What do you expect when you walk into a church?

Most of the churches I have gone into have an entry way, a small area for people to greet each other, and sanctuary for worship. They are places of joy and reverence.

However, I remember walking into one mega-church that was quite different. There was a bookstore and a literal Starbucks. The worship space was more like a concert venue. I’m not saying that’s wrong per se, but it is different than I expected.

Jump back to Jesus’ day, and the temple was supposed to be a place of worship and prayer. A place where people came to receive God’s gifts—to hear His Word, offer sacrifices, and be reminded of His promises.

But that’s not what Jesus finds. Instead, He finds buying and selling.

He finds a place that no longer reflects what it was meant to be. And He responds.

Jesus drives out those who were selling. He says that God’s house is meant to be a house of prayer—but they had turned it into something else.

This is not a small moment. This is Jesus exercising His authority.

He is not just teaching anymore. He is confronting.

Why?

Because this matters. Worship matters. What happens in God’s house matters.

The temple was not meant to be a place centered on human activity. It certainly wasn’t a place to take advantage of people financially, as was happening. It was meant to be centered on God as a place of prayer and worship.

And yet, something had gone wrong.

Before we look too quickly at the people in the temple, it’s worth asking:

What about us?

It’s easy for our focus to shift.

• We can go through the motions.
• We can get distracted.
• We can be more concerned about appearances than worship.

Even our hearts can become cluttered and Law hits us between the eyes. Yes, we remembered the Sabbath, but we are also supposed to keep it holy.

Thankfully, Jesus cleansing the temple isn’t the end of the story. The same Jesus, who had authority over HIS temple, also has authority over life, death, and judgment, and He’s on His way to the cross to destroy death, forgive sins, and give life.

He is not just coming to correct outward behavior. He is coming to cleanse something much deeper. He is coming to cleanse you and your heart.

Through His death and resurrection, Jesus removes sin.

In fact, the New Testament tells us something incredible.

Through Christ, we become God’s temple.

“Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” – 1 Corinthians 3:16

As we walk through this Holy Week, we are reminded that Jesus does not ignore sin. He confronts it. He paid the penalty for it. And He cleanses us of it.

That is what He is doing as He continues toward the cross.

Let’s pray…

Heavenly Father,

We confess that our hearts are often distracted and turned away from You. Cleanse us through Your Son, Jesus Christ. Restore us and draw us back to You. Help us to hear Your Word, to trust in Your promises, and to live as Your people through the forgiveness we have in Christ.

Amen.

As part of your devotion time, I encourage you to also pray for at least some of the following:

• Your family
• Your local church
• Your pastor
• Some of your fellow church members
• The people on your B.L.E.S.S. list
• Your country and her leaders
• Your community

After praying for these people, you may want to finish your devotion time with the Lord’s Prayer…

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and every. Amen.