Friday, July 11, 2014

"My House shall be called a House of Prayer for all Nations"

When Jesus was asked to justify his action of clearing the temple from money changers, goat and dove sellers, Jesus quoted the verse from prophet Isaiah that God's house is meant to be a house of prayer for all nations. Apparently two things were taking place in the temple precinct. One is that the noise and clutter of trade and money changers and the bleat of sheep and goat would have distracted people from focusing and praying to God. God's sanctuary is holy and is meant for prayers, loud cries and heart-felt prayers along with quiet reflection and silent prayers of the heart. Second, the temple courts were meant for Gentiles/nations to come and pray to God. This shows that for Jesus the whole temple complex is holy and not just the sanctuary with the holy place and holy of holies.
If the nations have a place in God' house according to the old dispensation, how much more in the New that God's house, the church ought to be truly international, consists of a multitude of nations, each individual or nation coming together with other individuals and nations to pray and worship God.

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