In today's gospel we learn about Jesus and the money changers at the temple. We learn that the temple or church is not a marketplace. It is a holy place meant for prayer and worship.
Father in Heaven we praise and glorify you. We thank you for bringing us together for this children's liturgy lesson. Please send us the Holy Spirit and fill our hearts with peace, love, and wisdom. Help us to understand the lesson you have for us today and to live it our in our daily lives. Amen.
When Jesus went to Jerusalem, He found people selling animals and changing money in the temple. The temple was supposed to be a place to pray and worship God, not a marketplace! Jesus became very upset. He made a whip out of cords, chased the sellers out, and said, “Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!”
The people asked Jesus for a sign to show He had the right to do this. Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
Later, the disciples realized Jesus was talking about His body—He would die and rise again after three days.
What was happening in the temple that made Jesus upset?
What did Jesus do to fix the problem?
Why do you think Jesus called the temple “my Father’s house”?
Jesus wasn’t mad just because people were selling things. He was upset because they forgot that the temple was a holy place meant for prayer and worship.
Just like the temple in those days was meant for prayer and worship, we need to remember the church is supposed to be a place of prayer and worship. When we're in church we need to be respectful and we need to pray, listen, and be kind.
Source: Copilot. (2025). Colouring image of a temple in the style of Mexican folk art [large language model].
