April 14, 2025

DON’T SETTLE FOR RELIGIOUS APPEARANCES

TODAY’S SCRIPTURE

The next morning as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. He noticed a fig tree in full leaf a little way off, so he went over to see if he could find any figs. But there were only leaves because it was too early in the season for fruit. Then Jesus said to the tree, “May no one ever eat your fruit again!” And the disciples heard him say it. 

When they arrived back in Jerusalem, Jesus entered the Temple and began to drive out the people buying and selling animals for sacrifices. He knocked over the tables of the money changers and the chairs of those selling doves, and he stopped everyone from using the Temple as a marketplace. He said to them, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.” 

When the leading priests and teachers of religious law heard what Jesus had done, they began planning how to kill him. But they were afraid of him because the people were so amazed at his teaching.

Mark 11:12-18 NLT

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TODAY’S THOUGHT

This is Holy Monday. The day after Jesus has ridden into Jerusalem on a donkey to fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah (Zech. 9:9). The people cheered as He rode the donkey and sang “Hosanna,” a sign recognizing Jesus as a king.

As Jesus and the disciples make the journey back to Jerusalem Jesus curses a fig tree. The tree had leaves but no fruit. This was a symbol of Israel’s spiritual barrenness. They were very religious in appearance but had no spiritual fruit because they had lost their relationship with God. They had traded the external appearance for the internal life. Because of the missing life of God, the nation was headed for judgement and Jesus gave this physical act that the disciples remembered later as this judgement came on the nation.

When they arrive in Jerusalem Jesus returns to the Temple and this time, He drives out the money changers and merchants. He says, “The Scriptures declare, ‘My Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations,’ but you have turned it into a den of thieves.”

This was a bold and prophetic act confronting the corruption and hypocrisy of the religious leaders. They were making money a barrier for people to worship God. People without the proper financial means were not allowed to offer sacrifices. The religious leaders had developed an elaborate scheme that required sacrifices only be made by special animals approved by the religious leaders. These animals must be purchased at the Temple with Temple money, not Roman money. 

The religious leaders exchanged Roman coins for Temple coins and then sold their animals with the Temple coins. This meant the people lost money on the exchange and the purchasing of their sacrifices. Many did not have the means to spend that kind of money, so they were restricted from worship. 

Jesus was angry that the Temple had become exclusive to the poor and hurting. But once Jesus cleansed the Temple according to Mark’s account the people brought the lame and sick to Him in the Temple and He healed them. When the Temple is purified the power is released. 

We learn on this Holy Monday the importance of having God’s life flowing through us. We can’t settle for mere religious appearances or shows, we need God’s life. We need to have His life in our lives so that His power flows through us. Let’s invite the Holy Spirit to cleanse our temple today and purify us from anything that hinders God’s work in and through us. 

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TODAY’S PRAYER

Holy Spirit please inspect my life today. Cleanse me of anything that hinders Your work in and through me. Purify my life fully so that Your power flows through me. 

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