Empty Worship and Empty Profession
4/5/1998
GRM 568
Matthew 21:12-22
Gil Rugh
Transcript
GRM 5684/05/1998
Empty Worship and Empty Profession
Matthew 21:12-22
Gil Rugh
I want to direct your attention to the gospel of Matthew and the 21st chapter again. In our study this morning we talked about the triumphal entry of Christ into Jerusalem on what is traditional known as Palm Sunday. And I want to look at the incidents that are recorded by Matthew following the triumphal entry. The triumphal entry was a public presentation of Christ to the nation as their Messiah. It was in the context of their rejection of Him, since the Jewish leaders have already determined to crucify Him, or at least to have Him executed. We also noted that it was the presentation of Christ as the Passover Lamb of God, since the very day of the triumphal entry was the day when the Passover lambs were set aside and four days later they would be sacrificed. And four day later, Jesus Christ, who is our Passover Lamb, would be sacrificed on the cross of Calvary.
Jesus has come to a nation that was not willing to have Him as their Savior, as their Savior. He came to a nation that was looking for political deliverance but not spiritual deliverance. And so He came in humility, He came to be a Savior. They were unwilling to have Him. Now the nation is left for judgment under the chastening hand of God.
What Matthew does in his record, beginning with verse 12 of Matthew 21, is unfold something of the spiritual condition of the nation at this time and the judgment that will be brought upon the nation for it’s empty worship and it’s empty profession. The nation Israel had so deteriorated spiritually that their worship really ended up being the false worship. And their profession of belonging to the living God was empty and hollow. And the result of this would to be judgment.
Now Matthew does not order, organize his material necessarily chronologically. It doesn’t mean that he is never chronological, but that is not his intention. His intention is to arrange the material of his gospel under the direction of the Holy Spirit to emphasize what he wants to make clear. Everything he’s recorded is true, of course, but he is not necessarily arranged it in sequence that it happened. Mark would give you more the order of the events that we are talking about. But what Matthew does is put together here in the context of the triumphal entry the spiritual decay that characterized the nation Israel. And picking up with verse 12 and down through verse 17, in the cleansing of the temple, you see something of the false worship of the nation Israel. This is striking, because remember the nation Israel had been selected by God out from all the peoples of the earth to be a special people that would belong to Him, that would truly trust in Him as their God, who would worship Him, who would serve Him and yet they were left with an empty and meaningless worship.
The cleansing of the temple is a well-known event in the earthly ministry of Christ. We ought to really say that they are well known events, because at the beginning of Christ’s earthly ministry, as well as at the end of this, His earthly ministry, he cleansed the Temple. So on two different occasions, He entered into the Temple to cleanse it from the selling and commercialism that had taken over.
Look over in John chapter 2, John’s gospel, chapter 2, before we look at Matthew’s account. In John’s gospel, the second chapter, the chapter opens up with the first miracle that Christ performed, the turning of the water into wine at the wedding feast. Then down in verse 12 of John chapter 2, the Passover of the Jews was at hand and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. Now you note here, same kind of context, at the beginning of His ministry. Here He is coming up for the first Passover of His public ministry. Remember, He began His public ministry offering Himself as Messiah when He was thirty years of age, following His baptism by John in the River Jordan. Now He comes to Jerusalem at Passover time at the beginning of this ministry. And He found in the temple those who were selling oxen, sheep, doves, money changers. He made a scourge of cords and drove them all out of the temple with the sheep and the oxen. He poured out the coins of the money changers, overturned their temples. And to those who were selling the doves He said, “Take these things away. Stop making my Father’s house a house of merchandise.” His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
And very important to note, in this context, the Jews said, “What sign will you show us, since you’re doing these things?” He is acting like the Messiah of Israel. Prove that you are. And here at the very beginning of His public ministry, Jesus gives prophecy concerning His coming death.
