Matthew 21:10-17
Mark 11:15-18
Luke 19: 45-48
Luke 19: 45-48 Then he entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. “It is written,” he said to them, ‘My house will be a house of prayer’; but you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.
Jesus did not want the temple to be used for shady transactions. There were, no doubt, dealers of goods who took advantage of others, and people who came to the temple to steal from the dealers as well. Jesus was upset by this use of holy ground. I think we have been pretty careful when considering what we use our church space to accommodate. It has been so difficult for me to see our church as a dangerous place, which we were not safe to enter. I have to say, I feel Jeff has been moved by the Holy Spirit to repair our church sanctuary. He has been relentlessly moving toward the repairs since he heard about the issue. He has been a man on a mission, and there is no doubt God has been behind Him. I am thankful to God for Jeff and for his willingness to hear God’s calling and to respond to it.
Heavenly Father, thank you for calling each and every one of us to you. Help me to hear your voice. Amen
Becky, transforming
Matthew 21:10-17.....Mark 11:15-18..... Luke 19:45-48
It would be hard for me to imagine vendors being allowed to set up work stations inside our church for their own personal profit. We never think of Jesus as losing his temper, yet that is what he did when he entered the temple and saw it set up just like a market place. He overturned the tables of the money exchangers and the benches of those selling doves. My house will be called a house of worship but you are making it a den of robbers. Anger is not a bad thing ,it is what we do with the anger that can cause pain and mistrust. In situations where I feel upset and hur…
All three accounts of this episode in the temple have Jesus quoting Isaiah 56:7. Certainly the scribes and Pharisees understood the reference as did many worshippers who had heard the prophets read in the temple. But it would take His death and resurrection for anyone other than His mother - even His closest disciples - to truly understand just who Jesus was. Those who hailed Him as Messiah did not comprehend His mission either. We have the advantage of history, but I sometimes act as if I do do not know Him. Lent is a time to take stock of these shortcomings and start afresh at Easter.
Prayer - Jesus, House of prayer of my life, cleanse me of my…
Jesus at the temple
Matthew 21: 10-17, Mark 11: 15-18, Luke 19: 45-48
In these parables Jesus says to me that he wants us to see his church as a gathering place for people to connect with God. A place of comfort, hope, and encouragement to stay in touch with God. Jesus wants us to always remember that the Church is God’s house and God’s house is a house of prayer. It is and always will be a place for us to learn more about God, hearing his voice and being transformed by the Holy Spirit. As Jesus stated in all these verses, His house will always be a house of prayer.
Dearest Lord, thank you for all you have…