Spend time in prayer and silence with God asking Him to meet with you and speak to you.
Bible Reading
Jesus went into the temple and threw out all those buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them, “It is written, My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of thieves!” The blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. When the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonders that He did and the children shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant and said to Him, “Do you hear what these children are saying?” Jesus replied, “Yes, have you never read: You have prepared praise from the mouths of infants and nursing babies?” Then He left them, went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.
– Matthew 21:12-17
Devotion
After entering Jerusalem, Jesus made His way to the Jewish temple. The first thing He does is drive out the money changers who were taking advantage of the pilgrims that were coming in for the Passover feast. These men were in league with the religious leaders to profit dishonestly by taking advantage of the pilgrims that were coming in from all different parts of the Roman Empire. Jesus points out their dishonesty and then returns respect to the temple by ministering to those who were hurting. The religious leaders become indignant when they heard the children still shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” Jesus argues from Psalm 8:2 that the children’s celebration was appropriate and divinely inspired.
The Big Question
Who owned and operated the money-changing business in the temple? Why was Jesus so angry about this? Why where the religious leaders so indignant about the children’s words? Why did Jesus not rebuke the children? Why did Jesus rebuke the religious leaders? From this passage of Scripture, what should true religion look like? Where are you serving and giving?
Conclude your time in prayer and silence, reflecting on what God revealed to you today.