Matthew 21: 12-13 Cleansing the Temple

Matthew 21:1-3 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.

Prayer: Dear Lord the next verse of your word tells us this took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet in Zechariah 9:9 in which it was written “Say to the Daughter of Zion, See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.” It always amazes me the way the scriptures line up from the Old to the New Testament. This affirmed your humility and that you are indeed the Messiah. Humble me Lord! Open our hearts and minds to your wondrous word. In Jesus name we pray, Amen.

Matthew 21: 6 -9 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. They brought the donkey and the colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David” “Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” “Hosanna in the highest!”

Prayer, Blessed are you who comes in the name of the Lord! You are the King! This we celebrate on Palm Sunday. On that first Palm Sunday Coronation your Glory was humbly recognized on earth, but in only a few short days you would be deserted by your followers. Help us to recognize you on earth, so we can gladly join you in your heavenly Kingdom one day. We are assured that you will never desert us. We thank you, because we certainly don’t deserve this grace. Amen.

Matthew 21: 12 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.

Prayer: Dear Lord, you are slow to anger but desecration of the Holy Temple is a serious matter to you! Lord let us understand the importance of your indignation. The Webster’s dictionary defines indignation as anger aroused by injustice, unworthiness and unfairness. In my study bible I noted that this is the second time you cleared the temple, you had done it once before according to John 2:13-17. Gentiles had come to worship God and were taken advantage of and deceived by the merchants who sold them sacrificial animals at high prices and cheated them on exchange rates. This greatly angered you Jesus, because it interfered with worshipping our God. Please help us to take worship seriously and clear our temple of interference and distractions. In your name we pray. Amen.

Matthew 21: 12 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.

Dear Lord, I don’t think that it was a coincidence that the symbol of peace, the dove, was used to make a point about the deception and corruption in the temple, in which Gods people, his worshippers were deceived by the merchants. Lord help us to discern peace from corruption in this deceptive world and drive out the enemy from your Temple and turn the tables toward Peace. In your precious name we pray! Amen.

Matthew 21:13 “It is written”, Jesus said to them, “My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a ‘den of robbers. “

Prayer: Dear Lord, Help us to remember that we are also your temple and what we do with our bodies should be for your glory and not our gain. Amen

Matthew 21: 14-16 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying? “ they asked him. “Yes” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise?”

Prayer: You shocked them with your tolerance for the blind, the lame and the children who were not to be heard or seen especially in the temple. What humility and praise you have ordained! You are amazing God! Allow us to learn tolerance and humility and to pray for your people through your healing presence. Amen. 7

Matthew 21: 14-16 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple area “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant. “Do you hear what these children are saying? “ they asked him. “Yes” replied Jesus, “have you never read, “From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise?”

Prayer: In the days you lived on earth, the children were not given much respect until you came along? You gave respect not only to children, but to the poor, those who were sinners and those who were unclean or sick. You have asked us to do the same! We find it especially difficult to love and accept those who are labeled sinners, but we all are sinners. Teach us to be accepting, kind and forgiving to others, especially sinners, for your grace is good enough for all of us sinners! Praise you! Amen