During the days that Jesus was conducting His ministry, the temple in Jerusalem was the sacred space where God could dwell among his people. It was where sacrifices were made to atone for sin and make oneself right with God. It was where teaching and prayer were done. Or at least that’s what it was meant to be. During Jesus’s day a business had formed where people would sell the things necessary for sacrifice. It was something that probably started with the best of intentions, as it helped people who lived far away have a suitable sacrifice for the Lord. But as with many things that start off with the best of intentions, it turned into a thing of greed and exploitation where those who came to the temple were taken advantage of for a profit. Then comes Jesus to restore to life what humans had brought decay to.

Because of Jesus’s death and resurrection, the veil in the temple was torn and it was no longer the sacred space where God could dwell among His people. All who proclaim Jesus as their savior and allow the Holy Spirit to transform them are now that space. The Church, not the brick and mortar, but the people who make it up now fulfill the role of the temple. It is our role to be a house of prayer, teaching, and sacrifice. A place where people can come and hang on our very words about the truth of God.

[Luke 19.45-48]

45 And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers.” 47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. The chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people were seeking to destroy him, 48 but they did not find anything they could do, for all the people were hanging on his words.

[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?

+ What was the role of the temple and how had people changed it?

+ What does Jesus do after He cleanses the temple?

+ Why couldn’t those who wanted to destroy Jesus do it?

[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?

+ Is there sin to confess or a next step to take? How has it gone since last time?

+ How are we fulfilling the role of the temple in our lives?

+ Are we a place that people can come to and find prayer and teaching?

[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?

+ What is my next step?

+ Who in my life is in need of my prayer?