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Stop making my Father's house a market place.
SERMON – 10.15am, Emmanuel Church, Pokfulam, Hong Kong
Sunday 15th March 2009
Revd. Canon David Pickering
John 2. 16
Take these things out of here!
Stop making my Father's house a market place.
Jesus was hurt by what he saw going on in the temple precincts. He was angry about the way money, birds, cattle and sheep were being used and abused in the service and organisation of the temple.
He was so annoyed that he seemed to lose it when he drove out those who were dealing in these commodities.
This morning's gospel reading presents us with one of the major differences between John's gospel and the other three. Yet there are some important similarities.
In first three gospels, usually called the Synoptics, Matthew, Mark and Luke each have Jesus visiting Jerusalem just once, as their story builds up to the climax of the cross and resurrection. John on the other hand has three visits to the holy city. And it is the first of these that is recorded in this morning's gospel reading.
All four gospels record the cleansing of the temple. So it is probably based on a well attested historical incident. And we can gain a lot from the different understandings of the event. However, as the first three evangelists only have one visit they have to place the event at the climatic end of their narrative and it takes place immediately after the triumphant entry on Palm Sunday.
On the other hand John places the cleansing of the temple at almost the outset of Jesus' ministry, immediately after the changing of water into wine at the wedding of Cana. By linking these two events together, John is keen to show that in Jesus the old order is being replaced. Jewish Cleansing ritual, in the water that is changed into wine and the demise of the temple worship are signs that God is making a new beginning in Jesus.
There are also two other points of contrast in the different versions. In the Synoptic three it is this event, of the cleansing of the temple, which was the final straw for the Jewish Religious authorities and that lead to the plotting against Jesus, his arrest and execution. For John it is the raising Lazarus from the dead that leads to the plotting.
Secondly, here in John's gospel, the reason for Jesus' action comes in the form of a comment, His disciples remembered that it was written, 'Zeal for your house will consume me.' quoting the words of Psalm 69 verse.9.
The first three evangelists are more direct; quoting Isaiah 56.7 for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples. And Jeremiah 7.11 has this house, which is called by my name, become a robbers den in your sight?
No matter how the event is used by the different evangelist, Jesus seems to be saying something about the abuse that surrounds the worship of the temple.
The temple may be a house of prayer, but it is also a place of worship. We need to remember there is a clear difference between Prayer and Worship. There may be a general interweaving of prayer and worship, but they are distinct in themselves. Prayer is an integral aspect of worship, but we can and do pray privately outside of the worship of the Church.
Someone once said to me that she could pray just as well at her kitchen sink on a Sunday morning as in Church. I agreed with her and commended he devotional practice. But I also pointed our that worship is a coming together of people. Jesus said that where two or three were gathered together in his name, there was he among them.
Worship is a corporate activity; something we do with others. Prayer can and at times should be a singular personal activity. Our private prayers often have their own pattern, perhaps daily, even twice daily or many times in the day. Perhaps they are less frequent but more prolonged and at a deeper spiritual level. There is so much that can be said about prayer and spirituality. Down the centuries myriad's of books have been written on the subject and are still flowing from the hearts and minds of today's spiritual directors and gurus. During Lent I try to read a book on prayer. This year I'm reading 'The God of Surprises' by the Jesuit Gerard Hughes. He says that prayer begins with wonder.
But this morning, as Jesus was concerned with what was going on in the temple, perhaps we should focus on worship. The Temple was a place of sacrifice and worship. And in its hurly burly, even beyond the money changes etc, it is doubtful whether it was a place conducive to quiet and reflective prayer.
Worship is a corporate celebration, something we do with others, a remembering, a re-enacting of what God has done for us in Jesus, in the way Jesus taught, when at the Last Supper he said do this remembrance of me.
We are a relatively small group of people who meet here week by week to celebrate, through the action of the Eucharist God's saving acts in Jesus. But we, and even smaller groups, are not worshipping in isolation.
Along with the other daughter churches at Stanley and Discovery Bay and the various ethnic congregations at St John's Cathedral, we are part of a larger worshipping community. But of course it goes way beyond that. We are part of the diocese of Hong Kong Island, the Province of Hong Kong Anglican Church; within the world-wide Anglican Communion and just one part the various traditions and denominations of the Universal Christian Church, that extends backwards and forwards in time and across all contemporary society.
We are joined in worship with all these people around the world, and across the generations.
But our worship is not just what we do here Sunday be Sunday, or at any other time.
This morning's Old Testament reading was the familiar passage from Exodus 20 of the Ten Commandments. Notice how it begins with God's self-announcement and the requirement of worship qt. 3, 4a, 5a, 7 & 8a
Then the rest is about the consequences of the worship relationship with God; the positives and the negatives.
In the Common Worship Services and Prayers for the Church of England there is a very good version of the Ten Commandments, where each line is complemented with a New Testament statement. I quote;
- I am the Lord your God: you shall have no other gods but me.
You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart,
with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.
- You shall not make for yourself any idol.
God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and in truth.
- You shall not dishonour the name of the Lord your God.
You shall worship him with awe and reverence.
- Remember the Sabbath and keep it holy.
Christ is risen from the dead: set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on the earth.
- Honour your father and mother.
Live as servants of God; let us work for the good of all,
especially members of the household of faith.
- You shall not commit murder.
Live peaceably with all; overcome evil with good.
- You shall not commit adultery.
Know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit.
- You shall not steal.
Be honest in all that you do, and care for those in need.
- You shall not be a false witness.
Let everyone speak the truth.
- You shall not covet anything which belongs to your neighbour.
Remember the words of the Lord Jesus:
'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'
Love your neighbour as yourself, for love is the fulfilling of the law.
Our worship begins here, and, if it is alive, it goes with us out into the world. It becomes involved in the turmoil of our lives. Our Sunday worship should influence and inspire all that are called to do between now and the next time we are here.
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