Matthew 21:12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves.
I have read these verses for years and never thought too much about them. Of course Jesus is angry. They turned a house of worship into a place of commerce. But commentary posits that Jesus gets so angry in this passage because the tables, benches, and merchandise mean less space for the people to draw near to Him.
Matthew 21:13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’”
What makes Jesus angry enough to turn over tables? Protecting our ability to draw near to Him. Once He clears the space, the blind and lame come to Him and are healed.
Matthew 21:14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them.
Lord, Thank You for protecting my ability to draw near to You. Help me never forget that You make sure there is room for me, but it is up to me to draw near and be healed. Amen.
Matthew 21:15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.
Have a blessed day.