A Clear Path to God

In one of the most dramatic moments in Matthew 21, after His triumphal entry into Jerusalem, Jesus flips tables, scatters money, and sets animals free in the Temple courts. His anger wasn’t impulsive—it was righteous. He saw people being robbed in two devastating ways.

First, merchants sold animals for sacrifice at outrageous prices, exploiting travelers with inflated exchange rates. It was blatant financial robbery.

But the deeper theft was spiritual. Those who couldn’t afford the inflated costs were excluded from worship, left without the opportunity to pray and connect with God. The merchants and the religious leaders who enabled them had filled the Temple with obstacles, barring access to God’s presence for the poor and vulnerable.

Jesus’ response was decisive: “Enough.” He cleared the Temple to remove every man-made barrier between people and God.

This act wasn’t just for that moment; it’s a truth for us today. Through Jesus, every obstacle between us and God has been torn down. The price has been paid, the path cleared, and the invitation extended.

No matter who you are or what you’ve done, there’s nothing blocking your way to God. In Jesus, a great clearing has been made. Let’s step into his house of prayer with gratitude, knowing his doors are wide open for us all.

My Thoughts

I don’t know why I did not understand this truth before. I have always seen this part of the Bible, Jesus clearing the Temple of the merchants who were cheating people, as Jesus doing what the Father told Him to do and with righteous anger, He carried out that mission. I don’t know how I missed the fact that this demonstrates Jesus clearing away obstacles that keep people from getting to God. The perfect sacrifice, God’s own Son, wanted to make clear that we have access to God regardless of social status, wealth or position. Of course, the religious leaders were irate since Jesus was “stealing their thunder,” usurping their authority that no one had dared to question before. This devotional for today on Daily Refresh on the YouVersion App came with a clip from “The Chosen” that shows the scene in which Jesus’s outrage is evident. I have not watched anything except clips of “The Chosen” so I cannot recommend it as scripturally sound or not, but I can say that this one clip brought home to me the hurt and anger that the Father must feel when anyone tries to block access to Him. We are not completely free to go by the Father ourselves, without need of any kind of intercessor or physical gift. He just wants us to come and has cleared the path. We are not blocked from the Father except by our own stubbornness and unwillingness to approach His throne, repent and confess our need for a Savior. This Holy Week is a wonderful time to make a commitment to God. The path is clear, the choice is clear. Choose to believe and receive.