Matthew 21:12–17 narrates the event when Jesus clears the temple, demonstrating his authority and zeal for the sacred space. It vividly describes how Jesus clears the temple to renew a place of worship.
When worship becomes business, and Jesus clears the temple, he flips the tables.
In one of His boldest actions, Jesus walks into the temple and drives out the corruption that had taken root where prayer and worship should have flourished.
Matthew 21:12–17 (NASB 2020)
12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling on the temple grounds, and He overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who were selling doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a den of robbers.” 14 And those who were blind and those who limped came to Him in the temple, and He healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that He had done, and the children who were shouting in the temple area, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they became indignant, 16 and they said to Him, “Do You hear what these children are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes. Have you never read, ‘From the mouths of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise for Yourself’?” 17 And He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.
Who Was Jesus Speaking To?
- The money changers and merchants who were profiting from sacred space
- The religious leaders who had allowed the corruption
- The children who praised Him innocently when Jesus clears the temple
- The crowds witnessing both power and purity
- Us today, when our worship becomes self-serving instead of God-centered
What Happened?
- Jesus enters the temple and drives out those selling and buying
- He overturns tables and calls out spiritual corruption
- He heals the blind and lame
- The children praise Him as the Son of David
- The religious leaders become indignant at His actions and the children’s praise
The Mood: Confrontational, Cleansing, Redemptive
- Jesus is righteously angry, but also healing and restoring
- The people are stirred, confused, praising, or indignant
The Principle: God’s House Is for Prayer, Not Profit
- Jesus defends God’s holiness and purpose for the temple
- True worship cannot be mixed with greed
- Children often see clearer than religious adults
- Purity precedes power: Healing came after cleansing when Jesus clears the temple
Audience Response (Then)
- The religious leaders were furious and offended
- The children praised Jesus with pure hearts
- The crowds saw healing and authority on full display
What This Means for Us in 2025
- Jesus still wants to cleanse the temples of our hearts
- We must guard against profit-driven faith and self-centered worship, just as Jesus clears the temple.
- God wants purity in His people so His power can move freely
- Let the praise of the innocent rebuke the cynicism of the proud
Action Steps for Today
- Evaluate your worship. Is it about God or gain?
- Let Jesus flip your tables. Let Him disrupt your comfort zones.
- Keep the temple clean. Your body is His temple—keep it pure.
- Protect childlike faith. Celebrate praise that comes from innocence.
- Invite healing in. Once cleansing comes, healing can flow.
Final Prayer
Jesus, cleanse my heart of everything that dishonors You. Let my life be a house of prayer, not a den of distraction. I invite You to overturn anything that keeps me from pure worship. Let my worship be true, and my faith childlike. Amen.
Sometimes revival starts with a flipped table. Let Jesus cleanse your heart so He can heal it.
