A house of prayer

A house of prayer

Scripture:

Jesus entered the temple courts 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. “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’” 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 courts, “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, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

Matthew 21:12-17

Observation:

First came the fury of the Lord. Tables were overturned. Birds squawked in terror. Coins were scattered all over the floor. There was shouting and anger, shock and disbelief, as the temple courts were overrun by the rage of the Lord. Eyes glistening with hot anger, the Lord declared “It is written: My house will be called a house of prayer but you are making it a den of robbers!”

To understand this better, we need to take a look at history and how this practice of allowing money changers and sellers of doves into the temple came about. Now Jews from all over the world would return to the temple of Jerusalem to pray and give their sacrifice. However, as they had foreign currency and also since it was not practical for them to bring animals over such a long journey, they had to depend on the money changers and dove sellers to fulfill their worship obligations. Sensing this as an attractive money-making venture, the Pharisees had collaborated with businessmen to charge exorbitant rates and prices, thus exploiting all the foreign Jews who came there. To make matter worse, they had camped in the Court where the Gentiles were to worship. Their actions were akin to daylight robbery, and their evil in this defiled the temple and raised God’s anger.

From the fury, we are suddenly brought to a different scene, a scene of great joy and healing as the blind see and the lame walk even as Jesus heals them – now with a Word, now with a touch. The children in the courts start singing “Hosanna to the Son of David”, praising Him as Messiah, Savior. As usual, the jealous priests and Pharisees are indignant and call the Lord to question for allowing them to sing that way. Here, the Lord again quotes Scripture to them “Haven’t you heard, from the lips of children and infants, you Lord have called forth praise?”

At the end of the day, he retires to Bethany, probably to the home of Lazarus, Mary and Martha, where he is comfortably welcome.

Application:

Meditating on the clearing of the temple, we quickly realize that God’s house is holy, and that we must take extra care to make sure we honor His house. Now providing money changing services and doves for foreign guests are not wrong in themselves. The sin here was in exploitation, charging exorbitant prices to take advantage of the weak. That’s why the reference to the “den of robbers”, for these businesspeople in connection with the Pharisees were guilty of daylight robbery in an ethical sense. For us too in our daily lives, whether in business or trade, we must be careful to be fair and honest, not to take advantage of the weak but to treat our neighbor as we would like to be treated. Another point we should take note of is that our body is God’s temple, and we must honor God with our bodies in like manner, not letting our minds or bodies be defiled by filth or impurity or idolatry.

Remember that God’s house is a house of prayer, where we seek God, and pray to God. Even our bodies are houses of prayer, and we are meant to pray to God in a sense unceasingly, throughout the day. Those who have received the baptism of the Holy Spirit and can speak in tongues are better able to do this, able at any given moment, pray in tongues to build up our spirit man, to pray for ourselves in the Spirit with groans that no words can express.

Consider the praises of the infants and the children “Hosanna to the Son of David”. The Sunday School or Children’s ministry is very precious indeed, as God is most pleased with the praises and songs from His young ones. Those involved in this ministry are blessed indeed and even if we are not, we can lead the young ones in our lives to praise and worship Jesus in like manner wherever we can.

Reflect on how dear Bethany was to Jesus. He was welcome there. Friends who loved him were there. He was able to go there and be comfortable and find rest. Let us also who have homes endeavor to make it a place like Bethany, welcoming and refreshing to those who visit.

Prayer:

We praise and thank You, Heavenly Father, for this day’s lesson which is rich in application. Forgive our sins we pray, especially where we have felt to honor Your house, and even our bodies, the temple of the Holy Spirit. Teach us Lord to honor You with all our heart, mind and soul, even as Your Spirit leads us. Give us the wisdom and discipline to put away practices or sins that dishonor You. Give us temperance and peace especially in our interaction with others that glorifies Your name. We thank You Lord for making Your House a house of prayer. Let us never forget that we go to church, first and foremost to commune with You, not as a routine but as a time of deep fellowship with You for You speak to us even through the worship or the Pastor or even in the times of prayer. Even on our own, teach us to pray without ceasing, strengthening our spirit man, even as we pray in the Spirit.

We thank You for all who are involved in the Children’s ministry for they are precious to You. Empower them and give them strength and patience, that they may leave a great impact on the all-important younger generation. May they grow in love and knowledge of You even as they teach the children. We also pray that we may make our homes like Bethany, hospitable and welcoming to all who visit, just like when You visited with Mary, Martha and Lazarus. Bless our homes we pray for this, in Jesus name, Amen.