Jesus Enters The Temple

Last week we saw Jesus and his not so triumphal entry into Jerusalem.

And this morning we're going to see Jesus enter the temple with kind of mixed response.

So if you would open up your Bibles to Matthew chapter 21.

Matthew 21 · chapter mention

I'm going to read through verses 12 through 17.

And as we're reading remember that Jesus wants your heart when it comes to worshiping him.

All of it.

And when we think about our church as a whole.

All of our hearts.

In our worship of his great name.

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 or doves.

He said to them it is written my house shall be called a house of prayer.

But you make it a den of robbers.

And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple.

And he healed them.

But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did.

And the children crying out in the temple.

Hosanna to the son of David.

The chief priests and the scribes.

They were indignant.

And they said to Jesus.

Do you hear what these are saying?

And Jesus said to them.

Yes.

Have you never read out of the mouth of infants and nursing babes you have prepared praise?

And leaving them he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there.

This morning I'm just going to walk us through this passage.

We're going to see Jesus in the temple.

And then we're going to see Jesus drive out some insiders.

And then Jesus is going to welcome in some outsiders.

And then Jesus is going to be recognized and be praised by a bunch of kids.

And then Jesus is going to be criticized by a bunch of blind religious leaders.

And then Jesus is going to wrap it up by saying their praise vindicates me.

So let's look at Jesus entering the temple.

The first five words of verse 12.

And Jesus entered the temple.

Now you might be thinking.

Come on Salvati.

Let's get to the action.

Let's get to Jesus throwing some tables around.

Well if we did that we would miss something of incredible significance.

Jesus entered the temple.

The temple is going to be an important backdrop in the remaining chapters of Matthew.

But what I want to remind you of is that the Bible is a story of God dwelling with his people.

Remember back in the Garden of Eden.

God was present with his first people Adam and Eve.

They hung out in the cool of the day together.

Fast forward to the tabernacle.

God's people Israel have been released sent out of Egypt.

And God dwells in the midst of his people.

And he has them construct for him a really elaborate tent called a tabernacle.

And as God's people Israel were moving into the promised land.

God would be with them in their midst.

And he would come and descend in a cloud in this temple.

And Moses would meet with him.

God present with his people.

Fast forward to Solomon.

And the building of the first temple in Jerusalem in the promised land.

Solomon builds this glorious temple.

And we read how after the temple is dedicated.

God in a cloud of his presence descends and occupies the temple.

God present with his people.

And what we read in Ezra.

There's this awful thing that happens in 586.

The Babylonians come in.

They totally destroy the temple.

But in Ezra, God rebuilds the temple.

And it's the second temple.

The temple of Zerubbabel.

And it's this temple that Herod the Great decides to do a serious overhaul on.

And expand and make amazing.

And it's that temple that Jesus walks into that we're reading about right now.

God has always dwelt with his people.

God has always dwelt with his people.

If you flip back to Matthew chapter 1.

Matthew 1 · chapter mention

Verses 22 and 23.

Talking about the birth of Jesus.

Typically we hear this around Christmas time.

All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had spoken by the prophet.

Behold the virgin shall conceive and bear a son.

And they should call his name Emmanuel.

Which means God with us.

Whose name is that?

Jesus.

He is God with us.

He is God incarnate.

Do you remember John chapter 1?

John 1 · chapter mention

Talking about Jesus.

He's the word.

And he dwelt among us.

He tabernacled among us.

So the significance of what happens in these first five words of Matthew 21 verse 12 is this.

Matthew 21:12

God incarnate is entering the temple.

He's occupying the temple.

He's walking into the place that Jews of that day said there's where God's presence is.

Jesus.

And Jesus.

God incarnate.

Walks in.

Now the question comes up.

What's he going to do?

And what we see him do when he walks in.

Is that he's going to drive out the insiders.

And so look at again verses 12 and 13.

Let's look at 12.

And Jesus entered the temple.

God incarnate coming into his house.

And he 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.

I mean typically we don't like to think of Jesus this way.

We think of Jesus as the prince of peace.

And who holds babies.

And carries little lambs over his shoulders.

But right now what we're seeing is Jesus.

Jesus is intense.

