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•15他们来到耶路撒冷。耶稣进入圣殿，赶出殿里做买卖的人，推倒兑换银钱之人的桌子和卖鸽子之人的凳子，16也不许人拿着器具从殿里经过。17便教训他们说：“经上不是记着说
•‘我的殿必称为万国祷告的殿’吗？
•你们倒使它成为贼窝了。”
•18祭司长和文士听见这话，就想法子要除灭耶稣，却又怕他，因为众人都希奇他的教训。19每天晚上，耶稣出城去。
为什么耶稣如此愤怒，愤怒到甚至推翻了那些卖动物和兑换货币的人凳子?他们把上帝的殿变成了贼窝。他们在兑换钱币和出售献祭动物的过程中，收取过高的费用。圣殿是为万国万民预备的。神设计圣殿，吸引万民前来敬拜，让外邦人也能来认识这位真神和救主。但想象一下，作为一个寻求救主的人来到圣殿，却被那里的工作人员剥削。难怪耶稣会愤怒!
我们是否使我们的教会也成为这样一个地方——一个任何人都可以来的地方，并感受到神的子民的欢迎，他们在这里可以了解我们的神和救主。一位牧师给我讲了一个故事，讲的是一个女人带着她的三个任性的孩子来他的教会。她和她的孩子们很可能已经很久没有去教会了。或者从来没去过教会。孩子们不知道在教会里应该做什么不应该做什么。当他们离开时，一个负责接待的人员跟着他们出来，责备她，“夫人，你的孩子不应该去教会——他们应该去动物园!”。我认为这位女士不会再回来了。这是一个真实的故事。
我们是否让我们的教会成为一个任何人都感到受欢迎的地方?我们聚集在一起只是为了那些忠心的信徒，还是为了那些二十年没去教堂的人?我们的教会只欢迎义人的乡村俱乐部还是接纳罪人的医院?我们是否让我们的教会成为一个为万国万民祷告的地方?也许我们首先应该记住这一点：教会属于耶稣而不是我们。我们在他的殿里都是受欢迎的客人。
祷告:主耶稣，我祷告你能使我们的教会成为罪人感到受欢迎的地方，并能听到救恩的信息。让我们的聚会不仅是为了我们自己，也是为了所有在你们里面寻求平安的人。祷告奉你的名。阿们。
Mark 11:15-17: When Jesus reached Jerusalem, he entered the temple courtyard. He began to drive out those who were buying and selling there. He turned over the tables of the people who were exchanging money. He also turned over the benches of those who were selling doves. 16 He would not allow anyone to carry items for sale through the temple courtyard. 17 Then he taught them. He told them, “It is written that the Lord said, ‘My house will be called a house where people from all nations can pray.’ (Isaiah 56:7) But you have made it a ‘den for robbers.’ ” (Jeremiah 7:11) (NIV)
Why was Jesus so angry, angry enough to turn over the benches of those who were selling animals and exchanging money? They had turned God’s house into a den of robbers. They charged exorbitant prices for exchanging the currency and for selling the sacrificial animals. The temple was to be a house for people of all nations. God designed it as an attraction where even Gentiles could come and learn about the true God and the Savior. But imagine being a “seeker” who came to the temple, only to be ripped off by those who worked there. No wonder Jesus was angry!
Do we make our churches places where anyone might come and feel welcomed by God’s people, a place where they can learn about our God and Savior? A pastor told me a story about a woman who visited his church with her three very unruly children. It was likely that she and her children had not been in a church for a long time. Maybe never. The children did not know how to behave in church. As they left, an usher followed them out and scolded her. “Lady, your children don’t belong in church—they belong in a zoo!” he said. I don’t think she returned. That’s a true story.
Have we made our church a place where anyone would feel welcome there? Do we gather only for the faithful, or do we have in mind that man or woman who has not been in church for twenty years? Is it a country club for the righteous or a hospital for sinners? Have we made our church a house of prayer for all nations? Perhaps the place to begin is to remember that the church belongs to Jesus and not to us. We are all welcomed guests in his house.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, I pray that you would make our churches places where sinners feel welcome and will hear the story of salvation. Let our gatherings be not just for ourselves, but for all who are seeking peace in you. I ask this in your name. Amen.