Holy Week - Day Two (Cleansing the Temple)

Repost from last year:

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.

• We 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: