The Temple Repairment and Work Inclusion (2 Kings 12:1-16)

What’s the main idea of the text?

The following passage tells us about Jehoash, one of the kings of Israel registered in the historic books of the Old Testament (v. 1). According to the biblical register, he did the right before the Lord in the way the high priest, Jehoiada, instructed him (v.2). Nevertheless, there was indeed something that avoided the Israelite nation to be blessed by the Lord: They were doing sacrifices and burning incenses in the igh places (v.3). To confront this, King Jehoash started to figure out by giving instructions on how the money generated from the priests and men of God to be brought into the house of the Lord (v.4). The most important thing in this passage is how the money would be destined to: The priests should take it to the technicians of the temple because it consisted on the repair thereof. That’s the whole principle of the fruit that generates work, and to make that productive, they should hire the people to repair it (v.5). It is confessed that it had come to pass just 33 years of not the temple being repaired nor maintained by any single priest (v.6). Then, Kig Jehoash called for Jehoiada the priest and other priests to scold them by reclaiming that why hadn’t they repaired the breaches of the house, he then exhorts them, saying: “Therefore receive no money of your acquaintance, but deliver it for the breaches of the house (v.7 KJV). So, they were not consent to receive more money from the people and neither to repair the breaches of the house [good for King Jehoash!] (v.8).

There is a beautiful ritual described in the following verses: Jehoiada the priest, indeed, had taken a chest, bored a hole in the lid of it, and set it beside the altar, on the right side, as one cometh into the house of the Lord; then, all the priests had put on the chest the money that had come from the house of the Lord (v. 9). It was a lot of money therein, so the king and the high priest came up to figure it out and be shared toward the workers who helped in the temple restoration work (vv. 10-12). The thing that impacts me the most is that in v.13, there were no bowls of silver, snuffers, basins, trumpets, or vessels of gold or silver. Why? Because all the money was paid to the workmen who had repaired the house of the Lord (vv. 13-14). Something impactful is that sin money, as well as the trespass money, wasn’t given to the workmen but to the priests [you know what? That’s a true Christian culture!].

Photo by jean52Photosstock on PixaBay

What is the meaning of the text?

Before going further, I chose this passage to be studied, given the profundity and strong meaning of how an inclusive church could be. Approaching this in the Autism Bible Study series, it is hard for me that Christian schools (and even churches) are not interested in working with the disabled to provide them with work services so they can even tithe and serve their local churches. That’s a whole slew of things that are kept in mind in the US, with many autism on-the-job training programs spread locally. Nevertheless, in a third-world context like mine (I’m from Barranquilla, Colombia), there is nothing like a paid training program that trains autistic individuals who, without going to another country, might be trained and designated by an employer without any kind of filter. While reading the Bible for a 10-year period, behold, I found this particular Bible passage that might be taken into account to develop career and vocational training programs in Colombia and Latin America!

So, we’re now going to study the original meaning of this Bible passage through some of our Bible scholar friends:

“It is a great mercy to young people, especially to all young men of rank, like Jehoash, to have those about them who will instruct them to do what is right in the sight of the Lord; and they do wisely and well for themselves, when willing to be counselled and ruled. The temple was out of repair; Jehoash orders the repair of the temple. The king was zealous. God requires those who have power to use it for the support of religion, the redress of grievances, and repairing of decays. The king employed the priests to manage, as most likely to be hearty in the work. But nothing was done effectually till the twenty-third year of his reign. Another method was therefore taken. When public distributions are made faithfully, public contributions will be made cheerfully. While they were getting all they could for the repair of the temple, they did not break in upon the stated maintenance of the priests. Let not the servants of the temple be starved, under colour of repairing the breaches of it. Those that were entrusted did the business carefully and faithfully. They did not lay it out in ornaments for the temple, till the other work was completed; hence we may learn, in all our expenses, to prefer that which is most needful, and, in dealing for the public, to deal as we would for ourselves.” (Matthew Henry's Commentary, n.d.).

A neurodivergent analysis of what this text speaks on disability, the church, and the workplaces.

According to what I previously said in the beginning of the second section before Matthew Henry collaborated, that’s a pure reality about working in Colombia as a Christian worker. Well, that’s a mere thing of my personal reality, because in my Colombian context, Christian favoritism is pretty unique among evangelical Christians. If you have a disability (e.g: Autism), you might probably have to find out what Christian company may offer to you a job, but in reality, it is awful and saddened that nobody in the evangelical Protestant Christian denominations, there is no way to land a job.

Nevertheless, talking about the biblical context of the reality, in my own interpretation, King Jehoash did something no Christian in the third world would do: He urged the priests and governors of Israel to collect all the money delivered to the temple of Jerusalem in a chest and that part of that money be paid to the workmen. That’s the whole thing of the biblical reality in the selected text! I am a professional theologian from a liberal Protestant university here in Colombia, and at the start of my undergraduate studies, I was shocked when I realized that I would only have classes on weekends. This indeed saddened me and made my mother cry. Perhaps having studied theology in a secular university wasn’t the call from God. However, the Lord himself pitied me and had mercy during my five years of studying theology. I was also shocked by the progressive theology that was explicitly taught in the university’s theological faculty at the time of the 2020 US presidential elections. Nevertheless, I continued studying theology until I graduated from the faculty with honors: my dissertation on autism and faith communities. I am currently unemployed, so I am finding ways to monetize my time, and the best thing I can do is practice my theological degree by writing the Autism Bible Study!

