Devotional Guide, Today’s Reading – Saturday February 27, 2021

Theme: SEEK YE FIRST THE KINGDOM OF GOD

Text: “And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.”  –  John 2:15-16.

Comment: This incident took place on the occasion of the first Passover Feast observed by Jesus Christ after his baptism.  When he entered the temple he found there “those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting”. (John 2:14) The money-changers were persons who did the business of  providing the Jews from other countries with the currency in use in Judea to enable them make offerings and buy animals for sacrifice in the temple.  The religious leaders however allowed the business to go on in the temple area apparently because of the commission they received from the traders. The quest for money thus took precedence over religious service.  That was why Christ made the whip and drove them out saying that the Father’s house should not be used for trading.  The lesson here is that our primary concern or attention should be for the work of God, not our personal interests, particularly that of pretending to be interested in the service of God whereas the concern is for personal financial gain.  Compare Amos 8:4-6. Those who use the work of God for personal gain will reap vanity in the end, as St. Peter states: “…And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” – 2 Peter 2:1-3.