Matthew 21:12-13 “And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who were selling doves.  And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer, but you are making it a den of thieves””

Our intent is often lost in the bustle of the usual.  The temple was designed by God to be a place for all to find a place to pray, a place to be forgiven, a place to connect with God.  Yet, there was nothing but confusion.  Confusion from the intended purpose.  Doves, sheep, coins, barter, signs of business attracted the penitent away from their intended purpose. Jesus was not just overturning tables and whipping the merchants, he was overturning the entire religious establishment. The house of God must not be sold by the latest merchandise.  The church, the body of believers to which I belong must not be distracted by the trappings of life and focus on the reason for being there.  We come to worship a God of simplicity and purity.

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