- The Purpose of God’s Temple 神圣殿的目的 (21:13-14)
The temple was a place where Solomon had specifically dedicated as a house of prayer (1 Kings 8:28-30), and where Hannah came to pour her grieves to God (1 Sam 1:9-20). It was to be a place of worship, meditation, praise and devotion, a place where God’s people could draw close to Him in worship, sacrifice and offerings, and could seek His will and blessings.
所罗门具体将圣殿献上作祷告的殿（王上8:28-30），而哈拿也在那里向神倾诉心中冤屈（撒上1:9-20）。这理当是一个敬拜、默想、赞美和祷告之地，是神的子民可藉着敬拜、献祭和献礼亲近神的地方，并能寻求祂的旨意和祝福。
- The Profane of God’s temple 神圣殿的玷污 (21:12)
However, the temple leaders had no fear of God, turning the holy ground into a den of robbers. The chief priests ruled that animals not bought in one of their franchises would be unacceptable for offering. This led to high levels of extortion. Besides, those who needed to have foreign currencies exchanged for purchase of offerings were charged a ghastly 25% fee. Instead of being a place where the faithful could come worship, it became a robbers’ den.
然而，圣殿领袖并不敬畏神，把圣地变成了贼窝。祭司长规定人必须从他们的特许经营所购买祭物，否则祭物不会被接纳。这造成了极度勒索的现象。更何况，需要兑换货币购买祭物的必需多付惊人的25%费用。这不是一个能让敬畏神的人前来敬拜的地方，倒变成了一个贼窝。
- The Provoked temple leaders 圣殿领袖被激怒 (21:15-17)
When Jesus entered the temple, He swept the temple clean of its filth, pouring forth streams of mercy to the blind and lame. Praises were flowing again for the Messiah. With their contrasting ungodliness scathed, the chief priests and scribes attempted to weaken the weight of praise that came from the children, only to hear Jesus quote from Ps 8:2, that if even tiny infants and nursing babies would be prepared by God to give praise to Himself, how much more could older children be expected to praise Him? Finally Jesus left because the unbelieving leaders would not come to Him.
当耶稣进入圣殿时，祂洁净了圣殿的污垢，向瞎眼残缺的浇灌怜悯。赞美之声再次为弥赛亚奏起。由于祭司长和文士的不敬虔被揭发了，所以他们试着削弱由小孩而起的赞美。可这时，耶稣引用了《诗篇》8章2节，说，若神已预备婴孩和吃奶的赞美祂，更何况是较大的孩子？最后，耶稣离开了，因为这群不信的领导不愿归向祂。
Praying the Scripture 用经文祷告
- The Old Testament saints have to travel a long distance to the temple in Jerusalem in order to pray and worship. However, in the New Testament, we are told that our bodies are the temple of God (1 Cor. 6:19). Do you pray and worship God daily since it is so convenient?
旧约圣徒必须长途跋涉到耶路撒冷的圣殿，才能祷告敬拜神。但在新约里，圣经说我们的身子就是圣灵的殿（林前6:19）。既然如此，我们是否有天天祷告敬拜神呢？
- The Jews and Chief priests turn the temple into a mean to gain profit. What about us? Do you turn the church fellowship a place to do business or gain customers? Do you come to offer yourselves, your gifts and your lives to God or do you turn the place of God into the robbers’ den?
犹太人和祭司长将圣殿变成赢取利润的途径。我们呢？你是否将教会团契变成你做买卖或取得客户的地方？你是要将自己、你的恩赐和生命献给神，或想把神的殿变成贼窝？
- We are created to worship God yet the chief priests and the scribes were angry because the children were worshipping God. Do you worship God daily? Do you respect our brothers and sisters’ time and space to worship?
我们被造是为要敬拜神，但祭司长和文士却因小孩子口中的称颂而愤努。你是否天天敬拜神呢？你是否尊重弟兄姐妹们敬拜的时间和空间呢？
