Cleansing the Temple

Intro; As we continue Jesus’ Journey to the Cross, we see Him, his mother, brothers and his disciples leaving the area of Cana going down towards Capernaum to join up with a caravan of people heading south to Jerusalem for the Passover Feast and the Feast of Unleavened Bread.

Text; John 2:13-22

John 2:13–22 NKJV

13 Now the Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business. 15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables. 16 And He said to those who sold doves, “Take these things away! Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!” 17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.” 18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, “What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?” 19 Jesus answered and said to them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 Then the Jews said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?” 21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body. 22 Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.

1. Passover; 13

The Passover, which is the holiest feast day in the Jewish religion, took place at the temple in Jerusalem. This is when the Jews celebrate their deliverance from bondage in Egypt. It was the first of all the annual feasts the Jews observed, and was called both the Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread. It was celebrated on the 15th of the month of Nisan which was around mid-April. Every Jewish adult male, twelve years old and older, was to attend three annual feasts in Jerusalem: Passover, Pentecost, and Tabernacles. During Passover, as many as 2,000,000 Jews could be found in Jerusalem.

One of the problems with those who traveled from long distances was the issue of their animals for sacrifice. Worshippers needed animals (oxen, sheep, doves), incense, meal, wine, oil, salt, and other items for their sacrifices and offerings. It was hard to herd animals to Jerusalem because of the distance, pasturing them along the way and the possibility of losing them before getting to the Passover Feast. Instead they could buy their sacrificial animal in Jerusalem for the Passover.

Those coming from foreign nations to worship had to have their money exchanged to buy their sacrifices and to pay the temple tax. A half shekel offering was a debt to the Lord. Only the Jewish shekel could be used for this because all other currency of the Roman world had images of pagan kings on them and that would pollute the temple.

What was allowed by law [buying sacrifices and money exchange] had become a lucrative business for Annas the high priest. He controlled the rate of money exchange and he also appointed inspectors for animals to sacrificed. Exorbitant prices were charged for the inspection and often the animal was found with blemishes and the worshiper had to purchase a animal from Annas. It was highway robbery.

2. Cleansing the Temple; 14-16

Jesus was upset over what was happening in the temple especially during the most holy feast for the Jews. He made a whip of cords and drove the merchants out with their livestock and turned the money tables over and poured out the money on the ground.

But the main reason Jesus was upset with what was happening is often missed when this narrative is read.

Jesus was upset because God’s house was to be a house of prayer not a place of merchandise

Jesus was upset because Annas and the Sanhedrian were taking advantage of the people who came to worship Him.

Jesus was upset because the Feast of Passover, the most holy feast to the Jew, had turned into nothing but a religious ritual

But the main reason is because of the area that was being used is why Jesus was so upset.

Put up the slide of the temple [Herod’s Temple]. The temple grounds covered an area of about 35 acres.

1. Chambers.

2. Gate-rooms (Exedræ).

3. Porticoes.

4. Women’s court.

5. Court of Israelites.

6. Priests’ court.

7. Altar of burnt-offering.

8. Place for killing, etc., animals.

9. Temple porch.

10. Hêkāl [Holy Place].

11. Děbîr [Holy of Holies].

Davies, T. W. (1911–1912). TEMPLE. In J. Hastings, J. A. Selbie, A. B. Davidson, S. R. Driver, & H. B. Swete (Eds.), A Dictionary of the Bible: Dealing with Its Language, Literature, and Contents Including the Biblical Theology (Vol. 4, p. 713). Charles Scribner’s Sons; T. & T. Clark.

The inner court of the temple had elevated levels that increased to the Holy of Holies

From areas 1, 2, 3 [chambers, gate-rooms and porticoes] to the court of the women #4, it rose 8 feet higher than the outer court;

From the court of women #4, to the court of Israel #5, it rose 10 feet;

The court of the priests, altar and place of sacrifice, areas 6, 7, and 8 rose 3 feet higher;

The temple floor, areas #9, 10 and 11 [porch, holy place, holy of holies, rose another 8 feet above the altar area.

From the outer court to the Holy of Holies was a rise of 29 feet in all. This allowed all people to see the daily sacrifices by the priests.

Easton, M. G. (1893). In Illustrated Bible Dictionary and Treasury of Biblical History, Biography, Geography, Doctrine, and Literature (p. 660). Harper & Brothers.

Of this of 35 acres, the outside part called the court of the Gentiles was approximately 14 acres. This was as close a non Jew could be to the temple. It was in this 14 acres that Annas had set up the place of money exchange and market place to buy sacrifices.

The purpose of the Outer Court was a place for the Gentiles to worship and seek the Lord. The Jews were to tell the Gentiles of the one true God. With all the racket, commotion, and trading, the Gentile seeking the Lord would be shut out. This was not an atmosphere for praying or worshiping. The priorities of the Jews was out of wack. They missed the purpose of the Temple’s existence.

Mark 11:17 NKJV

17 Then He taught, saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’ ”

Businessmen, politicians and anyone who attend a church to make contacts to further their agenda make the same mistake. The church is a place of worship.

Worship without reverence for the Lord was taking place and that should not exist in the church! We need to purify our hearts before we come into the presence of the Lord!

3. Destroy and Restore; 18-22

The Jews then asked what gave Jesus the authority to do what He had just done. They needed a “sign”.

Jesus responds by saying “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” He was talking about His earthly temple [body] being crucified and resurrected the third day.

When we give ourselves to Jesus by faith in salvation, our old temple has been destroyed [spiritually] and our new temple has come and it is filled with the Holy Spirit of God.

Close;

Ephesians 2:8–17 NKJV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. 11 Therefore remember that you, once Gentiles in the flesh—who are called Uncircumcision by what is called the Circumcision made in the flesh by hands— 12 that at that time you were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 14 For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, 15 having abolished in His flesh the enmity, that is, the law of commandments contained in ordinances, so as to create in Himself one new man from the two, thus making peace, 16 and that He might reconcile them both to God in one body through the cross, thereby putting to death the enmity. 17 And He came and preached peace to you who were afar off and to those who were near.