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JESUS CLEANSES THE TEMPLE

John 2:13-22

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    There were several events in the life of Jesus that put Him at odds with the Jews, especially the Jewish leaders.

1.      Jesus’ claims, especially that He was the Messiah and the Son of God

2.      Jesus’ teachings

3.      Jesus’ miracles, especially those done on the Sabbath Day

4.      Jesus’ refusal to always follow the traditions of the Pharisees

5.      Jesus’ popularity

 

B.      There were two events that were similar that brought the wrath of the Jews upon Him.  We refer to these events as “The Cleansing of the Temple.”  One of these happened at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry.  The other happened near the end of His earthly sojourn.

 

C.     In this lesson, we want to look at the first time Jesus did this.  The event is recorded in John 2:13-22.  We will be staying right here for the remainder of the lesson, exegeting the text under consideration.

 

I.                   THE CELEBRATION OF THE PASSOVER (John 2:13)

 

A.    The Feast (John 2:13a)

 

And the Jews’ passover was at hand…

 

1.      The Passover was one of the main feasts of the Jews (Deut. 16:1-8).

2.      It was celebrated in the first month, Abib, on the fourteenth day of the month.

3.      A Passover lamb was slain on that day and was eaten with herbs and unleavened bread.

4.      The feast week which followed was known as “The Feast of Unleavened Bread.”

5.      This feast celebrated the Lord’s passing over the firstborn of Israel in the land of Egypt during the final plague on Pharaoh.  They put the blood of the Passover lamb on the doorposts and lintels and death passed over the house.

 

B.      The Faithfulness (John 2:13b)

 

…and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

 

1.      It was the duty of all Jewish males over the age of twenty to attend these feasts (Deut. 16:16).

2.      The Bible tells us that Jesus was born “under the law” (Gal. 4:4).

 

But when the fullness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law.

 

3.      One of the things we find about Jesus is that He was always obedient to the Law of God.

a.      He did not renege on His obligations to the Law.

b.      He did not make excuses why could not fulfill the Law.

c.       He did not let other things take precedent over His obedience to the Law.

d.      LESSON:  If we follow the footsteps of Jesus, we will also be obedient to the Law of God under which we live (See I John 2:6).

 

He that saith he abideth in him ought himself also so to walk, even as he walked.

 

II.                THE CORRUPTION WITHIN THE TEMPLE (John 2:14)

 

And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting.

 

A.    The Passover required sacrifices of the Jews.

 

B.      Many of the Jews came from many, many miles away to attend the feast.

 

C.     Instead of bringing animals from their flocks, they would purchase them once they arrived in Jerusalem (Deut. 14:23-26).

 

D.    This opened up a huge opportunity for the Jews.

1.      They could sell animals to the public.

2.      Too, they could exchange money with those who lived in places having a different monetary system.

 

E.      Sadly, the temple became a place of extortion.

1.      High prices were charged for animals.

2.      High exchange rates were charged for money.

3.      The Jews were getting rich off of their brethren.

4.      They were using a legal form of theft to make great profits.

a.      Stealing was against the law (Exo. 20:15).

b.      Charging one’s brother interest was against the law (Deut. 23:19).

c.       Covetousness was against the law (Exo. 20:17).

 

F.      LESSON:  We often expect extortion and theft in the world, but not among the Lord’s people.  We especially are surprised when God’s people extort and steal from one another (Prov. 20:10).

 

Divers weights, and divers measures, both of them are alike abomination to the Lord.

 

III.             THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE (John 2:15-17).

 

A.    The Flushing (John 2:15)

 

And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables.

 

1.      When Jesus saw the dishonesty and the evil that was being practiced, righteous indignation swelled within Him.

2.      He fashioned a small whip of small cords and drove out all of the animals.

3.      In the process, all of the sellers and the buyers would be flushed from the temple as well.

4.      He also poured out the money and overthrew the tables.

5.      Was Jesus angry?  It appears that He was.  Did He sin in His anger?  Absolutely not!

6.      LESSON:  There are times when righteous indignation ought to drive the faithful to take drastic action against evil (I Thess. 2:2).

 

But even after we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

 

B.      The Forbiddance (John 2:16)

 

And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house a house of merchandise.

 

1.      Jesus did not remain silent on this occasion.

2.      He issued two commands:

a.      Take these things hence.

b.      Make not my Father’s house a house of merchandise.

