April 03rd, 2023

     Jesus has arrived in Jerusalem for the observance of Passover.  His first stop is a visit to the temple.  He is very disappointed in what he finds.  Money changers have set up tables taking advantage of the out of town visitors who will need Jewish currency.  The deeply meaningful observance of Passover, as well as the Jewish temple of worship,  have been turned into an opportunity to make money.  Jesus clears the temple by overturning the tables and driving out those who are making money from the Passover.  Jesus then returns the temple to its designed purpose as he prays for the sick and gives them healing.
      Jesus teaches us that we must keep the things of God holy and pure, not allowing them to lose their meaning.  If we keep our spiritual temple clear of impure motives, Jesus will be pleased and will not have to do a cleansing as he did in Jerusalem.  Amen.

“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.” And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭21‬:‭12‬-‭14‬ ‭