He walks into the temple.

And things get intense.

He drives out people.

He overturns furniture.

He's being aggressive.

Why is he so spicy?

Why is he so worked up?

Why is he so quiet?

Well it has to do with the people.

That are in the temple.

So let's look at who these people are.

These are people who are selling and buying.

These are people who are exchanging money.

These are people who are selling pigeons or doves.

Who are these people?

And what are they doing there?

Well I want to remind you that Jesus has entered into Jerusalem.

The week leading up to Passover.

Which is a great feast in Jerusalem.

So Jerusalem the city.

Is filling up with people.

In order to celebrate Passover.

To observe it.

It's a big holy festival.

And so you have all these people coming into this city.

From all over the place.

To quote unquote worship.

And part of their worship is going to be sacrifice.

So the offering of a Passover lamb.

Now if we all were living in Capernaum.

And we're saying we're going to make this multi-mile trip down to Jerusalem to observe Passover.

And we're like thinking what do we bring with us?

And we're like should we bring our Passover lamb?

And I'm going to tell you you know what?

We've got multiple days ahead of us.

We can buy one in Jerusalem.

Just leave the lamb here.

We'll pick one up there.

Or let's say we're from Sidon.

And we're using Roman money in order to kind of make our living.

And kind of buy our stuff.

If we were to go to Jerusalem and give a money offering in the temple.

We would need to convert our Roman money into the currency of the temple.

Which was Tyrian money from Tyre.

Because it was such a solid currency of the day.

And so we would need to exchange our money.

There was a real need.

If we were poor people coming down into Jerusalem.

The animal that we could afford to sacrifice is a dove.

Those are the dove salesmen there.

So these people who are inside the temple.

They are selling animals.

They're exchanging money.

They're facilitating the quote unquote worship of Passover week.

I'm not sure if you all have been down to the harbor market on Saturday mornings.

I love going down there.

Part of the way I love going down there is it's a lot of hustle and bustle.

I like that.

So there's a lot going on.

And so imagine Jesus walking into the temple.

And he essentially walks into a harbor market.

So what's going on here is this.

Passover afforded a business opportunity.

And the outer courts of the temple were thrown open for business.

And so of course there's the opportunity for exploiting people.

But the real problem is where all this business is taking place.

It's taking place in the temple.

Now you may be asking yourself.

Well what's wrong with conducting business in the temple?

Well look at verse 13.

Jesus is driving these people out.

And as he's driving them out.

He says it is written.

My house shall be called a house of prayer.

But you make it a den of robbers.

See these folks.

They had repurposed the temple.

In order to line their pockets.

They weren't there to facilitate worship.

They were facilitating their monthly income.

Now before the internet.

When it comes to a retail business.

It's all about location.

So these entrepreneurs.

In the outer courts of the temple.

They're just thinking.

Hey if we can get into the temple.

And sell our goats and our doves.

And exchange some money.

In order to make some money.

Because they would charge on that.

I mean.

It's one stop shopping.

It's so convenient.

And so what Jesus sees happening here.

Is the profaning of God's place.

The temple being used for something.

It was never intended to be used for.

It's not meant to be used for the acquisition of wealth.

It's used.

It's there for the giving of praise to God.

So Jesus kicks out these people.

Because they're profaning the temple.

They've repurposed it.

For income production.

Not praise production.

So imagine with me.

We're all Gentiles.

We're coming down from Sidon.

We're like.

We're convinced.

Yahweh is the one true God.

Let's go down and worship him.

Passover week in Jerusalem.

We're cool.

Going into the temple.

We'll go into the courts of the Gentiles.

We can't go any further than that.

We're okay with that.

Because we're just happy to acknowledge that Yahweh is the one true God.

So we all walk in together.

We walk through the outer courts.

With all this hustle and bustle of business going on.

We walk into the court of the Gentiles.

And all along.

All the way down.

We're like.

I can't wait to sing.

To speak.

Psalm 8.

To God.

In his temple.

As someone from Sidon.

I can't wait.

So we get into the court of the Gentiles.

And I set up shop.

And I'm like.

I am ready to give praise.

To the God of the Bible.

And I'm going to let Psalm 8 rip.

