Matthew 21:12-17 Cleansing the Temple

And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all 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 said to them, “It is written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER’; but you are making it a ROBBERS’ DEN.” And the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant and said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, ‘OUT OF THE MOUTH OF INFANTS AND NURSING BABIES YOU HAVE PREPARED PRAISE FOR YOURSELF’?” And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.

Jesus’ cleansing of the temple rises to root questions. First, what is the manner of worship being held? Second, who administers the worship and what is their motivation? Times New Roman The manner of worship is animal sacrifice. The sacrifices were to make atonement for the sins of the people, but Jesus’ objection was the selling of animals in the temple to the people. That in charges is the Pharisees, whom Jesus often quotes as violators of the heart of the Law of Moses – the Jewish Covenant. Yet another question is what Jesus’ authority in this temple matter is? God desires obedience, not sacrifice. The Pharisees were ones who labored for themselves and not for God. Jesus is the Son of God and is calling for a new worship order and new temple leadership. His authority comes from God and not man.

Daily Prayer: Lord, by the Spirit that lives in me as the new temple of God, stirs up in me and gives me the power of obedience to demonstrate my love for You. Let this not be an outward sign, but an inward one. I pray this in Jesus name who loves me at gave His life for me Amen.