3.      Jesus plainly reveals the Jews were in violation of the purpose of the house of God. 

a.      They had turned it into a house of merchandise. 

b.      Its true purpose was to honor and give reverence to the God of heaven (See Isa. 56:7; Matt. 21:13).

 

And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called a house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

 

4.      LESSON:  It is possible to turn the house of God into something for which it was never designed.

a.      It is not a concert hall.

b.      It is not a recreational facility.

c.       It is not the home.

d.      It is not a “for-profit” corporation.

 

C.     The Fulfillment (John 2:17)

 

And his disciples remembered that which was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

 

1.      The disciples of Jesus were reminded of the words found in Psalm 69:9 when they saw Jesus cleanse the temple.

 

For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up…

 

2.      The word “zeal” means “to burn,” or, “to be passionate for.” 

3.      Jesus was passionate for the temple of God and making sure it maintained its proper purpose.

 

IV.             THE CLASH (John 2:18)

 

Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things.

 

A.    Jesus had pulled what some might call “a big one.” 

 

B.      As far as the Jews were concerned, He was just a “normal” person. 

 

C.     If he were going to use this type of authority in the temple, they desired proof of His authority.  Thus, they demanded a sign.

 

1.      I Corinthians. 1:22

 

For the Jews require a sign…

 

2.      Definition:  “of miracles and wonders by which God authenticates the men sent by him, or by which men prove that the cause they are pleading is God’s” (Thayer, e-sword).

 

D.    It is interesting that the Jews were not concerned about the evil things that were taking place in the temple.  Right and wrong were not their concern.  They were only interested in Jesus establishing His credentials to them.

 

V.                THE CONFUSION (John 2:19-21)

 

A.    The Fall of the Temple (John 2:19)

 

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it again.

 

1.      The sign Jesus gave to the Jews involved a temple.

2.      He said He could destroy this temple and build it again in three days.

3.      What a sign that would be.

 

B.      The Flak (John 2:20)

 

Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

 

1.      The Jews who heard Jesus’ words immediately confronted Him.

2.      Their answer shows that they were under the impression that He was talking about the physical temple.

3.      The temple of Herod had taken forty-six years to build. 

4.      The question:  How could Jesus destroy it and build it again in just three days?

5.      Many of the Jews never came to understand the words of Jesus.  They even used them against Him during His trial (Matt. 26:60-61) and as He hung on the cross (Matt. 27:40).

6.      LESSON:  They did not seek to understand Jesus’ words.  Instead, they just stood in bold opposition to Him.  It is wise when listening, to seek to understand what has been said before growing angry with the words (See James 1:19).

 

Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.

 

C.     The Fact (John 2:21)

 

But he spake of the temple of his body.

 

1.      This fact clears up all of the misunderstanding.

2.      If the Jews had simply asked about the meaning of the word “temple,” they would have had a better understanding of Jesus’ words.

3.      LESSON:  If we are seeking to understand another, we should never assume something about what is said.  Words have meaning.  We need to find out the meaning of their words to accurately comprehend their message.

 

VI.             THE CONFIRMATION (John 2:22)

 

When  therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the Scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

 

A.    After hearing Jesus’ words, the disciples may have been somewhat confused.

 

B.      The text does not say that they asked for any type of explanation.  However, they hid His words in their hearts.

 

C.     When Jesus was raised from the grave on the third day, the apostles put two-and-two together:  “His disciples remembered that he had said this unto them.”

 

D.    LESSONS: 

1.      What Jesus said to the Jews was true.  He provided them a sign.  The temple of His body was destroyed and it was raised in three days.

2.      Time did not diminish the truthfulness of Jesus’s words.  The first time Jesus cleansed the temple was at the beginning of His ministry.  Some three years would pass before His words came to pass, but come true they did.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    From this event in the life of Christ, we learn some things about Jesus.

1.      Jesus was always obedient to the Law of God.

2.      Jesus was passionate about serving His Father in heaven.

3.      Jesus was willing to take a stand against evil when doing so was unpopular.

4.      Jesus had the courage to face His critics.

5.      Jesus was misunderstood by many even though what He said was truth.

6.      Jesus’ promises always come to pass.

 

B.      Had you been one of the Jews that day, how would you have reacted? 

1.      Would you have opposed the Christ like the Jews did?

2.      Would you have kept quiet and let things play out like the disciples did?

3.      Would you have fully believed the words of Jesus?  (NOTE:  Only this position exhibits true faith in Jesus Christ).