Monday, April 7, 2025
New Testament Reading Plan: Matthew 21
If you’re anything like me, after reading Matthew 21, you may have wondered how Jesus got away with throwing the money changers and animal sellers out of the Temple.
It happened only a few days before Passover, so the place would have been packed with people changing money to pay their temple taxes and buying and selling animals for sacrifice. We know from other places in Scripture that there would have been Temple guards present when Jesus knocked over the tables and chairs, threw everyone out, and probably shouted:
13 …“The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”
Where were the guards when all the people, animals, birds, and shekels were removed?
Were the priests speechless after Jesus’ statement, contemplating just how far they had allowed this Holy Place to be desecrated?
…Because as far as we know, nothing happened after that blowup.
Bible commentators say the lack of consequences for Jesus’ actions that day is as much a miracle as the healings that followed:
14 The blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them. 15 The leading priests and the teachers of religious law saw these wonderful miracles and heard even the children in the Temple shouting, “Praise God for the Son of David….”
It was only after Jesus started to perform miraculous healings that the leaders found their voices. Jesus’ actions challenged their power and authority, but they spoke out under the guise of being offended for God:
15 …But the leaders were indignant. 16 They asked Jesus, “Do you hear what these children are saying?”
“Yes,” Jesus replied. “Haven’t you ever read the Scriptures? For they say, ‘You have taught children and infants to give you praise.’”
Admittedly, I can get defensive and behave like the priests when my position is threatened, but Jesus never does that. He was only jealous for his Father’s glory. He didn’t have to explain himself, since he is perfect, but he did. He called out the priests, whose behavior dishonored God, and the children, who recognized and praised God.
We may never know everything that happened at the Temple that day, but one thing we can all agree on: Jesus was telling us to put aside distractions to focus on the most important thing—praising God and building a relationship with him.
Questions:
What distracts you in your journey with Jesus?
What do you need to clear from your house to make room so that you can bring your focus back to Jesus?
Next Steps:
Look at your calendar and set aside time each day to spend it with Jesus. This may mean cleaning out a space in your home so there are no distractions. If this is hard for you, consider taking a walk or starting with a small amount of time first.
Prayer:
My sweet Jesus, help me focus on you and you alone—the one thing. I want you to be my guiding light, the lamp unto my feet. Please show me the way I should go, for my life is in your hands. Help me to honor you every day, in my heart, my thoughts, my words, and my actions. To you be the glory, honor, and praise, forever, amen.
Series Theme Verse:
Hebrews 4:15
This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin.
This post was written by Lauri White, an Oregon attendee, and a regular contributor to the LivingItOut Devotional.