Mark 11:15 – 17 15 Then they *came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves; 16 and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple.17 And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS’? But you have made it a ROBBERS’ DEN.”
There is no greater period in all of humanity other than the seven-day period of creation, that has impacted the destiny of mankind like Holy Week. From Sunday to Sunday, these eight days shook the core of humanity and changed the course of eternity for all who trust in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ! On the first Sunday, known as Palm Sunday, Jesus made His triumphal entrance into Jerusalem to inaugurate this week and to symbolize His reign as the King of kings and the Lord of lords! The text states that as He entered the city, people began to lay their coats and palm branches on the road and cry out, “Hosanna, blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
Our text for today takes us to Monday. As was His custom, Jesus and His disciples made their way from Bethany to Jerusalem, to go to the temple, about a two-mile journey. When they entered the temple, Jesus became irate because of what He discovered. The irony is that Jesus has entered the temple on Sunday and observed the activity taking place and returned to Bethany. Something on Monday, however, caused Him to become indignant: He discovered that the house had become desecrated.
It was customary for commerce to take place outside of the temple, through the selling of animals for the sacrifice, but the events of Monday were different. They had begun to buy and sell inside the temple: they had exchanged the holy for the secular. Jesus, filled with righteous indignation, drove the moneychangers out of the temple, saying: “Is it not written, ‘MY HOUSE SHALL BE CALLED A HOUSE OF PRAYER FOR ALL THE NATIONS’? But you have made it a ROBBERS’ DEN.” They had caused the holy temple to become a desecrated house.
The revelation in the text is that Jesus won’t abide in a desecrated house. Our soul is the temple (house or dwelling place) of the Holy Spirit. Have we allowed secular things to occupy the place where only holy things should abide? Have we settled for things, such as secular music, unholy conversations, thoughts, and actions, to occupy the place where holy things such as prayer, the ministry of the Word and righteous living should abide? If we have, then we have desecrated the house and Jesus will not live in such places. We must first allow Him to drive out everything that is unholy in order that our temples be made ready for Him to come in.
On this Monday of Holy Week, l challenge you to allow the Holy Spirit to check your spiritual house. If there is anything in it that causes it to be desecrated. allow Him free reign to cleanse the temple. Once clean, He will enter in and fellowship with you and allow you to fellowship with Him!
Prayer: Father, I repent of allowing anything into my temple that has caused it to be desecrated. I give You full reign to cleanse my temple that it will be a prepared place for Your Spirit to enter and live. I love You Lord. Amen.
Rev. Dr. J. Elvin Sadler