Make not my Father's house an house of merchandise

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

Jesus saw that the merchants had turned the temple of God into a place of commerce. He drove them out from the temple and said: “Make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.”

What is the house of God to you? Is it a house for worship and spiritual uplifting or it is something else? Indeed, the church of God is not a building. The church building is not important but saints assemble in a building to worship God. Paul called it the house of God: “But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth” (1 Timothy 3:15).

Each member is a living stone and when all the stones come together, it forms the house of God: “Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5).

Note Paul’s command in 1 Timothy 3:15: “that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God.” It implies that there are certain behaviours in the house of God which are right and others which are wrong.

What constitute right behaviour in the church? They are those which are commanded by God. They are those which are pleasing to God. They are those which conforms to the purpose of the gathering. So, what is the right behaviour in the house of God? It can be summarised in one word: Spiritual - “to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 2:5). A worship is acceptable only when it is offered in spirit and in truth (John 4:24). “In spirit” refers to the attitude at worship and “in truth” refers to the manner of worship.

Hence, how can you make the Father’s house a house of merchandise? When it is not to you a house of prayer (Matthew 21:13). 

The following are how some pervert the house of prayer:

1. When it becomes a place to catch up with one another.

2. When it becomes a place of entertainment.

3. When it becomes a place for business contacts.

4. When your presence is not for worship.

5. When you are a spectator and not a worshipper.

When we fail to worship God in spirit and in truth while we are in the house of God, we have turned the Father’s house into something else.

Worship is a serious and solemn act. It is not an act to be done to any man, not even to angels, but only to God (Revelations 19:10). The word “worship” comes from the Greek word “proskuneō” which means “to kiss, (like a dog licking his master’s hand); to fawn or crouch to, that is, (literally or figuratively) prostrate oneself in homage (do reverence to, adore); worship” (Strong’s Definition, e-sword).

Solomon warns: “Keep thy foot when thou goest to the house of God, and be more ready to hear, than to give the sacrifice of fools: for they consider not that they do evil” (Ecclesiastes 5:1).

There are sacrifices to be offered unto God in his house, which are acceptable to Him. Peter calls it “spiritual sacrifice” (1 Peter 2:5). Other kinds of “sacrifice” are sacrifice of fools and are considered evil in the sight of God and they happen when men turn the Father’s house into a house of merchandise. Mark 11:17 says: “My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer? but ye have made it a den of thieves.”  Some versions translated it as “a den of robbers”. One becomes a thief or a robber when he fails to worship God in spirit and in truth because he is robbing God of the hour which is due to Him. That hour belongs to God but he stole from Him and engages in doing something else.

What were you doing when you were in the house of God?

  

Jimmy Lau

Psa 119:97  Oh how love I thy law! It is my meditation all the day.