Those shouting praises as Jesus entered Jerusalem in Triumph were shouting, among other things, “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”

They were recognizing Jesus as king and king of the coming kingdom. We should too. We are still expecting Jesus to rule as our king. He will be a righteous ruler. His people will be righteous. The only choice is righteousness.

Jesus curses the fig tree for not having fruit out of season. Paul gives Timothy, and us, the command to preach, teach, rebuke, correct, and encourage those the Lord has given us “in season and out of season.” We’re always to be ready to give people the word of God.

Jesus was ready with the word when He entered the temple and again overturned the tables and seats of those exchanging money and selling animals. He quotes the Old Testament about God’s house being a house of prayer for all the nations.

They were selling but He calls them robbers. I don’t think the issue was just that they were overcharging people, because Jesus also wouldn’t let anyone carry anything through the temple. The temple wasn’t the place for buying and selling. It’s a place of worship, a place of prayer.

The church in America has a big problem with the church being run as a business. It sells its product. It needs to be a house of prayer.

You, as a believer, are a temple of God with the Holy Spirit dwelling in you, and you are to be a house of prayer. Part of that is to forgive. The direction Jesus gives is that “whenever you stand praying, forgive.” He tells us to do that so that we can be forgiven! We are so scared to preach works, that we gloss over things like this, but it matters what we do and we must forgive. It can feel impossible, but the good news is that salvation is impossible for man, but possible with God. Choose to forgive and ask His grace to help you forgive and forget.