12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” 14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. 16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” 17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night. (Matthew 21:12-17)
I hope you were encouraged yesterday to more deeply accept, declare and promote the sovereignty of God. He alone is king. and when we commit our lives to Jesus, we find our intended identity in God’s kingdom (we become new creations) and we have an obligation to live like citizens of His kingdom.
But what happens when those professing to be servants of God practice disobedience? On the day after the triumphal entry, Jesus confronts just that kind of situation in the temple courts. He calls out the lack of integrity in very dramatic fashion. He shuts down those who put commerce over worship and service and then He focusses on the needy. Think about what is happening in our world today. The world is still desperately in need of integrity and care.
(Note the validation of the following Disciplines: Bible Study, Worship, Prayer, Stewardship and Service).
Please prayerfully read the passage above and answer the question below.
Questions
It is easy to criticize the money changers, dove sellers and religious leaders in the temple as villains, but:
- How do we guard our integrity and shun hypocrisy?
- Make this more personal. When Jesus walks through your life are there things he overturns like the tables and benches?
Please share your answer to Question 1 and spend some time in prayer about Question 2.
April 7, 2020 at 2:18 pm
Sincerely desiring and striving to be like Jesus in actions, thoughts, and our words, is an ideal way to guard our integrity and shun hypocrisy. Years ago WWJD (what would Jesus do?) was a big deal. For many of us, if we asked ourselves that question before we said and did many things, especially when we are in a conversation or situation where judging or gossiping is about to happen, and responded in the way Jesus would, we would be on the right track. Then people who know us as Christian won’t correctly say we are hypocrites. (Even if what we say about someone is true, if it’s not positive, we really shouldn’t say it).
There are things in my life that if Jesus walked through, He would overturn, but he’d overturn them gently. 🙂 He knows that they are behaviors that I continue to ask Him for help with. I have improved, but being like Jesus is a life-long process.
I plan to start implementing WWJD again. It really is a helpful tool. Sometimes my thoughts and feelings jump out of my mouth, and what jumps out is not always pleasing to God’s ears. I want to change that. I don’t want anyone to ever say that I’m a hypocrite. I want the world to see me as someone who wants to behave the way Jesus would.
April 7, 2020 at 10:32 pm
How do we guard our integrity and shun hypocrisy?
We need to know God’s Word. Everyday, pray, read the Bible and meditate on what we read. Start each day with our thoughts set on God. We will also need to memorize Bible verses so that we can apply God’s word , God’s guidance to whatever situation may arise, not compromising any of God’s principles. When Jesus was tempted by the devil, Jesus drew from God’s word eg Deuteronomy 6:16 “Do not test the Lord your God………. Knowing that God is watching us will also remind us to reconsider our actions and words. Also our thoughts. As Christians we should be known for our integrity. Anything less would be hurting God in addition to others questioning what does a Christian really stand for. Colossians 3 17 “And whatever you do whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus……….. We also need to be aware of our own weaknesses and always depend on God’s guidance.
April 7, 2020 at 10:43 pm
I like both these answers as I can use to coming closer to him.Thanks
April 8, 2020 at 6:18 am
I think if you have unconfessed sins, it will be a barrier to the relationship with Christ. Praying and being grounded n God’s word can help guard the integrity and shun hypocrisy. I also believe that if a believer has some bitterness/ grudges in heart, it’s impossible to commune with God. You cannot take communion in the service if your heart is not attuned with God. One example , I could share is when I had a hard time to forgive, but after repentance and really letting the hurt and pain let go, allowing the Lord to take care of it, did I realize the forgiveness and freedom from slavery to sin. You can tell the Lord everything in prayer and you can be very honest about your feelings to Him and from my experience, He will
really heal your pain and that will lead to humility. I was able to apologize to someone even though I know I was very much hurt by that person. That was one of the greatest feeling of peace and joy I had knowing that the Lord knows my hurt and my struggles. Indeed God’s saving grace is different from the common grace every one can have. I’m grateful for God’s gift of salvation.