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Mark 11:15-19
15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.'”
18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.
19 When evening came, Jesus and his disciples went out of the city.
The Temple in Jerusalem should have been the most holy place in the city, a place devoted to the worship of the Lord. When Jesus had entered the city riding on a donkey Matthew tells us that He went to the Temple. Jesus was appalled by what was going on. It was place of business and mostly dishonest business as the money-changers and pigeon sellers sought to fleece the pilgrims who had come to worship. In graphic language Matthew describes what happened. Jesus drove all that was unholy and dishonest, everything which broke God’s law, out of the Temple.
There is a lesson here for all of us, especially at Easter. Many Christians have lives filled with other things which are not honouring to the Lord. Sin and distractions which can easily take God’s place. Is it time for a clean out of our hearts and lives? Time to remove all that interferes with our worship and service of the Lord our God. when we know and love Jesus our whole focus must be to serve Him to the utmost of our ability.
By Wor. Bro. Rev David Reid, Grand Chaplain