A House For All People
Week 4
René Schlaepfer
Part of Seven Verses Jesus Loved
March 23, 2025

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Mark 11:15-18

Jesus took an activist stance on one issue:

Three ways Jesus takes a stand against toxic religion:

1 . Jesus sees past the

On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple courts and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. Mark 11:15

2 . Jesus makes room for the

He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves, and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. And as he taught them, he said, “Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? Mark 11:16-17a

Jesus is quoting a verse from this passage in Isaiah:

“Let no foreigner who is bound to the Lord say,
‘The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.’
And let no eunuch complain, ‘I am only a dry tree.’
… to them, I will give … a name better than sons and daughters …
an everlasting name that will endure forever.
I will also bless the foreigners who commit themselves to the Lord,
who serve him and love his name…
I will bring them to my holy mountain of Jerusalem
and will fill them with joy in my house of prayer…
my Temple will be called a house of prayer for all nations.
For the Sovereign Lord, who brings back the outcasts of Israel,
says: I will bring others, too, besides my people Israel.” Isaiah 56:3-8 NLT

3 . Jesus stands against the

“But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’” Mark 11:17b

Jesus is quoting a verse from this passage in Jeremiah:

“Will you steal and murder, commit adultery and perjury …
and then come and stand before me in this house,
which bears my Name, and say,
‘We are safe’—safe to do all these detestable things?
Has this house, which bears my Name,
become a den of robbers to you?
But I have been watching!” declares the Lord. Jeremiah 7:9-11

The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. Mark 11:18

Bottom line:
If I feel pushed away by religion,


QUESTIONS

For personal reflection or group discussion

  1. Read Mark 11:15-18. Someone once said, “If you want to know someone’s core values, watch what upsets them.” What does this episode teach you about the core values of Jesus?

  2. Read Isaiah 56:4-8. This is the passage Jesus was quoting. What does this passage tell you about God’s heart?

  3. This week’s passage in Mark is one of many passages in the Bible condemning corrupt religious leadership. In fact, this was the social issue Jesus commented on most. Why do you think Jesus focused on this? How is a healthy faith community foundational to human flourishing?

  4. If Jesus were to “overturn tables” in your life—barriers that impede your relationship with God––what would he get rid of and why? What changes might this inspire you to make?

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