Destroy this temple;
I will raise it again in three days.
Have you spoken about how beautiful the temple is?
The time will come when not one stone will be left on another;
every one of them will be thrown down. (1)
Woe to you, hypocrites!
You clean the outside of the cup and the plate,
but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. (2)
You aim to keep religious rules
but where are justice and mercy and faithfulness?
Have you considered that you should have done both? (3)
Have you not seen that I drove all from the temple area,
scattering the money changers and overturning their tables?
Have you not noticed that the temple has become a market place
and God’s people have become consumers?
Are you comfortable with the religious market?
Do you find it convenient to buy your spirituality?
Destroy this temple;
without its destruction, we cannot rebuild it.
Then you will worship whom you understand, recognize and receive.
You will truly worship in spirit and truth.
You will have a true and clean temple on that day. (4)
Rev. Yong Sub Sim
Poem based on John 2:19
(1) Luke 21:5
(2) Matthew 23:25
(3) Matthew 23:23
(4) John 4:22-24