Verse 19, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” The Jews assumed that He was talking about the physical temple that Herod the Great had constructed, that had been in the process of building for 46 years and they want to know, it takes 46 years to build this and you could build it, rebuild it, in 3 days? But verse 21 tells us that He was speaking of the temple of His body. When therefore He was raised from the dead His disciples remembered that He said this. As we noted in our study about the triumphal entry, the type the disciples were not conscious and aware of all the scripture being fulfilled as it was happening, but following the resurrection of Christ, through the ministry of the Spirit and the teaching of Christ before His ascension, they were able to put things together.
Now, back in Matthew chapter 21, we come to the closing days of Christ’s ministry, and we have a similar event take place. And it shows nothing has changed in the nation. The selling in the temple was a very lucrative money-making project for the High Priest and his family. People would journey to Jerusalem for the feasts, for an event like Passover. They had to offer a lamb, or have a lamb, or an animal of sacrifice, or something for sacrifice, that would meet the requirements of the scripture and pass the scrutiny of the priests who had to approve it. And you can see where corruption would come in, what would be most approval is what you buy from us. It’s preapproved. And of course, there is a premium in the charge for this. Obvious, people are coming from distances would find it difficult to bring the animal with them, they would often bring money to purchase an animal when they got to Jerusalem. And they purchase it at the temple and they pay a premium, sort of like we do in a, you go to an amusement park or a ball park, you pay an extra price for what you get. That had happened to the temple, it had been turned into a commercial venture to make the High Priest and his family very, very wealthy people at the time.
And it was all part of the corruption. Israel had lost its focus. The High Priest, the leaders in Israel, were members of the Sadducees. Remember, the Sadducees and the Pharisees are the two major groups. The Sadducees didn’t even believe in the supernatural. They didn’t believe in the resurrection of the dead, and so on. These are the spiritual leaders of the nation. It gives you some idea of the deterioration that had taken place.
So when we come to Matthew chapter 21 verse 12, Jesus entered the temple and cast out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves, and said, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a robbers den.’”
Again, as He did at the beginning of His ministry, demonstrating that He is sovereign, He is Lord over the temple. He is greater than the temple. The temple is the focal place of worship for the nation Israel. But here is one greater than the temple.
Back up to Matthew chapter 12. Matthew chapter 12. In conflict with the Pharisees, who were also leaders in Israel, over keeping the Sabbath, and breaking the law associated with the temple, ah, particularly relating to the Sabbath. Look at verse 6 of Matthew 12. Jesus speaking, “But I say to you that something greater than the temple is here.” Verse 8: “For the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.” You have the God of the temple in your presence. Of course, He is greater than the temple. The temple exists to offer Him worship. Of course, He is Lord of the Sabbath. The Sabbath was set aside as a day to honor Him.
While you are in Matthew chapter 12, you ought to also note, at the end of verse 41, “Something greater than Jonah is here.” He is greater than the temple, and the priestly system associated with the temple. He is greater than Jonah, representative of the prophets. And at the end of verse 42, “Something greater than Solomon is here.” We’re reminded Christ is prophet, priest and king. And here we are told that He is superior to the earthly priests, to the prophets and to the greatest in the kings, even Solomon.
So, as He comes to cleanse the temple, it is His house. It belongs to Him. It is a place where He is to be honored, He is to be worshipped.
So back in Matthew chapter 21, He says, “My house shall be called a house of prayer,” quoting from the Old Testament. And “you have made it a robber’s den.” So, you’ve transformed it from a place of worship and communion with God to a commercial venture. So He cleanses the temple again.
Go back to Isaiah chapter 56. Isaiah chapter 56. Remember, Matthew is concerned that we see that in all that Christ is doing He is fulfilling prophecies of the Old Testament. In Isaiah 56, the last part of the seventh verse. This is taken from a millennial context, but it describes what is the purpose of the temple. “My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.” Ah, a place of communion with God, where they can come and talk with God and enjoy His presence. That’s what the temple was to be.
