Sunday, 3/23/2025

The Road to Redemption: A Call to Purity, Prayer, and Praise

Part 2 March 23,2025

The temple’s corruption mirrors the human heart—spaces God created for His glory, too often cluttered with sin and selfish ambition. 

Jesus doesn’t merely point out the problem; He acts decisively to restore what’s been lost. 

The Corruption of the Temple 

Matthew 21:12–13 “And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who sold and bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. 13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you make it a den of robbers.”

Isaiah 56:7 “For My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations.”

Jeremiah 7:11 “Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of thieves in your eyes? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” says the Lord”, 

The religious leaders had prioritized profit over piety, power over humility. 

1 Corinthians 6:19 “Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”

What tables need overturning in our lives? What’s crowding out prayer and worship?

The Restoration of God’s Purpose 

Matthew 21:14 “And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he healed them.”

The cleansing wasn’t just about removing what was wrong; it was about making room for what was right. 

Jesus doesn’t cleanse to condemn; He cleanses to redeem. 

He doesn’t leave us empty—He fills us with His presence, His healing, His purpose. 

Colossians 1:13-14 “He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14  in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The Response of Praise and Opposition

Matthew 21:15–17 “But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying out in the temple, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” they were indignant, 16 and they said to him, “Do you hear what these are saying?” And Jesus said to them, “Yes; have you never read, “ ‘Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies you have prepared praise’?” 17 And leaving them, he went out of the city to Bethany and lodged there.”

The children see what the leaders miss. 

It’s a call to humility—to approach Jesus with childlike faith rather than cynical pride.

It’s a warning: When God moves, we can either join the chorus of praise or stand on the sidelines in opposition.

Matthew 21:12-17 (NKJV)

12  Then Jesus went into the temple of God and drove out all those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves.

13  And He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer,' but you have made it a 'den of thieves.' "

14  Then the blind and the lame came to Him in the temple, and He healed them.

15  But when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that He did, and the children crying out in the temple and saying, "Hosanna to the Son of David!" they were indignant

16  and said to Him, "Do You hear what these are saying?" And Jesus said to them, "Yes. Have you never read, 'Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have perfected praise'?"

17  Then He left them and went out of the city to Bethany, and He lodged there. 

1. Purity: Let Jesus Cleanse Your Temple.

Romans 12:1-2 (NKJV)

1  I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.

2  And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 

2. Prayer: Reclaim Your Sacred Purpose

Matthew 26:41-42 (NKJV)

41  Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak."

42  Again, a second time, He went away and prayed, saying, "O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done."

3. Praise: Lift Your Voice to the Savior

Philippians 4:4-7 (NKJV)

4  Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!

5  Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.

6  Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;

7  and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 

Conclusion

Jesus didn’t cleanse the temple to leave it in ruins; He did it to restore its purpose. He doesn't confront the mess in our lives to shame us-He does it to redeem us.