Mark 11:17 NKJV

Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”

Mark 11:17 NKJV

Jesus cleansed the place of worship, which had become a den of thieves. It was supposed to be a place where one can lay their burdens down by receiving the forgiveness of God.

Instead, the people were hit with overpriced offerings and filled with hypocrisy in the temple. They ripped people off right in the temple, which defiled the image of God.

The religious leaders were angry because Jesus disrupted the flow in the temple. They demanded an answer from Jesus for his actions.

Jesus quoted from Isaiah and Jeremiah and said that My house shall be called a house of prayer. But the religious leaders have turned it into a den of thieves.

When the wrong system is in place, it can cause a big disruption. Things have to come to a stop in order for the new system to be established.

There are many things in our church that need changing, for we have replaced the real presence of God with things that are attractive to the eyes.

God is looking for a heart that worships Him and not a performance to impress Him. It is a reminder for us not to fall into the trap of trying to look good. Instead, a preparation of the heart is needed to give God our best.

The place of worship needs to be a place where people can come as they are to receive from our loving Father in Heaven, to receive His grace and truth.

This is so that hearts can be lifted, lives delivered, and restored to live out the new life in Christ.

Let us display Christ in every area of our service and help people to walk in the power of Christ.

Live in the blessings,

Ps Ambrose