Verses 12-13 What we celebrate as Palm Sunday just occurred. Jesus heads straight to the temple in Jerusalem. As he enters a space known as The Court of the Gentiles, the largest space in the temple (about 10 football fields in size), Jesus sees people buying animals to use for their sacrifices, corrupt marketers extorting money out of people for animals they didn’t need, and overcharging them on coin exchange.
A House of Buying & Selling
According to John 2:13-22, at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, He saw these same evil practices and cleansed the temple by throwing everyone out. He’s back three years later, in the last week of His ministry, and He sees this happening again.
This infuriated Jesus that religious leaders would use this sacred space for financial matters. With self-professed authority and superior jurisdiction, Jesus overturned the tables and chairs of all those exchanging money and engaged in business. Every money handler left the house of worship.
It wasn’t against the else law to do these things. It was the wrong place and the wrong time to do them. This buying and selling, and changing money, is a secular business. It was convenient for those coming to the temple. They could worship God and handle their money matters here, too.
The house of worship is a house of prayer. But the exchanging of money made it a place of commercialism. Imagine walking into a church and finding ATMs or bank tellers at the entrance. Or maybe finding merchandise tables set up to buy things.
There are some mega-churches that have bookstores for the buying and selling of books, music, and other church-branded merchandise. Is that the same? I don’t think so. In this passage, the focus of the people coming to the temple shifted from prayer and worship to worldly business. They came to make a profit instead of listening to the Prophet.
The motives of the heart are the center of God’s concerns.
Wrapped up in their own world, the people were less concerned about God’s world, His kingdom.
They came to the house of worship with hearts twisted in other desires. And this cut to the heart of what Jesus was so upset about. Where was reverence and respect for God?
Jesus quoted two Old Testament scriptures by saying, “My house shall be called a house of prayer” and “you make it a den of robbers.” (Isaiah 56:7, Jeremiah 7:11)
Spiritual Frauds
The money handlers were called “thieves” because they were using God’s house to rob the people and reap a financial reward. These money exchanges were just another way for the temple to get additional money out of people. And most of all, they are robbing God of his honor. They “shelter” their immoral behavior by using this worship setting as a coverup to the wicked conditions in their heart.
Jesus exposes their hypocritical religion. They have abandoned their theology for influence and financial gains.
Verses 14-15 Jesus then gives an example of what the temple is to be used for. He invites the spiritually blind and lame into the temple to be healed. Those set free from the bondage of sin and healed of their diseases or weaknesses are rejoicing. The children are shouting, “Hosanna to the son of David!” (Hosanna means Savior in Aramaic, which is the language Jesus spoke.)
I love this picture of the children. Our children will learn from whatever is in front of them. They will either curse and swear, or pray and praise.
And while all this rejoicing is going on, the enemy is on the move. Standing by and watching, the religious leaders become offended, annoyed, and frustrated at what Jesus is doing. (That’s the enemy at work. He loves to control and divide people by stirring up offense. They couldn’t deny his miracles, but their pride refused to accept someone gaining more attention than they did.
Pride Prevents Praise To Jesus
Jesus had set Himself against the religious leaders by doing what He did to the temple three years earlier. Now, he’s really sinking a spear in the hearts by doing this a second time. When Jesus threw out the money changers and basically turned the temple upside down, their pride (and their pockets) hurt and it prevented the religious leaders from accepting anything else Jesus did from there on out. There is a grudge standing between them and Jesus.
Have you ever experienced the loss of earthly security like a great paying job, a sought-after opportunity, an incredible relationship, a pivotal convenience, or simply moneymaking stock, a relief, or a break? When you lose a perceived advantage in life, it’s easy to let grudges grow against God. He allows the advantage. Maybe you are flourishing, but now he prevents it.
Jesus weeds out the wickedness growing in the money changer’s hearts and redirects their attention to what honors God most. This is His grace at work. Jesus does this with us, too.
Jesus overturns anything in our lives that dishonors God.
The religious leaders feel like Jesus just walked in and stole the show. They believe he’s getting the honor he doesn’t deserve, and all these shouts of “Hosanna” are attracting more attention.
Proud hearts can’t stand the honor and praise given to deserving people.
Jesus’ popularity was a threat to the religious leaders’ practices.
Envy is the enemy of God’s honor.
Do we live with a bitter heart and resent those blessed by God?
Verses 16-17 Their praises please Jesus and he quotes Psalm 8:2. God uses unlikely instruments to sing his praises. He puts praises in the mouths of children, whom many would consider weak. What’s so interesting is that Jesus didn’t even finish the rest of that verse. Psalm 8:2 says, “You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.” Psalms 8:2 NLT
And it did! The religious leaders were quiet. What were they going to do now? Jesus just walks out. It was a “drop the mic” moment.
When we disregard opportunities to praise God, we drive Jesus away.
Prayer
Jesus, I honor your name alone. You alone are worthy of all my praise. Help me praise you most and often. Even when opportunities dry up or my life loses its advantages, open my eyes to the things unseen so that I may praise you still. Help me trust you, Jesus, even when my situation doesn’t seem to make sense. I hold your promises close to my heart and cling to your Truth. You are for me and have my best in mind. I don’t want to live distracted from your purposes in my life. Hosanna, in the highest! You are my Savior, Jesus. The Kings of Kings. The ruler of my heart. You break the chains of sin in my heart and heal my body from disease. Thank you, Jesus. Help me praise you more for all you’ve done and continue to do in my life. Break my heart for what breaks yours, Jesus. I hope to live my life honoring you in all things, Jesus. Hosanna, in the highest! In Jesus’ name, Amen.