Matthew 21:12-17 (NASB)
Have you ever made someone upset and you thought it was about one thing but it was actually about a deeper, more important issue? This can happen in marriage, business, or family situations. Well, usually there’s a lack of awareness about a longer-term, bigger issue.
This even happens with our children. You feel frustrated after asking over and over again for your children to take out the trash, do the dishes, fold the laundry until finally one day – you’ve had enough. You get upset about one simple chore. Your children may wonder why you’re so mad but In reality, it’s not about the one time, it’s about the bigger picture.
Today’s scripture is known as the cleansing of the temple. We may think it’s about one thing, because of a lack of contextual awareness. We may use this scripture to justify our anger or for other reasons, but the chief application of this text is about worship. The place designed for the glory and honor of the God of the universe was full of distractions, political agendas, and manipulation for financial gain.
Some aspects of the business around the temple were normal for Passover. People traveled long distances so they had to purchase animals for sacrifice and exchange currencies. However, people were being distracted from worshiping God.
Jesus cleansed the temple to remove the barriers that distracted people from worshiping God.
Today, Jesus is still willing to clean house and remove the things that keep us from fully devoting ourselves to Him. Anything that distracts us from the God of the universe shouldn’t take place of worship.
When churches distract from Christ-centered worship with political agendas or profits, they’ve strayed away from the true gospel. The gospel should be focused on the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
We need to limit distraction in our worship publicly and privately. We need to strive to be excellent in order to honor God. We strive to remove as much distraction as we can, so He gets the most glory that He is due. What barrier is in your heart today that distracts you from wholehearted worship of God? Is it the love of money that keeps you so busy hustling that you don’t have time to worship?
Maybe you have distracted others from worship from God through your behavior. Do the courageous thing and ask God to help you be consistent so that who you are on Sunday is who you are the rest of the week.
When Jesus finishes cleansing the temple, He begins healing people. He shows that He is worthy to receive the praise due to God alone. In the temple, Jesus heals people. The children began worshiping Jesus, but the religious leaders missed it. Jesus shows the power of God right there in the temple. These miracles demonstrate that Jesus is God.
There are two things you can build worship upon in this passage of scripture: truth and authenticity.
They worshiped Jesus in truth. We should look for the truth of who Jesus is all around us. Worship is not isolated to an hour on Sunday or songs that we sing. Worship is in every part of every day. It’s worship when we put hours into our job.
Be authentic. Don’t pretend at church and do something different at home. Be yourself in worship. Be the best version of who God wants you to be. Don’t be distracted. Worship God in truth and in whatever you do.