Look after Isaiah to Jeremiah, the prophet whose book is just after Isaiah. Jeremiah chapter 7. To, these two sections, Isaiah 56 verse 7 and Jeremiah 7 verse 11, are what are brought together in what is recorded in Matthew. Verse 11 of Jeremiah 7, “Has this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Behold, I, even I have seen it, declares the Lord.”
You see the constant drift toward deterioration and the people of Israel, this happens when our spiritual condition deteriorates. We think that going through the form and the motions is what makes us acceptable before God. We think that, and the Jews thought because they came to the temple, because they offered sacrifices, because they said the prayers, this was acceptable to God. But they were a people whose heart was cold toward God and the form thus becomes ugly.
Isaiah chapter 1, God says to Isaiah the prophet, Stop bringing your sacrifices. Stop observing the feasts. I can’t stand it anymore. Your presence in my temple is trampling, it’s dishonoring of the place where I am to be worshipped.”
And again, as we’ve noted in our Sunday, this morning, this is not so different today. The Church has been raised up in this age to be a center of worship. The Church is to be the pillar and support of God’s truth, we are told in the New Testament. But in multitudes of churches, the truth of God is given rather small attention. We have pastors leading the churches who are like Sadducees. The Sadducees didn’t believe in the supernatural. Some of these men do not even believe in the miracles of the Bible. Do not believe that this indeed is the word of God. That explains why it is taught so little and so poorly in so many places. And yet, people flock to those buildings, why? They think that by going to church God is pleased. I come. I sing my songs. I give my money. I bow my head and go through the prayers. I listen to the message. I go home. God must be pleased. And we are producing the same error and tragedy that characterized Israel in the time of the rejection of the Messiah.
Back in Matthew chapter 21, what Jesus says is they have really corrupted the worship of God. They’re making a mockery of the worship of God. We don’t understand the seriousness of this. We think, oh, at least they go to church. That’s worse than not going. God says stop coming to the temple, in Isaiah chapter 1. Stop going through the motions. It’s repulsive to me. It’s a mockery. It stirs my anger and brings my judgment. So, Christ comes in and cleans the temple out of all the commercial traffic. Refocuses again on the purpose. Verse 14 of Matthew 21, “The blind, the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.” Here you have the temple truly being what it was intended to be, a place where people could meet with God. And here God is present in human form on this occasion.
So you have the purpose of the temple being so clearly and beautifully presented that God resides in His temple. The Messiah is healing the people of their physical illnesses. Which portrayed His power to heal them of their spiritual ills.
“When the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done and the children who were crying out in the temple, saying, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David,’ they became indignant.” Interesting, they see the miracles happening, people getting healed, they hear the children, young people present, who had been taught by their parents, perhaps had heard even of the events of the preceding day, ah, which is the timeline here, of Hosanna to the son of David, they are crying out. It’s a time when God takes the young and uses them as His mouthpiece.
Are they pleased? They are indignant. Now, isn’t it amazing how religious people can get so upset? And they get upset with the truth. Here you’ve had the temple of God, having been turned into a robber’s den, Christ says. You’ve made a mockery of the worship of God. You’ve corrupted the worship of the temple. They weren’t indignant over that. They went along with that and promoted that day after day. Now, they Son of God, the Messiah of Israel, sits healing the people of Israel. He is acclaimed as the Messiah of Israel, and they are indignant.
Again, not so different from religious people today. They put up with all kinds of error and blasphemy, but you talk to them about their sin, about salvation as found only in Christ, and lest they bow before Him and trust Him as their Savior, they’re, they become very indignant. It just gets totally turned around. But is nothing new. It’s the attitude of the religious leaders of the day.
