As the dust of Palm Sunday settles, Jesus returns to Jerusalem with purpose. On this Monday, He walks into the temple and sees a place meant for worship turned into a marketplace. With holy zeal, He flips tables and drives out the money changers. This moment wasn’t just about cleaning the temple—it was about restoring the heart of worship. Jesus wasn’t interested in surface-level religion. He was after purity, holiness, and hearts fully devoted to God.
Where Was Jesus & What Was He Doing?
Jesus entered the temple in Jerusalem and saw corruption where there should have been reverence. Merchants were exploiting people by selling sacrificial animals at high prices. In righteous anger, He drove them out and declared, “My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you have made it a den of robbers!” (Matthew 21:13). After cleansing the temple, He stayed there healing the blind and the lame, showing that true worship invites restoration and compassion.
How Can We Worship the Lord Today?
Worship today by inviting Jesus to cleanse the temple of your heart. Let Him overturn anything that distracts you from true worship. You can honor Him by choosing purity over performance and by seeking His presence with sincerity. Spend intentional time in prayer, offer your day to Him, and examine your life for any idols that may be stealing your focus.
Next Steps in Light of Holy Week
- Reflect and Repent: Spend time asking God to reveal areas in your life that need cleansing. Pray Psalm 51 as a personal prayer of repentance.
- Simplify: Identify one thing in your life—schedule, habit, or possession—that may be crowding out time with God and intentionally set it aside.
- Create Space for Worship: Light a candle, put on worship music, or journal your prayers today as a way to reset your heart before the Lord.
Further Study:
- Matthew 21:12–17
- Mark 11:15–18
- Isaiah 56:7
- Psalm 51
- 1 Corinthians 6:19–20
