Temple Chaos!

For Thursday, September 25, 2025:

Luke 19:45-46 NLT: Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people selling animals for sacrifices. He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.

Some bad people just can’t resist the temptation to make money from religion. At the time, Jews were required to offer animal sacrifices to God. Only the best animals were allowed for this purpose. As it happened, no matter how good an animal was, it seems it was never good enough. Conveniently, the Temple leaders had animals for sale (at inflated prices!) Good people trying to be obedient were taken to the cleaners! Furthermore, they often paid with money from their homeland, but “Jerusalem money” was required, and the exchange rate was ripping them off!

Jesus wasn’t having any of it! He tossed out all the vendors and money-changers. The animals were scattered. It appears that Jesus kind of lost it for a minute! He basically went berserk, but in a good way, until the problems had been resolved. The Temple was, after all, His Father’s House!

These actions added to resentment against Jesus by the Temple teachers, leaders and Pharisees. Against all their religious upbringing, they plotted to kill Jesus, but they were in the minority. Jesus had the general population in the palm of his hand. They hung on his every word, as should we! Jesus stood for truth and harmony with the Father, and those traits are always best!

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus In the City Fellowship

House of Prayer!

For Tuesday, April 12, 2022:

Matthew 21:13 NIV: Jesus told the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves!”

To say Jesus was upset would be an understatement. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He drove out all those doing business in the Temple. The human side of Jesus rose to the surface! This is one time you could say that Jesus just lost it!

Having solved that problem, Jesus went back to what he usually did, healing the lame and blind and teaching about the Kingdom. Children sang, “Praise God for the Son of David!” Everyone celebrated the many miracles, everyone that is except the religious leaders who were angry, furious and indignant.

You see, Jesus was filling the people with hope, something the religious leaders couldn’t deliver. No one likes their power usurped, and these guys were no exception. Think about it - anyone aligned with Jesus was no longer following the Temple leaders!

But isn’t following Jesus the way things should have been all along?

Pastor Norton Lawellin

Jesus in the City Fellowship, 3249 30th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55406