And Jesus entered the Temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the Temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers. Matthew 21.12-13 ESV
There are no instructions about moneychangers and livestock salesman in the Temple – not in the Law of Moses. The Old Testament is silent on the subject. The reason for this silence is that when Moses’ law was delivered by God, it was delivered to an emancipated people who were about to build a nation together. That nation would be built in villages, by farmers. People would provide most of their own needs through what they raised in the pasture, the vineyard, the orchard, and the field. Their society didn’t offer specialized careers beyond priests, kings, and soldiers. Jews lived in Palestine. There were no synagogues in the major cities of the Mediterranean. There were no Jewish women making a good living selling luxury items to retired Romans in Philippi. There was no Philippi. Every family that came to Passover could bring their own animal, or had their own Judean coins.
In Jesus’ day Jews coming to the Passover could have come from as far away as the Indus Valley, or the Iberian Peninsula. Few, if any, could have transported animals for sacrifice, even if they had them. Would a tent-maker from Tarsus have kept sheep? Probably not. Nor would that tent-maker have had in his pockets the Judean coins needed to purchase an animal for sacrifice when he arrived in Jerusalem for the Passover. And so the presence of animals for purchase, and of moneychangers to provide the correct currency was necessary for many of Passover’s attendees. They provided needed services – for a fee. It is easy to understand why Jesus would be offended at the temple being turned into a marketplace. Especially as the accusation He makes above indicates that folks were being cheated by the salesmen and money-changers. But I think it is also a matter of the times. The fullness of time had come (Galatians 4.4). The days of the Mosaic Law are over. Jesus has fulfilled all that the Law promised, and initiates something new – the Kingdom of God.
The religion prescribed by the Law of Moses is wholly unsuited to the global, inclusive message of the cross. Its sacrifices, priesthood and elaborate system of holy days are suited to an homogenous, indigenous, largely agricultural society. The items of worship practiced by the community that formed in the wake of the death-burial-resurrection of Jesus ARE suited to a religion meant to transcend culture, century, and continent. They sang, they prayed, they spoke, they gave, they shared a meal. These acts have been characteristic of every human society as long as humans have had society. These acts are simple, universal, personal. They are not dependent upon elaborate rituals or expensive hardware.
New Testament worship IS suited to the Kingdom Jesus established. One can sing, pray, speak, eat, and share as easily on the shores of the Hudson Bay, as on the Bay of Bengal. Which is why, in addition to all the other arguments one can make against praise bands, bell choirs, and church organs, a macro-argument is that they are a great regression. These things are more suited to past time – a time before Jesus made us a kingdom of priests, and sent us to all the world. These things, it seems to me, violate the very spirit of New Testament corporate worship (in addition to violating specific scriptures). I am not saying that one can’t listen to and be moved by Bach’s Mass in B Minor, or by Sister Rosetta Tharpe singing Peace in the Valley. What we enjoy as wholesome entertainment is often moving, instructive, and spiritually enriching. But when we come together as the family in the presence of our Father to be strengthened by praising Him together, He has told us to lift our voices together and sing heartfelt songs.
Any of us can do that, in any place, and at any time.
I think that is the point.
