A House of Prayer

Isaiah 56

Isaiah 56

1. Thus saith Jehovah, Keep ye justice, and do righteousness; for my salvation is near to come, and my righteousness to be revealed.

2. Blessed is the man that doeth this, and the son of man that holdeth it fast; that keepeth the sabbath from profaning it, and keepeth his hand from doing any evil.

The Temple

• God’s appointed place for worship• It was here that God had manifested His Presence• It was here that God where God had put His Glory

God is Holy and Righteous

• He demands that His people also be holy and righteous

• This is especially true when we come before Him in our worship

• Our lives should reflect our relationship with God – ALL the time

The People of God

• In the OT the people of God did not always follow the will of God

• Jeremiah 7

Jesus cleared the temple

• This happened twice– John 2– Matthew 21

12. And Jesus entered into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of he money-changers, and the seats of them that sold the doves;

13. and he saith unto them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer: but ye make it a den of robbers.

A Place of Business?

13. And the passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

14. And he found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

15. and he made a scourge of cords, and cast all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers' money, and overthrew their tables;

16. and to them that sold the doves he said, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house a house of merchandise.

The Challenge of Authority

Matthew 21:23 And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority?

Matthew 21 24. And Jesus answered and said unto them, I

also will ask you one question, which if ye tell me, I likewise will tell you by what authority I do these things.

25. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven or from men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why then did ye not believe him?

26. But if we shall say, From men; we fear the multitude; for all hold John as a prophet.

27. And they answered Jesus, and said, We know not. He also said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

Hypocrisy

• Their response showed they were unwilling to commit to truth

• They said “we do not know”

• They were unwilling to reveal what they really believed

Applying the Lessons

• We must approach God with reverence

• We must be careful to only do “right activities” when we assemble for worship

• Right motives and a right relationship with God are essential to acceptable worship and service

• We need men of courage who will do “as Jesus did”