The Cleansed Temple

She cleans house every week. And sometimes it is more than that. I am watching a Penguins game. They are coming up ice to score. And then suddenly a vacuum sweeper goes by. “What are you doing?” “There is dirt on the rug.” “No there isn’t.” “Yes there is!”

I don’t know if you have the same philosophical discussion in your homes.

Today’s sermon is about “cleaning”. Jesus is cleansing the temple. You know that is the case from the title of your Bible “Jesus Cleanses the Temple”.

Psalms: 145A, 4B, 135B

Scripture:

Now as Christians, this is very familiar story in scripture. But you need to understand how shocking, how radical, how disturbing the passage really is - to the Jews of His day and the world of today. Because the world’s definition of “cleaning” is much different than Jesus’ definition of “cleaning”.

When the world calls the “Jesus Cleaning Company” to clean their house, they expect a neat van with the Jesus Cleaning Company logo on the side. Jesus comes in and says, “Oh there is a crumb here, a spec there, a smug over there. Good. See you in a month, no in 2 months”.

But they are shocked when in reality, the biggest bulldozer in the world pulls up to their house, with the Jesus Cleaning Company logo on the side, and it is revving up for a run at the house. Jesus has come to clean house - literally.

And in our Scripture this morning, Jesus cleans house!

I. Jesus Cleanses the Temple

Let’s look at the setting:

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (Jn 2:13). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Sermon: The Benefits of Pre-Approval

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

John 2:13 ESV

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

John 2:13 ESV

The Passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

John 2:13

This is the first of five festivals Jesus attended in Jerusalem that are mentioned in the Fourth Gospel.

One sermon I read said that Passover was like our 4th of July. Both celebrating “Independence”! Well not quite the same.

One sermon I read said that Passover was like our 4th of July. Well not quite.

The Passover was, as you know, a central celebration of the Jews. As one of the great feasts of the Jews, it attracted to Jerusalem the entire people of the country and from abroad. Every male Jew, from the age of twelve and up, was expected to attend the Passover at Jerusalem, a feast celebrated to commemorate the deliverance of the people of Israel from Egyptian bondage by the God of Israel.

Hendriksen, W., & Kistemaker, S. J. (1953–2001). Exposition of the Gospel According to John (Vol. 1, p. 121). Grand Rapids: Baker Book House.

For the Jew, Jerusalem was the center of the world.

And Jesus went “up” to Jerusalem. Anyone who has lived in Israel and has traveled much in Palestine knows by personal experience of the hills there that the pilgrim goes “up to Jerusalem” because Jerusalem is a mountain city. They sang the Psalms of ascension (Psalm 122-134).

Jerusalem was packed, not just with tourists, but devout Jews centering on the Temple.

Jerusalem was packed, not just with tourists, but devout Jews centering on the Temple. So what happened next was not something that occurred “off season”.

The Issue of the Desecration of the Temple

John 2

John 2:14 ESV

In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there.

John 2:14amp ESV

In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there.

John 2:14 AMP

14 There He found in the temple [enclosure] those who were selling oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers sitting there [also at their stands].

john 2:14 AMP

Now at this occasion Jesus, entering Jerusalem’s temple, notices that the court of the Gentiles had been changed into what must have resembled a stockyard. There was the stench and the filth, the bleating and the lowing of animals, destined for sacrifice.

It is true, in the abstract, that each worshipper was allowed to bring to the temple an animal of his own selection. But let him try it! In all likelihood it would not be approved by the judges, the privileged venders who filled the money-chests of Annas! Hence, to save trouble and disappointment, animals for sacrifice were bought right here in the outer court, which was called the court of the Gentiles because they were permitted to enter it.

Of course, the dealers in cattle and sheep would be tempted to charge exorbitant prices for such animals. They would exploit the worshippers. And those who sold pigeons would do likewise, charging, perhaps, $4 for a pair of doves worth a nickel.