And so.

As I feel.

From my innermost man.

All this praise coming up.

And I'm going to rip out of Psalm.

Meh.

Meh.

Meh.

Meh.

Meh.

My praise is distracted.

There was another kind of worship going on in the temple.

It's not the worship of God.

Jesus sees it.

And out of his jealousy and zeal for God's worship.

He drives these people out.

They're the insiders.

They're supposed to be facilitating worship.

But they're not facilitating the worship of God.

They've been profaning the temple.

It's not what it's meant for.

So Jesus drives them out.

That reference.

Where Jesus says.

It's written.

My house shall be called a house of prayer.

It's taken from Isaiah 56.

And in Isaiah 56.

God is telling.

About a future time.

When he will gather.

Foreigners.

And outcasts of Israel.

Outsiders.

And he's going to bring them into his temple.

And they are going to be made joyful.

In the praise of God.

There's going to come a time.

When they will offer.

Make offerings.

And God will accept them.

From these outsiders.

Because their hearts are right.

And so when Jesus says.

For my house shall be called a house of prayer.

For all peoples.

For all peoples.

When he sees these insiders.

Distracting people.

From the true worship of God.

He.

God incarnate.

Walks in.

And he says.

You're out.

No temple for you.

You're out.

You're out.

God.

So the irony is.

That these people.

Who are supposed to be.

Facilitating worship.

Were actually distracting.

From the true worship of God.

So this is a side of Jesus.

That we may not.

Be used to seeing.

Jesus being forceful.

Jesus being angry.

There seems to be a hostility here.

He's throwing tables and chairs around.

You could say.

He's kind of being pushy.

He's driving people out.

Of the temple.

And we got to ask the question.

Why?

And the answer to that question is.

Jesus is jealous.

For God to be truly.

And fully worshiped.

He's protective.

Of the glory.

And honor.

And praise.

And majesty.

Due to God.

And God.

Alone.

These business people.

Were profaning.

The holy purpose of the temple.

And when God incarnate.

Walks in.

And sees what is happening.

He drives them out.

It's not going to happen here.

He drives out the insiders.

So here's what this means.

For us today.

There's no longer a temple.

The temple that Jesus stood in.

Was raised.

In AD 70.

It's no longer there.

But what we learn about.

Is that.

After Jesus death.

And resurrection.

Jesus.

Has established.

A new temple.

And this new temple.

Is not made out of bricks and mortar.

As first Peter would say.

This new temple.

Is made out of living stones.

God's people.

Are the new temple.

Of God.

We.

Are the temple of God.

Indwelt.

By the Holy Spirit.

It's a better temple.

And here's what this means.

For us now.

Jesus is just as jealous.

For the worship of God.

In this temple.

As he was.

In that temple.

God.

He wants us.

To be.

Wholly.

Focused.

On the worship.

Of our God.

When we gather together.

He's jealous.

For that.

He's.

Lovingly.

And passionately.

Committed.

To us.

As a people.

Worshiping God.

Together.

Truly.

And fully.

So here's what this means.

Our.

Risen.

King.

Is more than willing.

To drive out.

Any kind of.

Desires.

That would.

Kind of.

Lead to the.

False worship.

Of things that are not God.

He wants to purify us.

He wants to cleanse us.

And you know what the result will be?

Unity.

Unity.

In fullness.

Of joy.

In the worship of God.

Together.

We welcome it.

It's a good.

Holy work.

So what we see happening in.

These two verses.

That God incarnate.

Enters.

Into the temple.

And he purifies it.

His first act.

Is to drive out the insiders.

But his next act.

Is to welcome in the outsiders.

Look at verse 14.

After sending these folks out.

Jesus says.

In the blind and the lame.

Or we read.

In the blind and the lame.

Came to him in the temple.

And he healed him.

Remember the Isaiah 56 reference.

Foreigners.

Foreigners.

Outcasts.

Of Israel.

Are going to be brought.

Into the temple.

And made joyful.

In the worship of God.

Do you know who that is.

In this passage.

It's the blind and the lame.

Jesus has.

Pushed out the.

Insiders.

And now is welcoming.

In the outsiders.

These blind and lame people.

Come to Jesus.

