“Jesus went into the temple and threw out all those buying and selling. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves. He said to them, ‘It is written, my house will be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of thieves!'” — Matthew 21:12–13, CSB
It’s Monday, the day after Palm Sunday. The crowd’s cheers are still echoing, and Jesus heads straight for the temple—the place that should’ve been most aligned with God’s heart. But instead of finding prayer and worship, He finds corruption. People are taking advantage of others—a marketplace where there should be ministry.
So Jesus flips tables.
It’s one of those moments that disrupts the way we sometimes picture Jesus—gentle and soft-spoken. But this is righteous anger. This is justice and love colliding. He isn’t just clearing space; he’s calling people back to the heart of worship.
Drawing #Closer to God Through Confession
Let’s be honest: sometimes our hearts look a little like that temple. Distracted. Cluttered. Even compromised. We let good things become ultimate things. We trade prayer for productivity. We lose sight of why we’re here in the first place.
Jesus still flips tables today—not in buildings, but in us.
That might sound harsh, but it’s actually grace. Because He loves us too much to leave us in our mess. His cleansing is always an invitation, not just a confrontation.
A Monday Practice: Clean House
Today, let the Holy Spirit search your heart for a few moments. Not to shame you, but to free you. Ask Him to lovingly show you anything that’s gotten in the way of drawing Closer to God. Here’s a simple way to do that:
- Be still. Find a few quiet minutes with no distractions.
- Ask honestly. Pray: “Lord, what in me needs to be overturned?”
- Listen. If a sin, habit, or attitude comes to mind—don’t hide it. Handle it. Just name it before God.
- Confess. Tell Him what’s true. And then receive the grace He’s already ready to give.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” — 1 John 1:9, CSB
You were made to be a place of prayer too—a living temple where God’s presence dwells. The temple was meant to be a space where people could connect with God. So is your heart. The temple had to be cleared before it could be filled again. Same with us. So let Him in. Let Him flip whatever needs flipping. Let Jesus clear out the clutter—and let that clearing make space for something better: closer connection with Him. Because what He wants most… is you.
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