Exodus 30:11-16 English Standard Version

The Census Tax

11 The Lord said to Moses, 12 “When you take the census of the people of Israel, then each shall give a ransom for his life to the Lord when you number them, that there be no plague among them when you number them. 13 Each one who is numbered in the census shall give this: half a shekel according to the shekel of the sanctuary (the shekel is twenty gerahs), half a shekel as an offering to the Lord. 14 Everyone who is numbered in the census, from twenty years old and upward, shall give the Lord’s offering. 15 The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less, than the half shekel, when you give the Lord’s offering to make atonement for your lives. 16 You shall take the atonement money from the people of Israel and shall give it for the service of the tent of meeting, that it may bring the people of Israel to remembrance before the Lord, so as to make atonement for your lives.”

Matthew 21:13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

What changed between these two verses?

1 Chronicles 17:3-4 English Standard Version

3 But that same night the word of the Lord came to Nathan, 4 “Go and tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the Lord: It is not you who will build me a house to dwell in.

1 Chronicles 17:11-12 English Standard Version

11 When your days are fulfilled to walk with your fathers, I will raise up your offspring after you, one of your own sons, and I will establish his kingdom. 12 He shall build a house for me, and I will establish his throne forever.

David interpreted that prophecy to mean Solomon would be the one to build the temple. He made preparations for the temple and ordered Solomon to build the temple.

It was David’s wrong interpretation that caused the first temple to be built.

It was God’s intention that it would be Jesus that would create a dwelling place for God, in His believers.

The census tax was sufficient for service of the tent of meeting. When So;omon’s Temple was erected, the census tax was not sufficient to its needs. Man then determined what was needed to service the temple on the mount. Without direct instruction from God man will do as he pleases and that means satisfying their own self-interests.

So why did David think that the wilderness tabernacle was no longer appropriate for a meeting place? The answer to that question is seen only in Natan’s words, “Do what is on your heart.”

Matthew 9:11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?”

The Pharisees should have understood the meaning of sharing a meal together but their teachings failed them due to critical judgement.

Luke 22:19-20 English Standard Version

19 And he took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” 20 And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup that is poured out for you is the new covenant in my blood.

The sharing of food and drink is a sign that a covenant has been made. The Pharisees just did not get it.

Exodus 24:7-8 English Standard Version

7 Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” 8 And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”

Perhaps they only concerned themself about getting what was rightly theirs.

As described in Leviticus 3, a Peace Offering could consist of male or female cattle, sheep, goats, or bread. In some cases, the breast or thigh would be offered to the high priest and the rest was to be eaten by the assembled parties. The rest of the portions were burned after two days as an offering to God— symbolizing a shared meal. Source: Alabasterco.com

When we only concern ourselves with getting everything we think we deserve, we ignore the covenant promises and fail to honor God who made these covenants to begin with. The sharing of the meal is supposed to be a symbol of our faith in the One who has blessed us and saved us.

John 17:17-22 English Standard Version

17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. 18 As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. 19 And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth. 20 “I do not ask for these only, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, 21 that they may all be one, just as you, Father, are in me, and I in you, that they also may be in us, so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 The glory that you have given me I have given to them, that they may be one even as we are one,

A blessing to us through the Word because we believe in Him who made the New Covenant.