Holy Monday - Hope Week 2025
Jesus in the Temple
“Even those I will bring to My holy mountain, and make
them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and
their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house
will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”
- Isaiah 56:7
When Isaiah wrote these words, the Israelites foolishly believed they were exclusively accepted by God no matter what they did. Yet, God wanted His temple to not only be a place where Jewish people would worship, but to be a house of prayer for all nations, including the foreigners who were once far from Him.
When Jesus arrived at the Temple and found the outer courts – the only place where Gentiles could come to pray – being used like an outdoor flea market, He was furious and drove out the greedy merchants. The merchants and, and the priests who allowed them in, had lost reverence for God, caring only about making a profit. Instead of being a place where God was worshiped and sacrifices sincerely offered, the temple had become a place of thieves and corruption. (Jeremiah 7:11)
Jesus’ cleansing of the temple also serves as an open reminder to the modern-day church. Have we forgotten the reason we gather in God’s house? It is not some sort of ancient obligation, but rather a reminder that we are all sinners saved by grace. None of us are worthy of being in God’s presence, yet He still desires us, both the saints and the sinners,
to come and worship Him. Let us not forget the responsibility we have as the church to welcome all people so that they can know Him, the hope and freedom He offers, and purely worship their Savior.
them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and
their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; For My house
will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.”
- Isaiah 56:7
When Isaiah wrote these words, the Israelites foolishly believed they were exclusively accepted by God no matter what they did. Yet, God wanted His temple to not only be a place where Jewish people would worship, but to be a house of prayer for all nations, including the foreigners who were once far from Him.
When Jesus arrived at the Temple and found the outer courts – the only place where Gentiles could come to pray – being used like an outdoor flea market, He was furious and drove out the greedy merchants. The merchants and, and the priests who allowed them in, had lost reverence for God, caring only about making a profit. Instead of being a place where God was worshiped and sacrifices sincerely offered, the temple had become a place of thieves and corruption. (Jeremiah 7:11)
Jesus’ cleansing of the temple also serves as an open reminder to the modern-day church. Have we forgotten the reason we gather in God’s house? It is not some sort of ancient obligation, but rather a reminder that we are all sinners saved by grace. None of us are worthy of being in God’s presence, yet He still desires us, both the saints and the sinners,
to come and worship Him. Let us not forget the responsibility we have as the church to welcome all people so that they can know Him, the hope and freedom He offers, and purely worship their Savior.
Discussion Questions:
1. What does this passage teach us about God’s heart for His people? How should this shape the way we interact with others inside and outside the church?
2. Jesus physically cleared out the temple to restore its holiness. What might it look like for us to “clean out” distractions or wrong motives in our own lives today?
3. How does understanding that “none of us are worthy, yet God still desires us” change the way we approach worship and community with others?
2. Jesus physically cleared out the temple to restore its holiness. What might it look like for us to “clean out” distractions or wrong motives in our own lives today?
3. How does understanding that “none of us are worthy, yet God still desires us” change the way we approach worship and community with others?
2 Comments
Its truly amazing when you think about how God loves is. I don’t think I can really comprehend it as a human being. Its so different than what the world says is love. Today a young man said that He and his wife were separating. If they loved like Jesus then no man could tear them apart. But we are all broken and need Jesus to help us love one another.
Love is the answer!