God incarnate.

Emmanuel.

In the temple.

And Jesus.

In his mercy.

In his grace.

He heals them.

He gives them sight.

He makes them whole.

What we see.

Later.

In verse 15.

But when the chief priests.

And scribes.

Saw the wonderful things.

That he did.

If you were there.

Seeing what Jesus was doing.

You would most likely say.

That is amazing.

That is so wonderful.

Look who he's healing.

Look who he's changing.

He's welcoming in the outcasts.

These would be the people.

On the fringes.

These who would be the people.

Who good Jews.

Of that day.

The religious folk.

Would just walk by.

And Jesus is saying.

No, no, no.

You.

You.

You come to me.

You're welcome.

Here.

In this place.

In my presence.

You are the true worshipers.

You who are humble of heart.

Seeking healing for me.

Come into my presence.

God welcomes the outsider.

And we're all outsiders.

And we're all outsiders.

Our sin.

Casts us out.

Of the holy presence of God.

But God in his grace.

Through Jesus.

Brings us in.

And he brings us in.

Together.

So God.

We see happening here.

As God welcomes.

Into his presence.

Those who humbly recognize.

their need.

Now this is the Jesus

whom all of our hearts rise to.

This is the Jesus who welcomes

in, into his presence

the bruised,

the broken, and the overbaked.

The strung

out. The I don't

think I can get through the rest of this day, folks.

Now,

you see,

the temple,

the temple,

the temple,

where God is, Jesus,

he's not saying

you've got to clean up your life before you come to

him. He's saying you come to me

as you are.

I welcome you.

Now maybe this morning

you've come into this building and you're

feeling like an outcast.

Maybe you have it in your mind

it's kind of this lurking thing in the

back of your skull

that Jesus would never

welcome you into his presence

because something you've done

in the past

or something done to you

in the past.

And you're like thinking,

oh,

I'm sure he would be nice

to me,

but he wouldn't really

welcome me in.

Maybe you think of yourself

as too damaged,

too far gone.

Maybe you think of yourself

as too broken

to be fixed.

Maybe you think

that you're too

lame to be helped.

Maybe you have this deep

and ongoing sense

that as I heard

one man quote

this past week

that God

has this ongoing

mild disgust

for me.

Maybe that's you.

Maybe you feel like

you're the outcast.

Maybe you have this

kind of hidden

lameness of soul.

Maybe you have had this

insatiable addiction

and you have burned

so many bridges

in your life.

You're just so ashamed.

You're like,

Jesus would never

welcome me in.

You think that if Jesus

laid his eyes on you,

you would see

in his eyes

this kindling

of rage to you

for what you have done

and the mess

that you've made

and he would take you

by the collar

and throw you out

of his presence.

Maybe that's what

you're thinking.

Oh, I've got good news

for you.

Jesus is not that way

towards those

who are humble.

Jesus is not that way

towards people

who come to him

looking for healing.

There's not one record

of someone

in our Bibles

of coming to Jesus

who was humble,

honest need,

looking for help

and Jesus says,

oh, I've got to get

to Starbucks.

I'm sorry.

I can't help you right now.

Not once.

What I love about this verse

is that these blind

and the lame

who came to Jesus

were not told.

How did the blind folk

find their way in?

Did they grope their way

up through the colonnade

and stairs

into the outer courts

and find Jesus?

Were they led

by the hand to Jesus?

We're not told.

Here's what we know.

They walked in blind.

They walked out seeing

because they encountered Jesus.

And the lame,

we're not told

what kind of lame.

Did they have

some kind of palsy?

Were they able to walk?

Were they carried in?

We're not told.

But we do know

when they encountered Jesus

and they were healed,

they strided out

of the temple,

made whole.

That's what Jesus

is able to do then.

That's what he's able

to do now.

And here's what Jesus

does for sinners today.

You see,

within four days

of Jesus saying this,

standing in the temple,

he would be hanging

on a Roman cross

outside the walls

of Jerusalem.

The incarnate king

now standing

in the temple

who welcomes

outsiders

and heals them,

he will be cast

out

as a sinner.

all in order

to bring sinners

into a deep

and abiding

and vital

relationship

with the one true God.

