Scripture
Primary passage
Matthew 21:12–13
12 Jesus entered into the temple of God and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold the doves. 13 He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a den of robbers!”
Primary passage · World English Bible
Mark
Mark 11:15–19
15 They came to Jerusalem, and Jesus entered into the temple and began to throw out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold the doves. 16 He would not allow anyone to carry a container through the temple. 17 He taught, saying to them, “Isn’t it written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers!” 18 The chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how they might destroy him. For they feared him, because all the multitude was astonished at his teaching. 19 When evening came, he went out of the city.
Unreviewed grouped account · World English Bible
John
John 2:13–17
13 The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 He found in the temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting. 15 He made a whip of cords and drove all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers’ money and overthrew their tables. 16 To those who sold the doves, he said, “Take these things out of here! Don’t make my Father’s house a marketplace!” 17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will eat me up.”
Unreviewed grouped account · World English Bible
The command
Hear what Jesus commands.
Protect worship from exploitation and restore God's house as a place of prayer open to the nations.
In context
Hear the whole passage.
Jesus disrupts temple commerce and names the collision between God's purpose for prayer and systems that have become predatory trade.
What this reveals
What this reveals about God.
Jesus forms communities zealous for truthful worship, access to God, and protection from religious exploitation.
Practice this command
Take one concrete step.
Review one church practice involving money, access, or sacred space and raise one constructive question about transparency, hospitality, or protection of vulnerable worshipers.
Discuss
Talk about it.
When can necessary administration or commerce begin to obstruct prayer, access, or justice?
Pray
Pray this.
Jesus, cleanse our worship from exploitation. Make our communities places of prayer, welcome, truth, and justice.
Teach
Teach it simply.
Keep Jesus' action tied to the temple's vocation and exploitation; do not use it as a license for uncontrolled personal violence.
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