Cleansing the Temple
“Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. ‘It is written,’ he said to them, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of robbers.’” — Matthew 21:12–13 (NIV)
Devotional Reflection:
In Matthew 21, Jesus walks into the temple and doesn’t see worship—He sees a marketplace. Instead of reverence, there’s noise. Instead of prayer, there’s profit. So, with holy authority, Jesus turns over tables and clears the room.
This wasn’t just about physical space. Jesus was sending a message: This is My Father’s house, and it should be centered on prayer, not personal gain.
In the same way, our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19). But sometimes, the “temple” of our hearts becomes cluttered—with worry, bitterness, greed, pride, unforgiveness, or just busyness. Jesus wants to gently but firmly cleanse those spaces so that nothing stands between us and pure communion with Him.
Let Him turn over your tables today. Let Him sweep out anything that’s crowding your heart. He’s not angry with you—He’s passionate for you. He wants to dwell in a place of peace, purity, and prayer.
Heart Check:
Ask yourself today:
- What attitudes or habits have taken up space in my heart?
- Is there anything in me that distracts from God’s presence?
- Am I making time and room for prayer, or has it become crowded out?
Prayer:
Jesus, cleanse my heart. Remove anything that distracts me from worshiping You fully. Turn over the tables of pride, fear, or anything unclean. Make me a dwelling place for Your Spirit—one that brings You joy. May my life be a house of prayer, a sacred space where You are welcome and adored. Amen.
Action Step:
Today, physically declutter a small space in your home—your prayer corner, desk, or a drawer—as a symbolic act of what you want Jesus to do in your heart. As you clear it out, pray: “Lord, as I make room here, help me make room in my life for You.”
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Amen
Amen!
Decluttering!!!! Amen!