In Matthew 21:12-17, we read of Matthew's account of Jesus' cleansing of the temple following His triumphal entry into Jerusalem (21:1-11). After Jesus drives out those who are selling doves in the temple and the money changers, He proclaims: "It is written, My House shall be called a house of prayer; but you are making it a robbers' den." (21:13). Interestingly enough, this passage is found in the book of Jeremiah. Jeremiah predicted the temple would be destroyed and warned the inhabitants of Jerusalem not to listen to lying prophets who could not imagine that God would destroy the temple (Jeremiah 7:1-4). In this context is where the prophet says, "Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Behold, I, even I, have seen it," declares The Lord."(7:11)
Then Jeremiah gives as an example of God's judgment the tabernacle shrine which once stood in Shiloh (7:14). "Therefore, I will do to the house which is called by My name, in which you trust, and to the place which I gave to your fathers, as I did to Shiloh" (vs. 14). This carries us back to the days of the prophet, priest, and judge of Israel, Samuel. In I Samuel chapter 4, the text tells us of Israel being defeated by the Philistines and having the ark (the ark of the covenant) captured in battle. While the book of I Samuel does not give us the details, the prophet Jeremiah (and the archaeological evidence) fills in the missing pieces to the puzzle. Why would Jeremiah use the tabernacle as an example of what would happen to the temple? Because the historical record outside the Bible gives us eyewitness evidence to what took place - utter destruction at Shiloh (and the tabernacle) during the days of Eli and Samuel.
This makes Jesus' statement in the temple mean much more when we understand the events surroundings His cleansing of the temple. This is a prophetic reference to the impending destruction upon the temple which took place in AD 70; and just like the tabernacle in the days of Samuel, never to be rebuilt in that spot again. Just as in the days of Jwremiah, those in the days of Jesus' had missed the mark, literally. They thought proper worship (which is important) would cover up unrighteous living (note especially Jeremiah 7:6-10). So too those in the time of Christ were guilty of the same sin (Matthew 15:8-10, 15-20; 23:13-36). We could learn much from Jeremiah and Jesus. God never has, and never will, turn a blind eye to the unrighteous living of His children. There will come a day of reckoning )John 5:28-29). - Randy Neal -
(Randy Neal)
We live in a world of modern conveniences. We turn on the light switch and presto, instant light! We get thirsty so we go to the kitchen and get a drink of water out of the faucet (or refrigerator). With our dependable water heaters, we can have hot water to wash or bathe with 24 hours a day. If we need something we don’t have, just jump in your car and drive down the road to the grocery store or hardware store. Then if they don’t have it, there’s always a Wal-Mart close by. Some of these conveniences are nice and I would not like have to part with them, but my eternal destiny rests upon the Rock of Ages and not these modern gadgets.
While we have many comforts that make life easier or more convenient (but not necessarily more enjoyable), Satan has tricked the world into also making sin more convenient or prevalent. The same gas station you stop by and buy gas also sells beer, cigarettes, and lottery tickets. While we pride ourselves into being a society that does not allow stores to sell alcohol and tobacco to minors, yet many adults are harmed who use these substances. People who love to gamble used to have to go out to Las Vegas, up to Atlantic City, or even down to New Orleans to get their fill of poker and slot machines, but now Biloxi and Philadelphia, MS., Cherokee, NC, and cities with Riverboat gambling have become the “Mecca” for gambling throughout the country. Over 36 states have some form of gambling, and the most popular today is the “power ball” jackpot. When a state has a mega-million dollar jackpot, people will literally drive across country to purchase tickets. Actually, you do not even have to get in your car and drive across the state line anymore (you can purchase lotto tickets online) to bet your money. You can gamble “off shore” via the internet. And who would have ever thought that pornography would become so prevalent? Instead of fighting legal battles to keep this smut off of the bookshelves, they now have free reign on the internet. Former Attorney General, John Ashcroft, took a harsh stand against this evil movement back in 2001. And time would not allow for us to speak of the availability of drugs on the streets of America. Yet these numerous social ills, which the Bible calls sin, are made readily available to most of society.
In 2 Timothy 3:1-5, the apostle Paul warned, “But know this, that in the last days grievous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of self, lovers of money, boastful, haughty, railers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, without natural affection, implacable, slanderers, without self-control, fierce, no lovers of good, traitors, headstrong, puffed up, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God; holding a form of godliness, but having denied the power thereof: from these things also turn away” (A.S.V. 1901). Paul hits the nail on the head even in the 21st century. We are all living in these grievous or “perilous times” (as the K.J.V. renders it). It has been said that love makes the world go round. But if love makes the world go round, then surely the love of “money” makes sin go around. The apostle Paul condemns the “love of money” (1 Timothy 6:10), not money itself. I guarantee you that if those who are in the sinning business lost their market or profit margin, then they would close up shop today! Paul condemned those (in 2 Timothy 3) who loved “pleasure” more than God. The Hebrew writer says that Moses chose “rather to suffer affliction with the people of God, than to enjoy the pleasures of sin for a season” (Hebrews 11:25). Oh yes, there is pleasure in sin. If there were no enjoyment in sin, Satan would have been put out of business years ago. How do we combat against this war between good and evil? Paul’s answer, simply put, is for them to “turn away” from these things. Paul told the brethren at Thessalonica, “Abstain from all appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22). If we would simply turn and run in the opposite direction away from sin (and run towards Christ), then we would be victorious!
The Bible teaches us that the victory is ours. We are “more than conquerors through Him that loved us” (Romans 8:37). We must continue fighting the “good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life …” (1 Timothy 6:12). If we remain “faithful unto death,” God has promised His children a “crown of life” (Revelation 2:10). Let us not allow the easy accessibility of sin to keep us out of heaven!