“Then [Jesus] entered the temple area and began driving out those who were selling. ‘It is written,’ he said to them, ‘”My house will be a house of prayer”; but you have made it “a den of robbers.”'” [Luke 19:45-46 NIV]
The two quotations Jesus cited “My house will be a house of prayer” and “a den of robbers” are from the prophets Isaiah (56:7) and Jeremiah (7:11). Many commentators put this final cleansing of the Temple on the Monday following Palm Sunday.
As I read it this morning, I remembered what Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit lives in you? …God’s temple is sacred, and you are that temple.” [1 Cor 3:16-17 NIV]
“My house will be a house of prayer.” I am, you are, the Lord’s temple. God abides in human hearts by the indwelling Spirit of God. I am to be – you are to be – a house of prayer.
I wondered as I read that this morning if I have allowed robbers to enter my temple. Have I allowed greed, discouragement, busyness, distractions, my own expectations or anything else, to rob me in my own house of prayer?
Lord Jesus, cleanse my temple, make me a true house of prayer. Set a guard over my heart that no robber may take up residence there. Amen and Amen.
