And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, [13] And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. [14] And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. [15] And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, [16] And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? [17] And he left them, and went out of the city into Bethany; and he lodged there.
On Monday of Holy Week, Jesus went into the temple of God to clean it of things that did not belong. I believe He did this with righteous anger. This was the second time during His ministry He overthrew the tables of the moneychangers and threw out the people selling animals for sacrifices. Jesus harshly rebuked the people with the declaration, My house is a house of prayer but you have made it a den of thieves.
Jesus continued to heal people in the temple. I’m sure the people followed Him wherever He went. As soon as He arrived at a place the word would spread, shortly thereafter the groups of people arrived. During this time of healing there were children in attendance. The children cried out in the temple praising God. Remember they were in the temple, the place where one is to praise and worship God.
Indignation rose up in the priests and scribes, Who did this man think he was allowing the children to praise Him like this. When they questioned Jesus, He answered the way He always answered skeptics, with the Word of God.
It appears that Jesus quickly left the temple and the city and traveled to Bethany. In a few short days His life would end.
What about the temple today? Where is it? Look at what the New Testament has to say about the temple of God:
What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.
There are some pretty sobering facts listed here, we are the temple of God. The Holy Spirit lives in us. This temple is different than the physical temple of Jesus’ day but it is where the Spirit of God lives.
What do we put into the temple today? Our temple is not meant to have “other things” clutter it up. Is the temple of our heart being shared with “idols”. An idol is anything we put before God. Do we make excuses for why we can’t read the Bible, but have time to read everything else. I know I have been there. Pray and ask the Lord to help you keep His temple clean.
Have a blessed day.
Donna
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