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.
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.
If you flip back to Matthew chapter 1.
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?
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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,
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.
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.