Holy Week - Day Two

Monday (Cleansing the Temple)

Prophecy: "Even them will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer: their burnt offerings and their sacrifices shall be accepted upon mine alter; for mine house shall be called an house of prayer for all people" - Isaiah 56:7

Scripture Reading: Matthew 21:12-18; Mark 11:12-19; Luke 19:45-48

Family Discussion: Given Jesus' action in the temple, discuss how he would feel in your own family's home? How might he cleanse it? As a family, choose one way to purify your home and make that your goal for the week.

Suggested Activities:

• Because my kids are young, I love acting things out. On a small table I put play money (from a board game) and play coins. Underneath the table I had the boys gather their stuffed animals. I then showed them a picture of Herod's Temple

• We then talked about what Jesus did at the temple:

Early the next morning Jesus went again to the temple and made a decisive thrust calculated to challenge the Jewish religious leadership. He drove from the outer court area of the temple those who were trading and making money exchange from foreign currency. The money exchange was apparently sanctioned by the Jewish leaders; and by preventing the merchandizing, Jesus was in effect challenging their leadership. The issue was clear: Was the temple to be a place of worship of God or of pursuit of gain? As he cleared the temple courts, he said, “It is written, My house

shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.” (Matthew 21:13.)

Again that evening Jesus returned to Bethany.

• I then acted out what happened when Jesus got to the temple. I had the boys come and exchange their money and then they could use the coins to buy an animal for the passover sacrifice. Then while they were exchanging things, Ryan came out and throw over the table and repeated the words that Jesus had said to those in the temple. I used Gospel Art Kit Picture #224 and paraphrased what was written on the back:
  

First Cleansing

When Jesus went to Jerusalem for the Feast of the Passover, He entered the temple and found men selling oxen, sheep, and doves; He also found moneychangers buying and selling there. He was upset to find this happening in the temple, so He made a whip of small cords and drove out the men and animals. He poured out the moneychangers’ coins and overturned their tables, saying, “Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise [business]” (John 2:16; see also John 2:13–15).

Second Cleansing

Three years later, when Jesus made His final entry into Jerusalem, He went into the temple and again found moneychangers irreverently doing business there. Again He drove them out of the temple, overturning their tables and chairs. He also stopped them from carrying their baskets and other containers through the temple. “It is written,” He said, “My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves” (Matthew 21:13; see also Matthew 21:12;Mark 11:15–17; Luke 19:45–46; James E. Talmage, Jesus the Christ, 3rd ed. [1916], 527–28).

After Jesus had cleansed His holy house, He healed the blind and the lame who came to Him there. Children, seeing what Jesus had done, cried, “Hosanna to the Son of David” (Matthew 21:15; see also Matthew 21:14).

Summary

On two different occasions, Jesus went to the temple in Jerusalem and found men selling sacrificial animals and moneychangers doing business. He was upset to see the temple being used in this way. Both times He drove out the men and animals and overturned their tables.)

• I ended by bearing my testimony!
  

You may want to review the information in the April 2009 Ensign