And then there were the money-changers, sitting cross-legged behind their little coin-covered tables. They gave the worshipper lawful, Jewish coin in exchange for foreign currency. It must be borne in mind that only Jewish coins were allowed to be offered in the temple, and every worshipper—women, slaves, and minors excepted—had to pay the annual temple tribute of half a shekel (cf. ). The money-changers would charge a certain fee for every exchange-transaction. Here, too, there were abundant opportunities for deception and abuse.

John 2:14 The Message

14 He found the Temple teeming with people selling cattle and sheep and doves. The loan sharks were also there in full strength.

And the Temple authorities were in on the scheme and getting their cut.

John 2.12

So why is this wrong?

And in view of these conditions the Holy Temple, intended as a house of prayer for all people, had become a den of robbers (cf. ; ; ).

Isaiah

So why is this wrong?

Isaiah 56:7 ESV

7 these I will bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer; their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples.”

And in view of these conditions the Holy Temple, intended as a house of prayer for all people, had become a den of robbers (cf. ; ; ).

So what did Jesus do?

John 2:15–16 ESV

15 And making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. 16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade.”

Oh boy, the world’s view of Jesus as some kind Mr Roger’s singing “won’t you be my neighbor” is reputed here.

Weapons and clubs were forbidden in the temple courts, but the prescription apparently did not include such whips (phragellion; cf. T. Benj. 2:3). It is possible to interpret the text as suggesting that Jesus may have used it on both the merchants and the animals (2:15). The masculine “all” (pantas) need not refer merely to animals as in the NIV.43

John 2:16 The Message

16 He told the dove merchants, “Get your things out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a shopping mall!”

John 2.1

Jesus’ zealous reaction to the temple merchants (2:17) closely mirrors God’s anger at Sinai when the people played the harlot and worshiped around the golden calf (cf. ; ).

It also is not very different from Paul’s view of the wrath of God against ungodliness in .

Jesus’ zealous reaction to the temple merchants (2:17) closely mirrors God’s anger at Sinai when the people played the harlot and worshiped around the golden calf (cf. ; ). It also is not very different from Paul’s view of the wrath of God against ungodliness in . In this text the disciples are said to have viewed the action as righteous indignation and indeed as the fulfillment of Scripture (2:17; cf. ).

In this text the disciples are said to have viewed the action as righteous indignation and indeed as the fulfillment of Scripture (2:17; cf. ).

John 2:17 ESV

17 His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for your house will consume me.”

So this refers to the , a Messianic Psalm.

Psalm 69:9 ESV

9 For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me.

Psalm

What is Zeal?

It is a Christian quality.

To be loyal is not merely to obey, but to obey with promptness, energy, dutifulness, disregard of the consequences. And such is zeal, except that it is ever attended with that reverential feeling which is due from the creature to the creator and towards Him alone.

On the other hand, zeal is an imperfect virtue; that is, in our fallen state, it will ever be attended by unchristian feelings.

(1) Love perfects zeal, purifying and regulating it.

(2) Faith is another grace which is necessary to the perfection of zeal. We have need of faith, not only that we may perform them rightly; it guides us in choosing the means as well as the end.

Do you have it?

Regulative Principle of worship

Before we move on, let us notice that under laying this dramatic lesson is an important principal of worship.

What if they were not cheating people? What if they were honest brokers? Would that have been okay? Would Jesus not have driven them out?

Jesus says that they turned the Temple into a house of merchandise.

Sales and money exchange can be honest businesses. But not in places of worship.

Here is a basic teaching of the regulative principle of worship. What is not commanded for worship is prohibited.

Dance and magic shows and pantomime shows and ventriloquists and wrestling matches (tugboat taylor) may be acceptable in all other areas, but not the church of God.

Conclusion for section 1

By means of this temple-cleansing Jesus:

(1) exposed graft and greed;

(1) attacked the secularizing spirit of the Jews. One should not tamper with holy things;

(2) exposed graft and greed;

(2) assailed the anti-missionary spirit: the court of the Gentiles had been built as an invitation for them to worship the God of Israel (cf. ); but Annas and his sons were using for their own selfish purpose that which had been intended as a blessing for the nations; and

(3) fulfilled Messianic prophecy ( and ).

(4) attacked the secularizing spirit of the Jews. One should not tamper with holy things; Regulative principle of worship

II. Jesus is the New Temple

Is this all?

So that is all we need to know about “cleaning”. The rest of the passage (18-22) is merely filler.

Oh the Jews asked a question about authority and Jesus responded with a mysterious answer they did not understand. But that was the end of what we need to know about the cleansing of the Temple. RIGHT?

WRONG

At this point, let me introduce a principle of Biblical interpretation by the advantage of a seminary education - I will spare you the expense and time. THE PAUL HARVEY PRINCIPLE OF BIBLICAL INTERPRETATION.

How many of you know who the late Paul Harvey was?

Paul Harvey was an ABC radio broadcaster of the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s. He had a golden radio voice and was a great story teller. In his broadcasts, he would tell a story that lasted about 10 minutes (which later became brief broadcasts themselves).

These stories would tell a story of suffering and defeat to victory and justification. And he would not let you know the name of the person. So he would tell of the young man, born into abject poverty, self educated, working his way up, losing his love who dies young, failure in business, elected Congress only to lose in his second term. Losing in a run for Senate. Then there was a commercial break. Then he returns to the air and tells us that this man finally is elected President of the US, frees the slaves, unites the country. Now we know that he is speaking of Abe Lincoln,

But do you remember his tag line? “And now you know the REST OF THE STORY!”

And now we are going to apply the Paul Harvey principle to our passage. Because if you think this is all we know in verse 13-17, you don’t know the rest of the story.

John 2:18–21 ESV

18 So the Jews said to him, “What sign do you show us for doing these things?” 19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then 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 about the temple of his body.

Jesus Single Handedly Cleanses the Temple

First off, let’s note something. How was it that Jesus was able single handedly to clear out a mass of people and animals successfully? Indiana Jones could not do it. Bruce Willis could not do it...

Why did the Jewish authorities just watch and then said “By what authority..”? (with affected voice)

Example. If next Saturday some one comes to the Church Yard Sale and starts throwing things out on the lawn, do you think Ed is just going to watch and then after ask, “Show me your badge?”

Jesus was able to cleanse the temple because there was something about this guy. Jesus was able to clear the temple because of His personal power and felt divine power.

So I don’t think that the authorities asked (with affected voice)… But in more fear(with fearful voice)....

The hostile Jewish authorities (perhaps temple-police, scribes, priests) now ask that Jesus vindicate his drastic action by a sign.

But this request was stupid. The temple-cleansing was itself a sign. It was a definite anticipatory fulfilment of -3

Malachi 3:1–3 ESV

1 “Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. And the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant in whom you delight, behold, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2 But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, and they will bring offerings in righteousness to the Lord.

The request for a sign was not only stupid, however; it was also wicked.

They did not need a sign. They knew about the signs and claims of Jesus authority already,

And they did know.

Jesus “my Father’s House”

Nicodemus in chapter 3

unwillingness to admit guilt.

And how did Jesus reply? Did he take out his God card?

nwillingness to admit guilt.

Their wickedness is shown - unwillingness to admit guilt.

Jesus’ Response

And how did Jesus reply? Did he take out his God card?

No, he answered in a mashal. Mashal; that is, a paradoxical saying, a veiled and pointed remark, often in the form of a riddle.

John 2:19 ESV

19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”

Jesus was speaking of His body. The words temple and raise up can apply both to a physical building and the human body.

And the authorities respond

John 2:20 ESV

20 The Jews then said, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will you raise it up in three days?”

But before you feel sorry for these knuckleheads, remember that is a common use throughout scripture. They should have known.

And they did know.

Jesus “my Father’s House”

Nicodemus in chapter 3

Their wickedness is shown -

Jesus was talking about his death and resurrection.

Jesus “my Father’s House”

Nicodemus in chapter 3

Their wickedness is shown -

But he was saying more than that.

“Even though you, Jews, by your wickedness, are clearly breaking down the sanctuary of my body —and even though, as a result, you are also destroying your own temple of stone and the entire system of religious practices connected with it—; nevertheless, in three days I will raise up that sanctuary (referring to his resurrection from the dead)—and, as a result, I will establish a new temple with a new cult: the Church, with its worship of the Father in spirit and in truth.”

