FIELD NOTES vol. 3 - The Money Changers: What will you tolerate in your faith?

What are you willing to tolerate in your faith? In this second Field Note answering the question “Why does it matter?” in Holy Week, Bethany Barr Phillips explores the theme of tolerance in a person’s faith. The day after Jesus enters Jerusalem on what we call Palm Sunday, He drives the money changers from the Temple courts. It was about much more than simply placement or anger.

Bethany discusses the significance of Jesus driving out the money changers from the temple, emphasizing that it was not just an act of anger but a call for purity in worship. The conversation highlights the importance of recognizing and addressing the distractions and sins we tolerate in our lives, encouraging listeners to seek repentance and strive for pure worship.

Takeaways

• What are we willing to tolerate in our faith?
• Tolerating distractions can pollute our worship.
• Don't tolerate what disrupts your relationship with God.
• If we tolerate the presence of distraction or discord, we are no better than those money changers.

• “The issue is not whether there should have been moneychangers; it is whether it was valid to turn much of the outer court into a place emphasizing commerce rather than worship.” - Craig Keener

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BOOK MENTIONED: IVP Background Commentary, Craig Keener

 

Chapters

00:00 - Introduction to Tolerance in Faith

01:00 - The Significance of Holy Week

02:08 - Jesus and the Money Changers

04:40 - The Impact of Tolerance on Worship

06:21 - Repentance and Pure Worship