Mark 11: 15-18 Jesus drives out the money changers

Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves; and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS’? But you have made it a ROBBERS’ DEN.” The chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, for the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching.

Jesus' words were taken from Isaiah, "My house shall be a house of prayer." The money changers were the Pharisees who were selling pigeons and other animals for sacrifice. Jesus was showing that the religious leaders were not representing the heart of God. God desires worship, not sacrifice. If the heart of the Pharisees were in the right place, they could have learned from Jesus' actions in the temple. But they did not regard Jesus as the Son of God, so instead they despised him and started finding a way to destroy him.

Daily Prayer: Father, it is not only in the Jewish temple where leaders are confused, they are also sometimes misguided in the church. No servant can be above his master. And the business of the church should never take priority over the worship of the church. Whoever desires to be servant needs to be servant of everyone. Give us, the church, the spirit of humility in our service to you. In Jesus name I pray Amen.