He was crucified

outside the gate.

But he's alive.

He's alive today

and he's alive

and he's as full

of mercy

and grace

as he was

in the temple

millennia ago

and he welcomes

all and any

that would come

to him.

He's alive

and he's full

of mercy

and he welcomes

you into his presence.

He welcomes

in the outsiders

and we're all

outsiders.

So we've seen

Jesus drive out

the insiders

and welcome

in the outsiders

and now verse 15

Matthew points us

to two other groups

of people

who were there.

And if there's

a contrast

between the insiders

being driven out

and the outsiders

being welcomed in

there's another contrast

between these

two groups

of people.

Read with me.

Verse 15

But when the chief

priests and the scribes

saw the wonderful

things that he did

and the children

crying out

in the temple

Hosanna to the

son of David.

Do you see that?

There were children

there.

There were children

in the temple.

There were children

in these outer courts

and they're seeing

everything that's going on.

And their response

to these wonderful

things is what?

Praise.

Praise to Jesus

in the temple.

They were not

indifferent to Jesus.

They were crying

out to him

Hosanna

to the son of David.

It's a messianic

title reference.

They're saying

praise to you

Messiah King.

We see what's

going on.

We recognize you.

Praise to you.

This is the same thing

that the crowds

were proclaiming

to Jesus.

Those Galilean crowds

that had followed

Jesus down

as he's entering

into Jerusalem.

They're singing

Hosanna to the

highest.

Hosanna to the

son of David.

These boys

who are in the

temple

have picked up

that same thing.

It's what the two

blind men said

in Bethany.

Son of David

have mercy on us.

This is the king

and he's being

recognized by kids.

From our study

of Matthew

we know that

children were often

looked down upon.

I mean in Matthew

19 the disciples

were like

parents don't bring

your children to

Jesus.

He doesn't have

time for them.

And Jesus is like

what are you guys

talking about?

Bring them to me

and he blesses them.

Jesus in Matthew

18 sets a child

before his disciples

and says whoever

humbles himself

like this child

is the greatest

in the kingdom

of heaven.

So when we read

these children

in the temple

who are worshiping

Jesus after they

see him welcoming

in the outsiders

and healing him

man not only did it

happen

it's an example

for us.

We respond

in praise

when we become

aware that God

has healed

another outsider.

these children

model for us

the praise

to be given

to Jesus

when he

shows his mercy

and grace

to another one

who doesn't

deserve it.

I mean we're

all outsiders

to whom the

risen Christ

has shown mercy

and grace

and when we

see it happen

our response

says Hosanna

to the son

of David

God be praised.

But there's not

just praise

going on.

Matthew points

to another

contrasting group

of men

not children

but men

who are

at the temple

and who have

observed all

that's been

going on.

But when the

chief priests

and scribes

saw the wonderful

things that he did

the healing

of these outsiders

and when these

chief priests

saw the children

crying out

in the temple

Hosanna to the

son of David

when they heard

that they were

indignant.

They were ticked

off.

They were angry.

These were the

religious leaders

of Israel

in Jerusalem.

These are the guys

that would have

had the offices

in the temple.

These are the ones

that would have

given the initial

okay for these

people to come

in to the

outer courts

and start

selling stuff.

We don't know

if there was

a stall fee

but they would

have okayed it.

These are the guys

who would have

made it difficult

for the blind

and the lame

to even enter

the temple.

These are the guys

who were supposed

to be shepherding

God's people

and in walks

the incarnate king

into the temple

and they're mad

because kids

are saying

he's the Messiah.

What they should

have been doing

is joining in praise

and what they end

up doing

is criticizing.

You see

of this story

these men

are the ones

who are the most

blind of all.

they don't

recognize

who's in their

midst

and they're

so angry

because these

children

are calling

Jesus the Messiah.

They say to

Jesus in verse

16

do you not

hear what

these guys

are saying?

It's not a

question.

They're telling

him to shut

them up.

These children

are praising

you Jesus

they're calling

you the Messiah

would you

please shut

them up?

They shouldn't

be doing

this.

Do you hear

what they're

saying?

