LOC – 18 – Jesus Cleans God’s House (the First Time)

Lesson Objectives

“The love of money is the root of all kinds of evil.” I Timothy 6:10

It is important to be honest and fair in business dealings.

Jesus has the power and authority to clean the “temple” in your body.

Check your priorities, especially in the area of money and your body!

Jesus can’t speak plainly to us, but must use words that only spiritually open-minded will understand.

Lesson Commentary

Read John 2:13-25

Last week, we left Jesus in Capernaum on the northern edge of the Sea of Galilee. This is a large, populous city about one days journey from Cana. Jesus has just performed His first miracle and then returned to Capernaum with His mother and brothers and sisters for a few days. Most of Jesus’ ministry is in and about Capernaum so we will see Him a lot at this setting. It is from this point that our story continues.

This is the first Passover mentioned since Jesus was twelve years old. In it, Jesus officially introduces His ministry. What a most appropriate place to “officially” inaugurate that which His Father has called Him to do. We will see in three years that He will close His ministry in the same manner. The year is probably 27 AD depending on the exact date of His birth. We know from Luke 3:23 that Jesus is about thirty years old, give or take a couple of months. His birth, which is estimated to be around 4-6 BC, will influence the actual year of His ministry.

Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Jn 2:13 – Jewish Passover is at hand. The date is the 14th of Nissan (April.) Jesus has been going to Passover every year like every other Jewish male. John the Baptist baptized Jesus a few weeks ago in the Jordan River. The sign (Jesus’ first miracle) at the wedding in Cana has just occurred. John differentiates this as a “Jewish Passover” possibly because: 1) Those to whom he is writing are observing a “Christian Passover” (Cf. I Corinthians 5:7), or 2) to explain that it is a Jewish custom.

This is the first of three Passovers mentioned by John, one in 6:4; and one in 11:55; 12:1; and 13:1. The other Gospels only mention the one at the end of His ministry when He is crucified. The description of Jesus’ driving the moneychangers and vendors from the Temple is similar to the other Gospels, although there are differences in detail. In John’s account, Jesus’ uses a whip, and directs His address to those who sell the pigeons. The words of Jesus and the quotation from the Old Testament are also different between the two accounts. Jesus does not conform to interpretations by men, but always obeys the Law. We should be careful that our belief as Christians doesn’t go beyond the essential of Who Jesus is.

Jn 2:14 – The Temple courts are the court of the Gentiles outside of the court of the Jews. This is the large outer courtyard that surrounds the Temple grounds. This courtyard surrounds the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies that form the Temple itself. Gentiles and women are allowed in this part of the Temple grounds. Beyond this point lays an area for Jewish men only. The population of Jerusalem is normally about 100,000 people. During the Passover, it swells to somewhere between 2,500,000 to 3,000,000 people.

The selling of oxen, sheep and pigeons is something that has evolved over time to accommodate those traveling a great distance. This way they will not have the expense and inconvenience of having to bring an animal from home only to have it not meet with the approval of the priest who determines whether it is acceptable or not. Some Jewish worshippers travel great distances to be in Jerusalem for the feasts. To have their sacrifice blemished in the journey or get to Jerusalem and have the animal rejected by the priest will cause considerable grief and frustration.

The devil has succeeded in tempting someone with greed. What happens is that the priest will reject the animal that is brought and sell the family an animal of their own at an inflated price. The problem is not the selling of the animals, but that they are doing it for purposes of extortion.

The moneychangers are another convenience for the pilgrims. Temple dues have to be paid in the acceptable Tyrian coinage. Roman coins are not acceptable. These moneychangers can charge a high percentage for changing coins and profit even more. Great corruption in the Church and in the lives of Christians has been caused by greed, seeking to acquire more without regard for God’s will (Cf. Judas Iscariot). As with any incoming ruler, Jesus comes to purge the injustices of the Kingdom that He has been ordained to rule. What does Jesus need to purge out of your “temple”? Jesus never uses force to drive anyone into fellowship with the Father, only to drive out those whose individuals hearts are bent on ungodly practices.

Jn 2:15 – Malachi 3:2-4 had predicted that One is coming to upset things in the Temple. In moral indignation, Jesus sends animals and money flying. A “whip of chords” is used by Jesus to drive out the animals. He does not make it or use it to punish the people. Jesus is seeking to reform the behavior of the people, not to judge them. That will come later. Even in His righteous anger for the things of His Father, He uses discretion. When you get angry at some injustice, do you seek to set the wrong right or get revenge and retribution?

