Day 2: Jesus Cleansing the Temple

Day 2: Jesus Cleansing the Temple

with Dr. Jeff Warren and Travis Cook

Malachi 3:1-5; Matthew 21:12-17

As we journey through Holy Week, we're invited to walk alongside Jesus towards the cross. Today, we're confronted with a powerful scene: Jesus cleansing the temple. This moment, described in Matthew 21, reveals Jesus' righteous anger at the corruption of sacred space. It's a stark reminder that our worship should be pure, focused solely on God rather than personal gain. The temple, meant to be a house of prayer, had become a 'den of robbers.' This transformation parallels how easily our hearts can shift from true devotion to self-serving motives. As we reflect on this, we're challenged to examine our approach to worship. Are we coming before God with genuine hearts, or have we allowed worldly concerns to taint our spiritual practices? This Holy Week, let's recommit to authentic worship, stripping away distractions and focusing on what truly matters - our relationship with God.

Reflection:

1. How does Jesus' reaction to the temple marketplace challenge our understanding of righteous anger and grief? How might this apply to situations in our world today?
2. In what ways might we be turning our own 'temples' (our hearts, churches, or communities) into marketplaces rather than houses of prayer?
3. What does it mean to come back to 'the heart of worship,' as the song suggests? How can we strip away distractions in our own worship?

Heart of Worship

When the music fades

All is stripped away

And I simply come

Longin' just to bring

Something that's of worth

That will bless Your heart

I'll bring You more than a song

For a song in itself

Is not what You have required

You search much deeper within

Through the ways things appear

You're looking into my heart

I'm comin' back to the

Heart of worship

And it's all about You

It's all about You Jesus

I'm sorry Lord for the

Thing I've made it

When it's all about You

It's all about You Jesus

King of endless worth

No one could express

How much You deserve

Though I'm weak and poor

All I have is Yours

Every single breath