magnificent in its wrath.
As He steps forward with a resolution and firmness born of the terrible conviction within Him, there is a look in His eyes before which men break away.
His lips are drawn into a thin line.
Stooping down, He picks up some binding cords which the merchants have discarded.
And deftly He knots them into a whip.
There is something in ...
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