Today's Scripture
TODAY’S READING SCHEDULE: Jeremiah 3 -5; Matthew 21:1 -22
Going Back to God’s presence- Matthew 22:12-17
12 Then Jesus went into the temple and threw out all those who were selling and buying there. He pushed over the tables used for currency exchange and the chairs of those who sold doves. 13 He said to them, “It’s written, My house will be called a house of prayer. But you’ve made it a hideout for crooks.”
14 People who were blind and lame came to Jesus in the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and legal experts saw the amazing things he was doing and the children shouting in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were angry. 16 They said to Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?”
“Yes,” he answered. “Haven’t you ever read, From the mouths of babies and infants you’ve arranged praise for yourself? ” 17 Then he left them and went out of the city to Bethany and spent the night there.
What does this passage mean to me/us?
The temple of God was set aside for God’s people to meet and encounter God.
However, the people who were in charge of keeping the temple holy defiled the temple under the label of convenience and greed.
They water downed the process of worship, which is a journey of repentance to enter into God’s temple, and defiled the worship to God. Therefore, the presence of God was not found in the temple, and it became a religious act to worship God.
Cleansing the temple was Jesus’ way to help the people come back to the heart of worship.
When the temple was restored, the presence of God was back. So when the people came to the temple, they experienced the power of God’s restoration.
What do we have in our life, we would need to cleanse to restore God’s presence in our life and worship?
Prayer
Lord, we are called to worship and glorify your name. Help us to prepare our hearts for worship, through our day and work today. In the name of Jesus, we pray, AMEN.
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