Being Restored as a House of Prayer
Holy Monday’s Verses:
From Matthew 21:12-13 ESV
“And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. He said to them, ‘It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.’”
We are uncertain which day of the week Jesus actually rode into Jerusalem that final week. We call it “Palm Sunday,” but it may have actually been a Tuesday. It doesn’t matter much.
On He went, straight to the center of Israelite worship life: the Temple. And what He saw filled Him with sorrow. The temple courts had been turned into a marketplace. Merchants and money-changers had set up shop to fleece unsuspecting pilgrims who had traveled great distances (particularly the poor), selling them animals for temple sacrifices at inflated prices and scamming them on currency exchange rates. God’s house had become “a house of prayer for all nations” no longer, but “a den of robbers” (Matthew 21:13).
Filled with righteous indignation, the Lord Jesus cleanses God’s temple. He casts out the sellers and buyers, overturns their tables, and declares His mission: “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it a ‘robber’s den.’” Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple was one sign of His Messiahship, a preview of the greater cleansing He would effect on the cross.
The message here hits home with us today. Our hearts are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). But how often do we allow “merchants” to ply their trade within us—greed, selfish ambition, internet feeds or TV shows, anything that distracts us from spending time with the Lord. Sometimes we let religious “professionals” take up residence as well, who corrupt God’s Word and turn the gospel into a “good deal” with God if we just pay our “tithe.” Jesus has no place for corruption in His Father’s house. Nor will He allow it to remain in ours.
Thankfully, Jesus comes this Holy Week not simply to judge and cleanse us, but to give us life. He would pour out His blood on the cross to become the true Temple: his body would be struck down and raised in three days’ time (John 2:19–21). If we believe in Him, by His death, we are forgiven of every way we’ve turned holy things into prostitution. His precious blood purifies our consciences and restores our hearts to be a house of prayer, where the Holy Spirit can once again make His home, and we can commune with our Father.
✝️ A Prayer for Today:
Lord Jesus, You entered the temple and drove out the merchants with holy zeal. Drive out anything from our hearts today that keeps us from praying and worshiping You truly. Forgive us for exploiting even Your gifts for selfish gain. Amen.
Apostles’ Creed:
I believe in God, the Father Almighty, maker of heaven and earth.
And in Jesus Christ, His only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried. He descended into hell. The third day He rose again from the dead. He ascended into heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father Almighty. From thence He will come to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy Christian Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Lord’s Prayer:
Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy 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; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Luther’s Morning Prayer:
I thank You, my heavenly Father, through Jesus Christ, Your dear Son, that You have kept me this night from all harm and danger; and I pray that You would keep me this day also from sin and every evil, that all my doings and life may please You. For into Your hands, I commend myself, my body and soul, and all things. Let Your holy angel be with me, that the evil foe may have no power over me. Amen.
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