The Value of the Temple
John Ker's sermon emphasizes the importance of maintaining the sanctity of worship and warns against the dangers of materialism in the church.
John Ker preaches on the significance of Jesus purifying the temple, emphasizing the sacredness of Old Testament worship even as it was about to be fulfilled by Christ's sacrifice. The cleansing of the temple serves as a warning against the dangerous combination of greed and religion, a recurring issue throughout history. The presence of money-changers in the temple symbolizes the ongoing struggle against materialism infiltrating spiritual spaces, highlighting the need for constant vigilance and purity in worship.
Text
"My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves" (Matt. 21:13).
One is struck in reading the account of the purifying of the temple by Christ (Matt. 21:12), that He should have bestowed so much thought on what was so soon to become obsolete by His own word, "It is finished!" We do not read elsewhere of the indignation of our Lord rising to such a height, and taking the form of outward compulsion. It is the seal of Christ set on the sacredness of the Old Testament worship, all the more needed that He is about to remove it; but still more it is a vivid warning beforehand against the union between covetousness and religion, or rather the form of religion. That evil reached a visible height when the sale of indulgences and the building of St.
Peter's went hand in hand. But it has appeared so often, and in all sections of the Church, that the entrance of the money-changers into the temple may be called the normal danger of Christianity. Drunkenness and sensuality, which had their shrines in the old pagan Pantheon, have still a place in the hearts of many professed worshippers in the house of God, but it is Mammon who still sets up his tables in the open court.
Sermon Outline
- I points: - The significance of the temple as a house of prayer - Christ's actions in the temple and their implications - The connection between covetousness and religion
- II points: - Historical context of the temple's purification - The sacredness of Old Testament worship - Warnings against religious hypocrisy
- III points: - The dangers of materialism in the church - Modern parallels to the money-changers - The ongoing relevance of Christ's message
- IV points: - The call to maintain purity in worship - The role of the church in combating greed - Encouragement to prioritize spiritual over material wealth
Key Quotes
“My house shall be called the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves.” — John Ker
“It is the seal of Christ set on the sacredness of the Old Testament worship.” — John Ker
“The entrance of the money-changers into the temple may be called the normal danger of Christianity.” — John Ker
Application Points
- Reflect on the true purpose of worship and ensure it remains focused on God.
- Be vigilant against the influence of materialism in personal and communal faith practices.
- Encourage open discussions about the role of money in the church to maintain integrity in worship.