Monday  -  JESUS CLEARS THE TEMPLE

by Bridgette Poag
Children's Pastor

Mark 11:15-19

15 They came to Jerusalem, and he went into the temple and began to throw out those buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, 16 and would not permit anyone to carry goods through the temple. 17 He was teaching them: “Is it not written, My housewill be called a house of prayerfor all nations? But you have made it a den of thieves!” 

18 The chief priests and the scribes heard it and started looking for a way to kill him. For they were afraid of him, because the whole crowd was astonished by his teaching.

19 Whenever evening came, they would go out of the city.

The thrill of the Triumphal Entry did not last long, as verse 11 tells us, Jesus entered the temple to examine it. By verse 15, Jesus has had a night of rest to contemplate his next steps.  Jesus walked into the temple on Monday, and his heart grieved at the sight before him.  The temple was a place of worship for both Jews and Gentiles, but the Jews had created a marketplace, buying and selling things to make money and keep the Gentiles from worshipping God.  Immediately, Jesus jumped into action, driving out those who were buying and selling, overturning the money tables and the benches of doves. He would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. Then he quotes God’s Word from Isaiah 56:7, “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”   I imagine those around Jesus must have been shocked by his sudden outburst of anger, but for Jesus, he knew this was the first step toward the final days of his earthly ministry. His reaction would spur an outburst of anger from the religious leaders as they viewed Jesus as a threat to their way of life.

Jesus cleansing the temple is a reminder to us all not to corrupt the worship of God. We must be careful not to put ourselves, our thoughts, our attitudes, or our preferences above worshipping Him. We are to love God with all of our heart, soul, and mind.  Are we worshipping Him as He deserves, or are we preventing true worship from occurring?  Open your heart, soul, and mind to experience true, transformational worship today.