What happened on the Monday of Holy Week? It may surprise kids to hear that gentle, loving Jesus once flipped over tables! But this story holds a powerful lesson for little hearts: standing up for what’s right, honoring God’s house, and keeping our hearts focused on Him.
Today’s devotion is perfect for helping children understand righteous anger, fairness, and what it means to treat God—and others—with respect. It’s short, meaningful, and ends with a fun hands-on activity to bring the message home.
Want the full experience? Download the complete Holy Monday devotional with all the activities for FREE on Teachers Pay Teachers, or grab the full Holy Week Devotional for Kids for just $0.99 on TPT or Kindle.
Bible Story & Reflection
Scripture: Matthew 21:12-13
“And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13and said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.”
What Happened on Holy Monday?
The day after Palm Sunday, Jesus entered the Temple—the most sacred place of worship—and found it filled with merchants and money changers. What was meant to be a holy place had become a marketplace, filled with greed and dishonesty. People were being taken advantage of, and their focus on worship was replaced with unfair business.
Jesus was righteously angry—not because people were buying and selling, but because they were doing it in the Temple, and in a way that hurt others. So He flipped the tables and reminded everyone that God’s house is meant to be a place of prayer.
Discussion Questions
- Why did people need to exchange money and buy animals? Because the Temple used special money, and people needed animals for worship.
- Why was Jesus so upset about this? Because people were being unfair and greedy in God’s house.
- What does this teach us about treating others fairly? We should be honest and kind, especially when people are trying to do something good.
- How can we make our own hearts a “house of prayer”? By praying, loving God, and keeping our hearts focused on Him.
Fun Fact: What Was the Temple Tax?
Every Jewish man had to pay a Temple tax once a year, but only a special silver coin—the Tyrian shekel—was accepted. So people had to exchange their money, and dishonest money changers used that as a chance to cheat people. Jesus knew the heart behind it all—and He stood up for those being mistreated.
Closing Prayer
“Dear God, please help us keep our hearts and homes as places of worship. Just as Jesus cleansed the Temple, help us remove distractions that take us away from You. Amen.”
Craft Activity
“Temple Cleanse” Coin Toss Game
Supplies:
- Small table or box
- Play coins, cut-out coins, or buttons
- Bean bags or soft balls
- Tablecloth or fabric
Instructions:
- Cover a table or box with fabric to represent the Temple.
- Scatter coins on top—these represent the dishonest traders.
- Take turns tossing bean bags to knock the coins off the table.
The Big Lesson: Jesus took a stand for what was right. He showed us that worship isn’t about money or rules—it’s about coming close to God with a clean heart.
Jesus cared deeply about people and the way they were treated—especially in God’s house. As we teach our children about Holy Monday, may we be reminded to keep our hearts and homes focused on God too. If you’d like more ways to explore Holy Monday through crafts, games, and faith-filled fun, grab the whole lesson for free on TPT or the complete 8-day family devotional for just $0.99!
Thank you for checking in!
God Bless you,
~ Amy