Jn 2:16 – Jesus speaks directly to those who are selling the doves. He is protesting the marketing of the animals because of the greed of the priests who are exploiting the people. He is not protesting the offering of animal sacrifices or of making animals available to the people who have to travel a long distance. Animal sacrifices are commanded under the Old Testament Law. But Jesus has reason to be concerned about the losing of the significance of the sacrifice because of the focus on financial gain and the exploitation of their countrymen. What is the attitude of the priests who are officiating over all of this?

When Jesus cleans the Temple at the end of His ministry, His emphasis will be directed more at the people who are perpetuating this offense. Here He appears more upset with the institutions. The Temple has become a “market place” instead of a “House of Worship”. Jesus will frequently speak of God as “My Father”. Jesus is hereby declaring Himself to be the Son of God; i.e., the Messiah. This phraseology is found 27 times in John, 16 times in Matthew, and 4 times in Luke. The only way we can get to know the Father is through Jesus Christ.

Jn 2:17 – John quotes from Psalms 69:9. This zeal will ultimately lead to His death when He cleanses the Temple at the end of His ministry. The book of Psalms is quoted in the New Testament more often than any other book of the Old Testament. When the Psalms are quoted, it is always in a Messianic context.

Jn 2:18 – The Jewish authorities, which are the Temple priests, demand to know what right Jesus has to drive out the animals and moneychangers. They will continually demand signs from Jesus to prove His right or authority to do the things He will do, and He knows that it is fruitless to try to heed their questions. They should be thanking Him for correcting a wrongful practice, but in their greed and their quest for power, they challenge Him. Since they are trapped by the rightness of His action, they question His authority. We will see that they think that they were the only ones with authority in Temple matters. How do you sometimes get caught in trying to exercise authority over other Christians that you don’t really have?

Signs are valuable for those who seek to confirm their faith. They are worthless to those who are trying to find fault or who are blind to the truth. The greed from selling in the Temple has so corrupted their thinking that they are not able to receive any sign that Jesus could show them. Knowing that they weren’t in a state of mind to listen to reason or the truth, Jesus gives a veiled statement for what He is doing. One purpose is to puzzle those who oppose Him. But it will also cause His followers to ponder what He is saying. Sometimes, it is fruitless to try to explain something to a person who demonstrates by their questioning and debating that they aren’t really interested in learning, but are only trying to trap you or trip you in what you are saying.

Jn 2:19 – The “sign” is Jesus. He speaks to them in the form of a command. They are to destroy His “Temple,” but He is going to raise it back up in three days. That is exactly what will happen. Jesus, the Man, does not yet know what will transpire between now and the Cross, but Jesus, the Son of God, does know that death on the Cross is waiting for Him. This is the sign that He gives those who challenge Him. Christ is the true “Temple.” The Temple in Jerusalem is only a foreshadow. If Christ is the true “Temple” and He resides in you, how should you live your life?

Jn 2:20 – Herod had started building the Temple some 46 years earlier in 19 or 20 BC. It is still in the process of construction even though Herod has long been dead. In fact, it will not be completed until about 63 AD, only 7 years before it is destroyed in 70 AD. The word “you” is rather emphatic, suggesting their contempt for Him. They question how He could rebuild in three days what Herod has spent over 46 years in building. They will later use these words at His arrest to try to convict Him of deserving a death sentence.

Jn 2:21 – They take Jesus literally, but He is speaking of His own body in a spiritual context. (See Psalm 16:10) The first Passover delivered Israel from bondage in Egyptian slavery. Jesus’ Passover sacrifice delivers us from slavery to sin. It is man’s nature to think literally and in the context of the present evaluation of the situation. However, as we study the life and teachings of Jesus Christ, we will see that there are many times that Jesus will speak of spiritual things that can’t be applied physically in a literal context.

Jn 2:22 – Even Jesus’ own disciples will not understand what Jesus is saying until after He has been resurrected from the dead. As much as we try, we too, don’t know anything beyond today. We can plan for tomorrow. We can make assumptions, set goals, and make predictions about the future, but not one of us can control it, or know for sure what will happen. Much of the future prediction of the Second Coming and the end of the world will transpire much different than current religious scholars are trying to tell us. Yet when it happens, they and we will marvel at the perfect unfolding design of God. We must leave our beliefs open and subject to change as God reveals more of His truths to us.

Many Come to Believe in Jesus

Jn 2:23 – Here is a sign of Jesus’ authority. Jesus did other signs (miracles) that John does not elaborate on. These signs cause the people to have faith in Jesus as a Healer and a great Teacher. However, it is not a faith in Him as the One who will save them from their sins. That won’t come until after the Apostles begin the Church on the day of Pentecost.

