CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE

Right after Jesus' triumphant entry, as the people received Him as King, He immediately went to the temple. When He entered the temple, He drove out all those who brought and sold in the temple and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to the people, "My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves (Matthew 21:12-13)." All the businesses should be happening outside of the temple, but the High Priest and the religious leaders allowed it to happen in the temple so that they could profit from the selling and buying of the animals for the sacrifices. In addition, in order for the high priest and religious leaders to monopolize the market, they only allowed temple money to be used to buy animals in the temple. As a result, the people must exchange their common money for the temple money in order for them to buy the animals for their sacrifices. The exchange of money in the temple was a scam to steal money from the people. The temple of God should have been the house of prayer, but the high priest and the religious leaders made it a den of thieves, and this is the reason Jesus was very angry at what they were doing in the temple. 

Our Lord Jesus had proven to the people that He came to conquer sin and death and not to conquer Rome. The cleansing of the temple is a picture of spiritual renewal and repentance. We don't have a temple anymore to worship God because we have become the temple of God when we believe in our Lord Jesus. 1 Corinthians 3:16 says, "Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst?" When we allow sin to stay in us and are not willing to repent, we are allowing the thieves to stay in the temple of God. Our bodies should be used to worship and honor God. Romans 6:13 says, "Do not let any part of your body become an instrument of evil to serve sin. Instead, give yourselves completely to God, for you were dead, but now you have new life. So use your whole body as an instrument to do what is right for the glory of God."

This Holy Week, we should remember the importance of repentance and the renewal of our relationship with our Heavenly Father. We need to search our hearts and confess our sins to God for forgiveness. Today is the day to begin to humble ourselves before God, confess our sins, and receive His forgiveness and renewal. Let our God cleanse us today through confession and repentance.  

Questions for application: (Think through these questions carefully, meditate on them while answering them, and let the Spirit of God speak to you.) Is there anything that I need to confess to God today? Is there anything that I need to repent from? Am I willing to allow God to cleanse me today?  

Take a moment to write down all your worries today. Then, lift them up to God in prayer, surrendering them to His will and trusting in His guidance.

Prayer:

Dear Father in Heaven, I confess all my sins to you, and please forgive me. Thank you for your grace, mercy, and love. Please cleanse my heart from sin and continue to renew my mind so that I may walk in your righteousness. Please help me not to hide sin in my heart and help me to repent from sin that is affecting my relationship with you. Thank you for your forgiveness. In your name, Jesus, I pray. Amen.