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From Heaven With Love
Financial Corruption at the Heart of God’s Work
Sharp bargaining, the lowing of cattle, the bleating of sheep,
the cooing of doves, mingled with the chinking of coin and angry
disputation. So great was the confusion that the words addressed
to the Most High were drowned in the uproar. The Jews rejoiced
over their temple and regarded a word spoken in its disfavor as
blasphemy, but the love of money had overruled their scruples. They
had wandered far from the purpose of the service instituted by God
Himself. Wherever God manifests His presence, the place is holy.
See
Exodus 19:12, 13
. The precincts of God’s temple should have
been regarded as sacred. But in the strife for gain, all this was lost
sight of.
The priests and rulers should have corrected the abuses of the
temple court, and given the people an example of integrity. Instead of
studying their own profit, they should have been ready to assist those
not able to buy the required sacrifices. But avarice had hardened
their hearts.
To this feast came those who were in want and distress—the
blind, the lame, the deaf. Some were brought on beds. Many were
too poor to purchase the humblest offering for the Lord or even to
buy food to satisfy their own hunger. These were greatly distressed
by the statements of the priests. The priests boasted of their piety,
but they were without sympathy or compassion. The poor, the sick,
the dying, awakened no pity in their hearts.
As Jesus came into the temple, He saw the unfair transactions.
He saw the distress of the poor, who thought that without shedding
of blood there would be no forgiveness for their sins. He saw the
sacred, outer court of His temple converted into a place of unholy
traffic.
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Something must be done. The worshipers offered sacrifices
without understanding that they were typical of the only perfect
Sacrifice. And among them, unrecognized and unhonored, stood
the One symbolized by all their service. He saw that the offerings
were perverted and misunderstood. No link bound the priests and
rulers to God. Christ’s work was to establish an altogether different
worship.