Jesus’ response to them, “Do you hear what these are saying?” “They said to Him, ‘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 for Yourself.”’” A remarkable statement. The quote is from Psalm chapter 8, verse 2. The word for “infants” here, “nursing babes” would go to those approximately up to the age of three, so we are really talking about little ones. What we are saying here is in the plan of God that even the youngest and the smallest will give praise to Him. And here Christ says that the fact that these children, and the word “children” would indicate we are dealing with those that are older than the nursing, but this oughtn’t to surprise you since the scripture says that God will prepare and receive praise for Himself from the babes. The little nursing ones. They will move to declare His praise. What you have here, is what is so awesome, you have the children, the young children declaring Hosanna! Son of David! and the well-trained religious leaders of the day are blind to it. They are indignant, which, incidentally, is a strong word, extremely angry about what has taken place. They are in turmoil over this situation.
“He left them and went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there.” A sad, sad state of affairs, is it not? The corruption that has swept through the nation of Israel and the emptiness that is left. The false worship goes on and Christ has cleansed the temple, the leaders will take care of that. They will put an end to Him. They’ll have Him executed. They don’t want God to interfere with their worship. Isn’t that amazing? I mean, do they stop and consider where does the power for this Man come, ah, for this Man to heal the lame and the sick and the blind come from? Should they not consider their obligation was to evaluate the scripture to see if He was the Messiah of Israel? But they had closed hearts. People don’t want to hear the truth. The only reason any of us give any ear at all to the truth is because God graciously works on our hearts and minds. By nature, as sinful people, we are adamantly close to the truth of God, but we want to be busy about worshipping Him.
Remember John’s gospel, chapter 4 and verse 23, when the Samaritan woman and Christ were engaged in a conversation and she wanted to know, well, you know, you say, the Jews say we ought to worship in Jerusalem. The Samaritans say we ought to worship in their holy place. Who’s right? Well, Jesus said Jerusalem is the divinely appointed place of worship, but you understand that worship is not primarily a physical matter? Those who worship God must worship Him in spirit and in truth! And God is seeking such to worship Him.
I need to refresh our minds on this as the Church of Jesus Christ today. God is not looking for great crowds, and the more crowd, the bigger the crowd the more honored He is. He is looking for those who will worship Him in spirit and in truth. The nation Israel have totally lost their way. Two thousand years later, the Church of Jesus Christ today is losing its way. We think, well, you come to the place, you go through the motions and vast numbers of people who would call themselves church members don’t have the foggiest idea.
I was reading in the paper this weekend, as some of you may have, on the issue of confirmation. Children come to a certain age, and they are confirmed. What concerned me in much of that was the lack of any clarity on the issue of sin and salvation as found only in Christ. This is like a rite of passage. You’ve gotten to a certain age, you go through a certain course, now you’re a member of the church. These pastors say now the real problem we have seems like everybody quits coming after this. The parents come because they want their children to go through this rite of passage. The kids come because they have to go through the rite of passage. After they go through this, a significant number of parents and children, alike, just quit coming. Why? Well, we’ve sort of gone through the routine. Does that mean something? Well, at the root of their heart they think this will make them more acceptable to God. Now I can get on with my life. No concept of what salvation really entails, the life changing power of the gospel totally transforming a person from within and making them new.
The empty profession of the nation, I just want to make note of, in verses 18-22 as well. The worship of the nation was false. Their profession was empty. The picture here of in the morning Christ coming to the city, this really happened just before the triumphal entry, but Matthew records it here to put it in the context of demonstrating to us the deteriorated condition of the nation. “The morning when He returned to the city, He became hungry. Seeing a lone fig tree by the road, He came to it and found nothing on it except leaves only. nd He said to it, ‘No longer shall there be any fruit from you.’ At once the fig tree withered.”
And there’s something more here than that Jesus is just upset that there was no figs on the tree for Him to eat. The fig trees in Palestine, the figs appear before and during the time the leaves are on the tree. So to see a fig tree with leaves on it meant there should be figs on it. Jesus comes to this fig tree and it’s leaves only. Now, in the Old Testament, the book of Hosea, chapter 9, verse 10, Joel, chapter 1, verse 7, you have the fig tree used to refer to Israel. I think that’s what we have in the picture here. You have Israel represented by the fig tree. The leaves being there resent, represent the professions of the nation of Israel. The nation of Israel professed to belong to God.
