Daily Devotion, October 29, 2021

 

Devotion:

Read Matthew 21:12-13.

This scene is one example of how Jesus challenged the leaders of the Temple of his day, saying they were not connected to the Spirit of that place. Let’s set the scene. Jesus has just entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey and proclaimed King by the people. It is also during the Passover season so Jerusalem was filled with people from many areas of the world. It was a holy time set apart for worship. What Jesus experienced in the Temple was anything but worship.

 

The money changers and merchants did big business during Passover. Those who came from foreign countries had to have their money exchanged into the temple currency because this was the only money accepted for the temple tax and the purchase of animals for sacrifice. Often the inflated exchange rate enriched the money changers and the exorbitant price of the animals made the merchants wealthy. To add to the insult, all this was set up in the court of the Gentiles which was a tremendous hindrance to the non-Jews who had come to worship God.

Jesus became angry because God’s house of worship had become a place of extortion and a barrier to Gentiles who wanted to worship. This moved Him to action and the restoration of the purpose of the Temple. Others may have disapproved of what was happening in the temple, but only Jesus took a stand and made a difference.

Personal Worship Option:

Are there wrongs or injustices that God is moving you to take a stand? Or do you have an opportunity to stand for God and godly principles? Embrace those opportunities and trust God’s leadership.