Restoring Conisistency

RESTORING CONSISTENCY—Mark 11:15-18

Restoring consistency/harmony to a place of worship.

Jesus demonstrated the need for consistency regarding the Temple & its services.

All aspects surrounding worship must be consistent.

What consistencies are to characterize God’s place of worship?

4 expressions of consistency for God’s place of worship.

1—Restoring consistency to worship requires...

Conformity to Preparation(:15) Marketing/Obligations

—Explanation/Argumentation:(:15)

“And they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple & began to cast out those who were buying & selling in the temple, & overturned the tables of the moneychangers & the seats of those who were selling doves;”

a. “Buying & Selling”—Sheep, Oxen

Jn. 2:14—“And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen & sheep & doves, & the moneychangers seated.”

b. “Moneychangers”—

Deut. 14:24-26—““And if the distance is so great for you that you are not able to bring the tithe, since the place where the LORD your God chooses to set His name is too far away from you when the LORD your God blesses you, then you shall exchange it for money, & bind the money in your hand & go to the place which the LORD your God chooses. “And you may spend the money for whatever your heart desires, for oxen, or sheep, or wine, or strong drink, or whatever your heart desires; & there you shall eat in the presence of the LORD your God & rejoice, you & your household.”

Exchange foreign money for the “Shekel of the Sanctuary”—True, honest & standard weight.

c. “Selling Doves”—Sacrificial animals for women & the poor.

Lev. 5:5-7—“ ‘So it shall be when he becomes guilty in one of these, that he shall confess that in which he has sinned. ‘He shall also bring his guilt offering to the LORD for his sin which he has committed, a female from the flock, a lamb or a goat as a sin offering. So the priest shall make atonement on his behalf for his sin. ‘But if he cannot afford a lamb, then he shall bring to the LORD his guilt offering for that in which he has sinned, two turtledoves or two young pigeons, one for a sin offering & the other for a burnt offering.”

These should all have been taken care of prior to entrance to the Court of the Gentiles.

1Kgs. 6:7—“And the house, while it was being built, was built of stone prepared at the quarry, & there was neither hammer nor axe nor any iron tool heard in the house while it was being built.”—

*Preparation—Consideration for the sanctity/holiness/character/ sacredness of the sanctuary.

—Illustration:

Cook Fish/Gut & clean fish elsewhere/Fillets only brought into grease or grill/PREPARATION

To Work/Transportation—On time—Uniform on—Frame of mind/PREPARATION before get there

—Application:

?God’s place of worship must uphold a respect for PREPARATION to meet God?

?Are you prepared for this Easter Celebration/Holiday?

2—Restoring consistency to worship requires...

Conformity to PRESENCE(:16)

—Explanation:(:16) Focus

“....& He would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple.”

Transport

Inconsequential building

The Temple grounds were not intended to be taken so lightly as to use them as a crossroads/go-between/conduit for trading goods. The focus thus being upon the business/profit rather than worship. This would be a derailment of its holiness & relationship with God. Thus Jesus Himself stood against any who would abuse the Temple in such a manner.

God met with Moses & the High Priest in the Holy of Holies at the mercy seat—Ex. 25:17-22—““And you shall make a mercy seat of pure gold, two & a half cubits long & one & a half cubits wide. “And you shall make two cherubim of gold, make them of hammered work at the two ends of the mercy seat. “And make one cherub at one end & one cherub at the other end; you shall make the cherubim of one piece with the mercy seat at its two ends. “And the cherubim shall have their wings spread upward, covering the mercy seat with their wings & facing one another; the faces of the cherubim are to be turned toward the mercy seat. “And you shall put the mercy seat on top of the ark, & in the ark you shall put the testimony which I shall give to you. “And there I will meet with you; & from above the mercy seat, from between the two cherubim which are upon the ark of the testimony, I will speak to you about all that I will give you in commandment for the sons of Israel.”

*Presence—Consideration for the sanctity/holiness/character/ sacredness of the sanctuary.

—Argumentation:

2Chr. 7:12-16—“Then the LORD appeared to Solomon at night & said to him, “I have heard your prayer, & have chosen this place for Myself as a house of sacrifice. “If I shut up the heavens so that there is no rain, or if I command the locust to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among My people, & My people who are called by My name humble themselves & pray, & seek My face & turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin, & will heal their land. “Now My eyes shall be open & My ears attentive to the prayer offered in this place. “For now I have chosen & consecrated this house that My name may be there forever, & My eyes & My heart will be there perpetually.”