Remember Romans, chapter 10, Paul said, “I bear testimony on behalf of Israel. They have a zeal for God, but not according to knowledge.” So they had an empty profession, if you will.
This is really a follow up on an earlier parable. Turn over to Luke chapter 13, Luke chapter 13. Earlier Christ had, a, given this account, told this parable, in Luke 13:6, “And He began telling this parable, ‘A certain man had a fig tree which had been planted in his vineyard. And he came looking for fruit on it and did not find any. And he said to the vineyard keeper, behold, three years I have come looking for fruit on this fig tree without finding any. Cut it down. Why does it even use up the ground? And he answered and said to him, let alone for this year too, until I dig around it and put in fertilizer. And if it bears fruit next year, fine. But if not, cut it down.’” It may be in the context here of Christ’s three years earthly ministry as they’ve looked for fruit in the nation Israel, but there was no fruit. They were a fruitless people. The nation Israel is fruitless. So, they come under the curse of Christ.
Back up to Matthew chapter 7. Matthew, chapter 7, verse 15, “Beware of the false prophets who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits.” Verse 17, “Every good tree bears good fruit, the rotten tree bears bad fruit.” Verse 19, “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.” What’s He mean? “Not everyone who says to me ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of my Father in Heaven.” Has to be a transformation of heart that results in the transformation of life. The nation Israel was fruitless. But it had leaves!
Remember we studied 2 Timothy chapter 3, in verses 5 and 7 warned about those who have a form of godliness but have denied its power. That was the condition of Israel. They had a form of godliness. You looked at them and they were a very religious people, meticulously religious. They had more laws and regulations and rules. Jesus said they were adding to the burdens of people’s lives. They looked extremely religious but it was all empty. There was no fruit. They did not really know the living God and were not really serving Him.
Back in Matthew chapter 21. It is an interesting twist on this account, the disciples want to know how’d you do that to the fig tree. Isn’t that the way we react? Not so much what does this mean, but how’d you do that? I’d sort of like to do that too. Fig tree be dead. Pssew! But that’d fill up the auditorium, wouldn’t it? You know, Gil will be cursing fig trees next Sunday. Bring your friends. They ask how did the fig tree wither at once? Verse 21, “Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Truly, I say to you, if you have faith and do not doubt, you shall not only do what was done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, “Be taken up and cast into the sea” it shall happen. Everything you ask in prayer believing, you shall receive.’”
Christ had referred to this fact earlier in Matthew chapter 17, verse 20, on the power of prayer and the power that was available to them in God. Now, this doesn’t mean you get everything you want. You have the power of God available to work in and through your life as you trust in Him and function on the basis of your unshakable faith in Him. Those are the parameters given here. It’s not just, as the health and wealth preachers say, if you really have faith you’ll drive an expensive car and live in a big house and have huge bank accounts because He promises to give those who really have the faith everything they want. It usually ends with an appeal for you to give all you have to me. Then you trust God to give you the replacement. So, why don’t they ever say, I’ll give you everything I have and then I’ll trust God for a replacement. No, it has to go the other way. We ought to see through that, but people continually give.
Now, this fits with what is said up in verse 13, “My house shall be called a house of prayer.” And now I want you to understand the power of that prayer, and what is available to you in the fellowship and the communion that you have with your God, when you have truly trusted in Him and His salvation. The fullness of His power is available to accomplish His purposes in your life and through your life in the lives of others.
Ah, so a perspective here on a true relationship with God, true worship, true profession. The parallels with Israel and the Church, the Church is not Israel, but the parallels that exist are shocking. The vast majority of the professing Church today is just that, a professing Church. I have visited personally with pastors within this city. I’ve visited with a pastor who’s no longer in the city here. What he said was so shocking to me, I finally said is this what you really tell your people? He said, oh, no, I wouldn’t tell them that! They’d throw me out. What do I say, I’m dumbfounded? I mean, you are an absolute, total hypocrite, a deceiver, a liar, leading these people astray.
