The House of Prayer

On the Tuesday before he was crucified, Jesus went into the temple and really shook things up. Read about it in Matthew 21:12-17.

I preached from this passage last year. Notice five things here. (I developed two general outlines. So, notice ten.)

I. The Indignation (v.12)- Purity

The Bible says, "Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves." Christ was not just disappointed by what he saw, he was enraged by what he saw in the Court of the Gentiles.

Josephus stated 200,000 Lambs would be required for the Passover feast. These lambs were purchased to be sacrificed for the sins of the people. So, this was big business. Also, a temple tax of ½ shekel was collected. Foreign coins bearing a non-Jewish (heathen) inscription or non-Jewish monarch would not be accepted. So, money changers converted secular money into sacred coins…for a processing fee which padded the pockets of the money changers. Also, these "bankers" would arrange unfair loans for the poor. Jesus was not pleased with what he saw.

II. The Indictment (v.13)- Prayer

13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’” [See Is. 56:7-8; Mark 11:17]

My prayer is that our church would be a house of prayer. We have deacons assigned to pray during the morning service. Each Sunday at 9:00 AM, I have a faithful group of men that pray with me and for me. I started this when I first came to FBC. These men are a great blessing to me.

Jesus' charge that the Temple had become a "den of thieves" cautions us against commercializing religion. We should use the media and other technological means to get the message out, but we need to be sure we are not just doing business.

III. The Infirmed (v. 14)- Power

14 Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.

Once the Temple was cleansed, folks were healed and the power of God was displayed.

IV. The Infuriated (15-16a)- Praise

15 But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant 16 and said to Him, “Do You hear what these are saying?”

Hosanna means “Save Now.” The Temple was filled with the praises of children and the religious folks were upset when they saw the "wonderful things he did."

Some church folks are never going to be happy, even if Jesus shows up and performs miracles. They are not going to be happy when children start to "get it." However, a church that is a "House of Prayer" will be a house of praise. Wonderful things will happen. Jesus will show up.

V. The Innocent (16b-17)- Prophecy

And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise’?”17 Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there.

The Prophecy is from Psalm 8:2. The children in our church are a blessing. I love to hear them sing, because they have great freedom in expressing their joy.

Truths from the Passage

1. Be angry for the right reasons at the right time in the right way.

2. Maintaining purity requires drastic measures.

3. Prayer is to be our priority. Hallesby said, "Neglect Prayer. Neglect God."

4. Jesus is to be praised.

5. Religious people have a hard time with people sold-out to Jesus.

My prayer for you today is that you would take steps to insure that your church is a "House of Prayer" and that your home is a "House of Prayer."