So we have

this contrast

between these

children praising

Jesus and

these chief

priests and

scribes who

are trying to

shut up the

praise of Jesus

to hinder the

praise of Jesus.

now look at

verse 16

and Jesus

response.

They say do

you hear what

these these are

saying and

Jesus says to

them oh yeah

I hear it.

Yes.

Yes I hear it.

I hear it loud

and clear.

Yes.

And then he

says to them

have you not

heard out of

the mouths of

infants and

nursing babes

you have

prepared praise.

Jesus is

quoting Psalm

8 too.

It's it's the

psalm that we

started the

service with.

It's it's that

psalm that in

verse 1 and

verse 9 the

first verse and

the last verse

it's oh Lord

our Lord how

majestic is your

name in all the

earth.

It's a psalm of

praise to God

and and Jesus is

using it very

specifically.

He's saying these

children who are

praising me they're

the fulfillment of

that.

They should be

praising.

And and he's

also saying they're

praising me.

He's claiming to

be the God of

Psalm 8 too.

He's he's saying

their praise of

me is right.

But you know

what I also

saying Psalm 8

2 is it's it's a

way in which Jesus

is vindicated.

In Psalm 8 2 we

read this.

Let me find it.

We read this.

Out of the mouth

of infants and

nursing babes you

have prepared

praise and what

follows is in the

presence of your

enemies.

So what's going on

here is this.

Jesus in the face

of his enemies the

chief scribes and

the chief priests and

the scribes he's

being praised by

these kids in the

temple and what

Jesus is saying is

oh yeah this is

fulfillment.

These children are

vindicating me and

who I am and me

being God incarnate in

the temple right now

opening up to

outsiders vindicated.

the question is why

aren't the chief

priests and scribes

praising Jesus along

with these kids and

the answer to that

question is their

hearts were hard.

They were hardened.

They did not believe

him to be the Christ.

They were blinded by

their own sinful

pride.

They don't have eyes

to see or to hear and

this is what Jesus was

getting at in Luke 19.

He's coming into the

city and he says he

weeps and he says you

haven't recognized the

day of your visitation.

They don't recognize

him.

They don't recognize

him.

So in verse 17 after

quoting Psalm 8 Jesus

leaves the temple and

he lodges in Bethany

most likely with his

friends Mary, Martha,

and Lazarus.

this passage we've seen

God incarnate walk into

the temple and when he

walks in he drives out

the insiders and then

he welcomes in the

outsiders and then he

receives the praise of

kids and then he

receives the criticism

of these religious

leaders and he says

hey these kids praise

vindicate me.

I'm God in the flesh in

the temple right now.

This passage is all

about Jesus.

This passage is all

about Jesus who is God

incarnate in his temple

and how to respond to

him.

And this morning I want

to remind you and point

you to three things of

how we're going to

respond to this.

the first is this.

We're all outsiders.

We're all outsiders in

need of God's grace to

be brought us into a

vital relationship with

God.

So regardless of the

neighborhood you live in,

regardless if you're a

guy or a gal,

regardless of your skin

color or your education

level or your annual

income or your employment

status, regardless of it

all, we're all outsiders

because of our sin and

we need to be brought in

by God's grace through

Jesus.

We're all outsiders.

By his grace.

And when he brings us

into a living relationship

with him, he builds us

into his living temple,

the church.

So the first thing that

we need to remember is

we're all outsiders in

need of God's grace.

The second is this.

Jesus takes his rightful

place.

It was right for Jesus

to stand in the temple

and be praised by

children.

It was right.

Today, do you recognize

the rightful place Jesus

has not only in your life

but in our church?

He's the incarnate risen

king.

And he's not going to

tolerate in us

any profaning of the

worship due his name.

And so he's going to do

and continue to do a good,

holy, gracious work in us

to unite us together

in the praise of his

great name.

It's his rightful place.

So in light of that, I want

to ask you to do something

this week.

I want to ask you to

go before the Lord

with this question.

Would you ask the risen

Christ to purify your

heart so that he may

have the rightful place

not only in your heart

but in our church?

That he would take

front and center.

That he would be the one

in whom all of our praise

is directed.

Would you join me

this week

in asking God

to do a work

in which he purifies

your heart

to worship him?