If a church wants to start a disability ministry, the best thing it can do is to hire disabled locals. Whether low-paying or volunteering, a disability ministry is the best tool an autistic individual can use when starting to relate with God. All will depend on the study of the Bible in different ecclesiastical contexts across the world. And when it comes to local contexts, I mean there are good examples of starting a ministry for people with disabilities in the legitimate way of creating a disability-owned business:

Roim Rachok: This is a good example of how a church can partner with the government! Roim Rachok (Looking Ahead in Hebrew) was introduced in 2013 by the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) to train adults on the autism spectrum in professions required by the Israeli military and civil market. According to their own website (n.d):

“The first three months of the program are held by a civil framework in Ono Academic College where participants learn a profession and essential work skills. During the next 3-4 months, they are provisionally assigned to an IDF unit where they work as civilians to gain experience before being drafted as volunteers”

What do autistic individuals learn? According to what they say, they are training in defense technology, Software Quality Assurance (QA), and information sorting. Now, talking about this, I have a certificate in Microsoft Excel from a private trade institute here in Colombia. Nevertheless, the vast majority of the jobs related to data entry and MS Excel require a degree specialized in the area. Do you see the thing that theology has no room in the job market?

Now this is my proposal: Following the governmental nature of the Roim Rachok program, a local church may become a government contractor to hire autistic individuals so they can develop IT skills.

Rising Tide Car Wash: Yes, this is a US-based business idea that has resulted in a well-done social enterprise! Tom D’eri, who has an autistic brother of his own, said that when he was in high school, “it became really clear quickly that for him to live the full adult life that he knew he was capable of, we would have to take action” (Francois, July 22 2025). Something funny about the autistic worker of the car wash is that he says that the best part of his job is that he makes so much money.

Rising Tide Car Wash has three locations in Margate, Parkland, and Coral Springs and, as of 2026, Pompano Beach (all located in the Sunshine State of Florida). Indeed, one of the customers of this company says the following: “There are no meaningful opportunities for individuals who have high-functioning autism, and this is something that they can do and be successful and feel a part of.”

Hence comes my proposal for the local church: Following the entrepreneurial response to the workforce issue within the autism community, the church, being a legal person in a determined country, can establish a local business following the special gifts given by the Lord to the only disabled person in the congregation! Perhaps they may have a restricted theme, but if they’re talented in some way, the church can profit; that’s the perk of having a disabled churchperson!

PizzAut: This is the premier business idea for a church to implement. Now, talking about this, let me confess that, given that I am unemployed, I am imagining tons of fantasies about creating a social enterprise. The issue? It requires an investment. Not everything in life is free; one must pay for something. I merely confess that I wish to be a worker for the Lord, being paid for that, and glorifying Him by tithing to the church. I don’t clearly understand why the Protestant churches might not work well for a disabled person. That’s impossible and unlikely for a church to start a special-needs ministry.

Now on, talking about the unlikely, PizzAut is an unlikely and impossible business! Nevertheless, it has become successful with its unique trademark: The impossibility of an all-Italian restaurant chain. The best thing? Nico Acampora, the founder of this chain, “has come to know the world his son shows him daily and decided to turn his passion for pizza into a job” (It's Impossible. PizzAut, n.d.).

Behold, here comes my proposal for the local church: If for God there is no impossible, then why can't the church make something impossible into a success?!

In summary, all these things correlate a lot in the sense that one church can partner with the government or even start from scratch to please God via a disabled individual!

How can this principle-filled purpose be related to my life and ministry in church?

We have completed the inductive study of the Bible in the main idea section; we navigated exegetically through Matthew Henry’s biblical commentary, and we came up with ecclesial business ideas that might resonate in the future! This is perhaps one of the shortest articles for the Autism Bible Study, but substantial in the same way! You might even notice how the Lord fills me with inspiration to build an audience, and even better, I hope the Autism Bible Study (ABS) might make me a living, since I am a professional theologian and an independent worker for the Lord.

So, how can I relate all this written stuff to my life and ministry in church? I confess that I am an Independent Fundamental Baptist (IFB). Yes, those who hold to the King James Bible-only doctrine. Nonetheless, I am also an open-minded theologian, following my university formation at a theologically liberal institution here in Colombia. I must assume that there is an issue within the disability theme that doesn’t get religious communities, and that secular therapeutic centers do not want anything to do with religion. If God’s not a religion, why not open the door to an autistic person in church? That’s the whole thing about thinking! My proposals coming here are mainly the beginning of something large.

May the Lord be with you, my dear autistic brother/sister-in-Christ!

Angello Forero

Barranquilla, Colombia

References

2 Kings 5 Matthew Henry's Bible Commentary. (s.f.). Retrieved September 11, 2025, Biblehub.com: https://biblehub.com/commentaries/mhc/2_kings/5.htm

Francois, T. (n.d.). Washing away barriers: Rising Tide Car Wash offers purpose, paycheck for adults with autism. Retrieved July 22, 2025, from CBS News: https://www.cbsnews.com/miami/news/washing-away-barriers-rising-tide-car-wash-offers-purpose-paycheck-for-adults-with-autism/

It's Impossible. PizzAut. (n.d.). Retrieved August 12, 2026, from Art4sport: https://www.art4sport.org/portfolio-item/pizzaut/?lang=en

Matthew Henry's Commentary. (n.d.). Retrieved August 12, 2026, from Bible Hub: https://biblehub.com/commentaries/mhc/2_kings/12.htm

Roim Rachok Program. (n.d.). Retrieved August 12, 2026, from https://www.roim-rachok.org/english

Angello Andrés Forero Bueno is a Colombian theologian, based in Barranquilla, with autism. After having graduated from the theology faculty of the Reformed University of Colombia, being himself the first neurodivergent individual to have been graduated by such a faculty, he is now pursuing his theological degree toward the implementation of special-needs ministries in the Independent Fundamental Baptist churches and other Protestant Christian congregations across Latin America.