The type and the Antitype cannot be separated. Israel’s physical temple (or tabernacle) was the place in which God dwelt. Hence, it was the type of Christ’s body, which also, and in a far superior sense, was the dwelling-place of God.

If anyone destroys the second, Christ’s body, he also pulls down the first, the temple of stone at Jerusalem. This is true for two reasons:

a. when Christ is crucified, the physical temple and its entire cult cease to have any meaning (when Jesus died, the veil was rent!); also

b. the terrible crime of nailing him to the cross results in the destruction of Jerusalem with its physical temple. Similarly, the raising again of the body of Christ (cf. 10:18), so that the resurrected Lord now sends forth his Spirit, implies the establishment of the new temple which is his Church (the sanctuary made without hands)

1 Corinthians 3:16–17 ESV

16 Do you not know that you are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you? 17 If anyone destroys God’s temple, God will destroy him. For God’s temple is holy, and you are that temple.

2 Corinthians 6:16 ESV

16 What agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; as God said, “I will make my dwelling among them and walk among them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

2 cor 6:

1 cor 3:16

Ephesians 2:21 ESV

21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord.

On the Church as the sanctuary of Christ see also , ; ; ; and .

This all is built on the fact that Jesus Christ is the true Temple of God.

1. The cleansing of the temple is a sign of the nature of Christ’s mediatorial work as Revealer and Redeemer.

1. The cleansing of the temple is a sign of the nature of Christ’s mediatorial work as Revealer and Redeemer. For those who witnessed the event and heard the explanatory word (of v 19) it contained a message alike of rebuke and promise, with evident threat of judgment for those responsible for the desecration of the “place” of the Holy One of Israel. The perspective opened up by the ministry of Jesus shows that its full significance, and the fulfillment of the thing signified, were accomplished in the offering of the body of Christ and his rising from the dead. If the true nature of the profanation of God’s name and place was thereby exposed, with threat of judgment for those who persisted in the same, the primary thrust of the sign is nevertheless fulfillment of promise. For Jesus came not to destroy Judaism, but to bring it to its destined goal in the eschatological order of worship in the new creation, initiated through and in his deed and presence as the crucified and resurrected Lord.

2. The new temple is precisely the crucified and risen Son of God and by extension His body the Church.

John emphases the glory of God and the presence of God are revealed in the only Son and his redemptive acts; it is in and through him that mankind experiences that presence, is transfigured by that glory, and offers a worship worthy of his name.

3. The ultimate significance of the temple cleansing is therefore Christological, not ecclesiological.

As throughout this Gospel forgiveness, unity with the Father, and life under the saving sovereignty of God and all that flows from it are the fruit of his redemptive action. It is experienced in union with the Son, and its end is the glory of God—in him and in those united with him.

Jesus Christ is the Temple, cleansed, accessible, full of grace.

Conclusion

John 2:22 ESV

22 When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this, and they believed the Scripture and the word that Jesus had spoken.

John 2:22 The Message

22 Later, after he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this. They then put two and two together and believed both what was written in Scripture and what Jesus had said.

So now, have you, like the disciples, put 2 and 2 together?

Hebrews 9:12 ESV

12 he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.

Hebrews 9:24 ESV

24 For Christ has entered, not into holy places made with hands, which are copies of the true things, but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf.

So now, have you, like the disciples, put 2 and 2 together?

Hebrews 10:19 ESV

19 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus,

Hebrews 10:19–22 NKJV

19 Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, 20 by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh, 21 and having a High Priest over the house of God, 22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

So dear friends, all that the Israelite believer longed for, you now how have completely. You are not limited by the court of the gentiles, or the court of the women or even the other divisions.

Hebrews 9:12,24

So dear friends, all that the Israelite believer longed for, you now how have completely. You are not limited by the court of the gentiles, or the court of the women or even the other divisions.

You enter into the holy of holies and met God through Jesus Christ face to face.