Continued👆🏽
As David had once said, “The Most Holy Place,” so Christ purified it again. But having done this, He also performed wonders of mercy:
“And the blind and the lame came to Him in the Temple, and He healed them.” (Matthew 21:14)
How deep is this mystery! The place which was defiled by greedy hands became the place where the sick were restored, and the broken healed after it was cleansed.
So, we must ask, beloved:
If Christ were to visit our temples, or even the temple of our own bodies, would He find a house of prayer?
Or would He find marketplaces of pride, vanity, politics, debates, and divisions?
Do we not see places once dedicated to worship now echoing with quarrels and lawsuits?
Do we not weep over faithful souls who suffer at the hands of corrupt ministers, while pulpits resound with everything but the Gospel?
Let us not be deceived. The same Lord who cleansed the Temple then will cleanse again but this time, He shall come not riding a donkey, but descending in glory with the angels.
4. The Anger of the Scribes and Priests – Darkness Opposes the Light
The healing, the praise, the purity—it enraged them.
The chief priests and scribes, wolves dressed as shepherds, who had long deceived the flock of God, could not bear to see true righteousness revealed.
They could not rejoice when the blind were made whole, when children lifted up praises, when holiness returned to the Temple. Why? Because they were exposed.
As our Lord declared:
“Everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds be exposed.” (John 3:20)
The evil do not merely sin; they loathe the good. They cannot stand to behold those who do right. A virgin’s chastity, a monk’s devotion, a preacher’s truthfulness, a family’s holiness all of it becomes a thorn in their side.
The Pharisees could not silence Christ, so they turned to the children:
“Tell them to be quiet,” they said.
But Christ answered,
“If these children were silent, the stones themselves would cry out.”
Today, their disciples still walk among us:
They resent repentance.
They scorn unity.
They despise holiness.
They want every soul to resemble their own darkened hearts.
But God will not be silenced. If the lips of men fall silent, the very earth will rise up in worship. His praise shall not be extinguished.
5. He Departed – A Solemn Warning
After cleansing the Temple, after healing the afflicted, after confronting the hypocrites, He left.
“He left them and went out of the city to Bethany and stayed there.” (Matthew 21:17)
And with Him departed the glory.
He turned away from the proud and entrusted His riches to the humble apostles. The corrupt priesthood was emptied; the sincere were filled. The gate of grace was closed to the deceivers and opened to the poor in spirit.
So too today, beloved: when Christ knocks at the door of our hearts, we must open quickly. For He will not always stand and wait. He who left the Temple once will leave again if He is not received.
Do not let Him go.
Let us therefore cry with all our hearts:
“Hosanna in the highest! Save us, O Son of David! Enter not only the city, but the temple of our hearts!”
Let our garments be laid down in humility, our palm branches lifted in joy, our temples cleansed by repentance, our lips opened with pure praise.
Let us welcome Him not only as the Healer and the King, but as the Bridegroom of our souls.
And when He comes again in glory, may He find in us a holy Temple—worthy of His dwelling.
👇🏽Continues in Part 3