I tried to deal with another man who pastors a large church in this city. I couldn’t find any place in the Bible, every place I turned in the Bible he said, “I don’t believe that’s from God.” So, let’s go over here. I went to the Old Testament, “I don’t believe it.” So, let’s go to the New Testament, “Oh, I don’t believe it.” I said, “Let’s stop this foolishness. You tell me what you believe, instead of me trying to find something.” He said, “Oh, I believe the gospels.” I said, “Oh good, let’s look in the gospels.” “Oh, I don’t believe that part of the gospels.” Now, but, these, you tell me the Church has not come to the place where Israel was? Where it’s leaders, like the Sadducees and the Pharisees had no relationship with the living God?
I’m not saying that I’m the only pastor in town that has a relationship with God. By Monday morning that’s what the word will be, but I’m not saying that. But I’m saying, in the Church, the professing Church, this goes on to a large degree.
That’s why you have denominations like the Methodists who cannot resolve the issue of homosexuality, and is homosexuality right or wrong. If they believe that this is the inspired word of God, does it take very long to resolve the issue? No. The very fact that it is such, that it is creating such turmoil, not only the Methodists but the Episcopalians and the Presbyterians, they just say, “We just can’t get this resolved.” The denominations drag these kinds of battles on and on. Why? There is no authority because they have rejected God and His truth.
The Church has come to be like Israel. So recently we talked about the church at Laodicea, where God says, “I can’t stand you! I’ll spit you out of my mouth! You’re repulsive to me!” That’s the condition of Israel as the Messiah was present offering them salvation. Their Messiah, if they would recognize their sin and trust in Him as their Savior, they would have been cleansed from their sin, washed clean.
“Come now and let us reason together,” saith the Lord. “Though your sins are red like scarlet, they will be white like wool.” But no, I don’t want to deal with those issues. We don’t want to talk about sin. We get offended when you tell us that we’re sinful. I get offended that you tell me that I am a sinner, that I am lost. I go to Church. It’s the same kind of issue.
They would not have Him as their Savior. Of course, we’ll take you as a political deliverer. If you want to break the bondage of Rome for us, that would be wonderful. You want to provide for us physically and make us the prime nation, we’ll take that. No, we will not start with your salvation. No, we will not, we’re not willing to have you cleanse our heart. We are satisfied with our religion. We will do whatever it takes to remove you. So, the Church today has become very satisfied with its religion. We love our forms. We love our procedures. People leave their church and say, “I just don’t like it. I like the form we had.” Well, you realize that God is looking for people to worship Him “in spirit and in truth.” We begin to identify the physical activity as though it and of itself is worship. It means nothing unless it is the expression of hearts that have been transformed by Him.
Praise God, the rejection that takes place here, the sad state just reveals how needed this Savior really was and really is. “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners,” and the apostle Paul says, I am the chief of them. We must come to recognize and understand the beauty of that message.
Why are we going to celebrate the death of Christ, the resurrection of Christ? Because we need a Savior. Going to church won’t save you. Being baptized won’t save you. Being good won’t save you. “There is salvation in no one else for there is no other name under Heaven given among men whereby we must be saved.” “I am the way, the truth and the light, no one comes to the Father but by me,” Jesus said. And that is true today. The tragedy of it is people opt for their religious practice rather than bow before him.
Let’s pray together. Thank you, Lord, for a Savior who did come to earth. Thank you, Lord, that He offered Himself to the nation Israel as their Messiah who would cleanse their sin and make them new. How tragic, how tragic, er, tragic that the nation would say no. Lord, thank you for Your marvelous plan to provide salvation for us through His death and resurrection. Lord, we realize today that the Church has reproduced the pattern of the nation Israel and continuing to go through empty forms and practices when they have denied the power of the gospel for salvation. Lord, may we take these things to heart and be very careful in our personal lives and in the ministry of this Church. All for your honor and glory. We ask in Christ’s name. Amen.