The Way
A House of Prayer
Overturned tables, a courtyard opened again for prayer
Story
Early the next morning, on the way up from Bethany to Jerusalem, Jesus was hungry. Seeing a fig tree in full leaf in the distance, he went up to it. He looked up into its branches, but there was nothing but leaves, not a single fig. It was not the season for figs. Jesus said to the tree, from now on, may no one ever eat fruit from you again. The disciples took note of what he said.
As he entered the outer court of the temple, a din like a marketplace met him. Coins jingled, doves fluttered, haggling shouts flew back and forth. Jesus drove out those who were buying and selling, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those selling doves. He would not let anyone carry goods across the temple courts. My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations. But you have made it a den of robbers.
Into the courtyard, now quiet again, came the blind and the lame, and Jesus healed them. Children in the temple courts shouted at the top of their voices. Hosanna to the Son of David. The chief priests and the teachers of the law looked for a way to get rid of him. But they could do nothing, because all the people hung on his words.
Walk this scene on the map →His Words
Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations? But you have turned it into a den of robbers.
Yes, I hear them. Have you never read, From the lips of children and infants you have brought praise to perfection?
From now on and forever, may no one ever eat fruit from you again.
The sayings are fresh renderings of the original meaning in today's language. Text: Mt 21:12–17 · Mk 11:12–19 · Lk 19:45–48
Background
The outer court of the Temple was the Court of the Gentiles, open even to non-Jews. Pilgrims bought their sacrifices here, and are known to have exchanged money for Tyrian shekels to pay the Temple tax.
Pause and Reflect
What has taken a bigger place in my heart than God?