Jesus

takes his rightful place.

The third and last

point of application

has to do with what

happens here on a Sunday

morning when we sing

together.

very specific.

We're not to hinder

each other's praise

of Jesus.

We're not to hinder

each other's praise.

Those children who

cried out Hosanna

to the son of David,

they were right.

And when the chief

priest told Jesus

to essentially shut

him up, Jesus says,

no.

Doesn't hinder

their praise.

it was right for them

to praise him.

So let's apply this

to when we sing

together in this room

on a Sunday morning.

What's got to be going

on in your heart

when we sing together?

When we're standing up

and someone next to you

raises their hands

to worship

and this is new to you,

don't be distracted

by that.

Don't feel threatened

by that.

rejoice in that.

Give this person

the benefit

of any doubt

that they are

worshiping Jesus

at that moment.

And so,

when you realize that,

you can return

to your rejoicing

of Jesus.

So if someone's

raising their hand

next to you,

rejoice.

Rejoice.

Or let's say

that someone next to you

were singing

a song

and they begin

to weep

and that weeping

goes from a quiet

weeping

into a loud

weeping

and you find yourself

a little distracted,

you find yourself

a little uncomfortable

with the degree

of emotion

and you're like,

okay,

what's going on?

Maybe someone

should show

this person out!

We're not going

to do that.

When someone

is weeping

or wailing

because they're

coming to the presence

of God

and they're remembering

they're an outsider

and He's welcomed

them in,

we rejoice.

We say,

oh God,

thank you

for ministering

to my brother

and my sister

and I'm an outsider

too!

We rejoice.

We rejoice.

So if this were

to happen,

don't be distracted.

Don't feel

threatened by that.

It may be new

to you.

That's okay.

Let's give them

the benefit

of the doubt

and say,

God is meeting

them

and we rejoice

together.

Let's not hinder

each other's praise.

Finally,

if we're singing

and someone

kind of goes

off script

and we're singing

rejoice,

rejoice

and someone

goes,

oh,

hallelujah,

praise be to

God.

Thank you,

Lord.

We're not

going to cross

the hands

of our heart

and say,

what's going

on?

We're going

to rejoice

with them.

We're going

to celebrate

with them.

We're going

to trust

that,

yes,

they too

are being

ministered

to by God

and they're

giving voice

to praise

in their hearts

and we

rejoice

with them.

What we're

not to do

is to do

what the chief

priests

and the scribes

do and try

to squelch

the true

and right

worship

of Jesus.

We're not

going to do

that.

So whether

it's raising

hands,

whether it's

weeping,

whether it's

spontaneous

words of

praise,

we join

in.

We rejoice

in that.

So what

must be

going on

in your

heart

so that

you can

rejoice

with those

who rejoice

even when

their rejoicing

makes you

uncomfortable?

What must

be going

on?

Remember

who they're

praising.

It's the

incarnate God

that walked

in the temple

and now

is reigning

on high.

And remember

you too

were an

outsider

and you

too

have

experienced

a wonderful

thing

from Jesus.

You too

were shown

great grace.

In conclusion

I just want

to remind

you of

this.

There's

going to

come a

day when

God gathers

all of his

people from

every tribe,

tongue,

and nation

and we

gather

around him.

And what

Revelation

21 says

when the

new

Jerusalem

comes

down

there's

no

more

temple.

Do you

know why?

God

and the

lamb

are the

temple.

And we're

going to

give him

praise

and glory

together.

And there's

going to be

a lot of

different

people and

there's

going to

be a lot

of different

things going

on.

But he

receives

it all.

Because he

alone is

worthy.

he's

our

great

God.

Let's

pray.

Lord

Jesus,

we do

thank you

so much

for this

passage in

our Bibles

where we

see you

doing

something

that is

striking.

You're

wonderful.

You're

amazing and

you're

glorious.

Lord

Jesus,

would you

form in

us your

people,

a people

united in

true and

full praise

of you and

we welcome

rejoicing of

your name.

Lord,

would you

grow us,

mature us

and unite

us.

Above all,

Lord Jesus,

we want

your name

exalted.

Hosanna

to the

Son of

David.

It's

your name

we pray.

Amen.