Jn 2:24 – There are things that Jesus can’t show or tell them because they are not mature enough in their walk with God to understand who Jesus really is. He is very knowledgeable of our human nature. He knows how we generally interpret what others say in the context in which we want to hear it, whether that is how they mean it or not. He will have to reveal Himself to them over a period of time using spiritual and symbolical concepts. Because of this, He chooses to speak in figurative language instead of speaking plainly to them. And only those who are willing to put their preconceived religious theology aside will be able to understand what Jesus is telling them. Are you willing to approach “Walking With Jesus” with a totally open mind?

Jn 2:25 – Jesus knows man, his thoughts, and his deeds. No one has to reveal his or her thoughts and limit of understanding to Him. We are too selfish in our thoughts and wants. Jesus must teach us more about Himself and put the presence of the Holy Spirit in us before we will be able to effectively tell others about Him.

Read John 3:1-21.

“Walking With Jesus”

Lesson Commentary

LOC – 018 JESUS CLEANS HOUSE
Why Is Honesty Important In Business?

Occasionally, I like to go see a movie (no “R” rated!).I make sure I am well fed before I get to the theatre because the price of their food is so high compared to grocery stores and other places. Sometimes I am at a place through a mealtime and have little choice but to fast or pay the high price. I agree with making a reasonable profit, but I consider this gouging!

Have you ever felt that you were being overcharged for food at a theme park or theatre? Have you ever been shopping somewhere and you knew that the prices were inflated, but you paid it anyhow because you didn’t want to wait or felt that you had no choice because you needed that product or service? Jesus observed a situation like that and actually did something about it! We are in John 2:13-25.

Jesus attends the Feast of Passover!

This the first visit to Jerusalem since His 30^th birthday. Jesus now officially inaugurates His ministry! As any Jewish man will do, He goes to the Temple to participate in the sacrifices and rituals that are a part of the Jewish religious system.Population has swelled from 100,000 to 2.5-3 million Jews.

Learn to Recognize a Problem! – John 2:13-14

Since so many of the Jews have been scattered over the known world and most of them try to make it to Jerusalem for the 3 Feasts, it is hard, if not impossible for them to bring animals for the sacrifices. Locals sell their animals as a service to these travelers. Money changers help them exchange their foreign coinage for the proper temple tax (at inflated rates of exchange)!

Priests see money in this and open up the bazaar in the Temple grounds. They condemn any outside animals brought in as imperfect and sell the worshipper one of their own at inflated prices!

The idea of providing that which is needed for those who are from out of town is very noble. But to gouge and inflate the price is taking unfair advantage of your fellow countryman. Greed often overrules service. Are you aware of any church or service organization that lost the focus on their purpose and became obsessed on getting more money instead of fulfilling their mission?

Step in to Resolve the Problem! – John 2:15-17

Jesus’ love for God eats at Him to stop this sinful practice. Our love for God causes us to change our lives and follow Jesus!

Jesus has seen this scene before, but for reasons that we will not know until we get to Heaven, He waits until now to do something about it. Either way, His passion for His Father and all that represents God before the people, causes Him to take serious action.

Maybe this practice has escalated this year from previous years. Maybe it was because it wasn’t time for Jesus to act.Regardless, He is man enough to take on the establishment and a crowd of hundreds of priests who are clearly doing wrong and expose their hypocrisy. He makes a whip to drive the animals and starts clearing the area! “All my heroes are cowboys!" –

Some will say, “no selling in church”, but it wasn’t the selling that was the problem. It was the inflating of the prices to exorbitant levels! Inflating the price is not respectful of your customers! Is there anything that Jesus needs to purge out of your “temple”?

Be Prepared for Resistance! – John 2:18

The established leaders question Jesus’ authority to step in and start throwing things around. That is good! They want to know by what right Jesus thinks He has to do what He did. Sometimes we get too busy controlling instead of just observing or inquiring!

Stand for the Truth! – John 2:19-22

Jesus’ reply avoids the priest’s question, because He knows that they won’t be able to comprehend the truth. Instead, He makes a claim that is so over their level of understanding and He does it with such a confidence and authority that they are left speechless and unable to stop Him.

He references the most sacred Jewish institution (the Temple) and makes an allegory in reference to His own life. Being built over the last 46 years and still has 33 years before it is finished. Jesus is speaking about Himself. It is too early for Jesus to really elaborate on who He is.

Don’t Tolerate Evil! – John 2:23-25

Jesus continues to do many other miracles while in town. At the same time, He also does some preaching. However, He does not seek the approval or endorsement of the religious establishment because they are too caught up into themselves and are forsaking God.

CONCLUSION

One of the traits of self-confidence is that you don’t need the approval of others to know that you are okay or to accomplish what you have been called by God to do. Do you need to do any personal “housecleaning”? Are you going to stand with Jesus against the temptations of the world?

Next Week: Jesus gets a visit from a “secret” follower. What will Jesus tell him he must do?