APRIL 2, 2017
JESUS CLEANSES THE TEMPLE
INTRODUCTION:
1. In Verses 1-11 of this chapter we observed Jesus’ first miracle, which He did while yet in His private life in Cana of Galilee, a place very near to His hometown of Nazareth.
2. John here tells us that “after this, He went down to Capernaum.” Not only did His disciples go with Him, but He was joined by His mother and brethren as well. (Verse 12) This notation is significant because Capernaum would become the Galilean headquarters, and His new hometown, “His own city.” (Matt. 9:11) This move, therefore, marks the transition from His private to public life.
3. That said, Jesus’ official public introduction to His Messianic ministry would of necessity be at Jerusalem,the reason being that it had been so prophesied. (Mal. 3:1-3)
a) Malachi prophesies that once the way is prepared by the forerunner, the Messiah “shall suddenly come into his temple.” (Mal. 3:1)
b) His appearing according to the prophetic Word, shall be “like a refiner’s fire, and like fuller’s soap.” (Mal. 3:2)
c) His intention will be to “purify the sons of Levi, and purge them as gold and silver.” (Mal. 3:3)
4. Here Jesus makes His appearance in the temple, not as a private citizen, as He had done many times before, but as the Messiah. It is very significant the manner in which the Messiah first presented Himself to Israel.
I. JESUS’ FIRST OFFICIAL MESSIANIC ACT IS THE CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE. (VERSES 13-16) He was here announcing a call to repentance and calling for total reformation of the nation.
A. THE SCENE OF THIS CLEANSING WAS IN THE PARTICULAR AREA KNOWN AS THE COURT OF THE GENTILES.
1. The temple precincts comprised several courts.
a) The Court of the Priest was the inner court; the “Naas,” the temple proper. Rarely do referencesto the temple intend this area.
b) The Court of Man, where purified men of Israel could gather for worship.
c) The Court of Women, where properly sanctified woman could gather.
d) The Court of the Gentiles; a vast area surrounded on all sides by marble colonnades.
(1) This was the only area where Proselytes were allowed.
(2) It was in this large court that the market and exchange was set up.
(3) This market and exchange was set up with the approval of the officials.
2. It was in this last area that Jesus’ actions here recorded took place. (Verse 14)
B. JESUS INTRODUCED HIMSELF AS THE MESSIAH BY AUTHORITATIVELY PURGING THE COURT OF THE GENTILES. (VERSES 14-17)
1. The emblem of His authority and judgment was “a scourge of small cords,” which He fashioned and used.
a) His first public act as Messiah was not as a king holding a scepter in His hand.
b) He rather came as a Righteous Judge, and jealous protector of His Father’s house, wielding a scourge. He came to purge and purify and restore this house of prayer.
c) Notice He “found” those who were defiling this house. His eyes were, no doubt, piercing, like fire.
2. He “drove them all out” by holy action. (Verse 15)
a) This included all of the animals and birds that were to be sold for sacrifices.
b) He overturned the tables of the money changers and poured out their money.
c) One can only imagine the chaos – tables overthrown, merchants scrambling to retrieve their money, animals and birds on the loose.
d) Yet, He was not resisted! His absolute authority was on display. How else could one man with a small scourge drive so many people from a place which they did not want to leave?
3. He “drove them all out” with holy words. (Verse 16)
a) To the sellers He said, “Take these things hence.”
b) To all He said, “Make not my Father’s house, an house of merchandise.” (Matt. 21:13; Mark 11:17)
c) Three years later, when He will again repeat this action, He will reference Isa. 56:7, where it is written, “My house shall be called of all nations the house of prayer, but ye have made it a den of thieves.” We know that the true Temple of God is the church. (II Cor. 6:16; Eph. 2:21, 22; I Pet. 2:5,9) Our Lord established and sanctified it as a “house of prayer,” yet many are turning it into a “house of merchandise.” The “money changers” are prominent figures, and “den of thieves” seems a legitimate description in some cases.
4. Jesus did this in an all-consuming holy zeal. (Verse 17)
a) The disciples saw this and were reminded of what the Messianic Psalmist had written: “The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.” (Psa. 69:9)
b) It was out of holy concern for His Father’s glory that He was “eaten up.” His first public act is a call for reformation.
II. JESUS, ON THIS OCCASION, CURIOUSLY PREDICTED HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION.(VERSES 18-22)
A. THIS SURPRISING PREDICTION WAS MADE IN RESPONSE TO QUESTIONS THAT CAME FROM THE JEWS. (VERSE 18)
1. These Jews were probably those in charge of the temple precincts.
2. Seeing what was done, and the authority with which Jesus acted, they asked for a “sign.” (Verse 18b)
a) His unchallenged actions were sign enough. Why, since they were in charge, did they not stop Him?
b) The action was clearly further confirmation for the disciples, who recognized in it the fulfillment of a Messianic prophecy. (Psa. 69:9)
c) It only raised the hostility of these Jews.
3. Jesus’ answer to these sign-seekers was consistent with His response on other occasions when the Jews asked to see a sign. (Verse 19; Matt. 12:38-40; 16:1-4)
B. THE JEWS CLEARLY PERCEIVED ONLY THE PHYSICAL AND EXTERNAL FROM JESUS’ WORDS, WHICH SPOKE OF THE MORAL AND SPIRITUAL. (CONTRAST VRS. 20 WITH VRS. 19)
1. Jesus spoke of the destruction of the temple. (Verse 19a)
a) The temple was only an outward emblem of a higher reality.
b) It represented the Theocracy, and that, in its ultimate realization.
c) The appearance of the Messiah was the purpose of the Theocratic institution, for He is the true Temple.
d) To “destroy the temple” is to reject the Messiah, which they were doing by their present unbelief, which would culminate in the crucifixion of Jesus.
e) Daniel had described it, “Messiah shall be cut off, and the people of the prince who shall come shall destroy the city and the sanctuary.” (Dan. 9:26) With Messiah cut off, it was all over for Israel and the Temple.
2. Jesus also spoke of the raising up again of the temple that was destroyed. (Verse 19b)
a) John makes clear that He was not speaking of the literal temple, but rather of the temple of His body. (Vs. 21)
b) Therefore, when Jesus said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up,” he was speaking of the resurrection of His body. (Verse 19)
c) As undeniable proof, John takes us forward in time three years to the resurrection, when he and the other disciples would recall what He had said on this occasion. (Verse 22)
d) The Jews did not understand what He meant, as their questions shows. (Verse 20)
(1) Their failure to understand the Lord’s meaning was somewhat excusable, seeing that, at the time, His disciples were very likely in the same boat.
(2) These Jews, however, persisted in their unbelief, and unlike the disciples, they never came to understand what Jesus meant. (See Matt. 26:61; Acts 6:14)
3. When Jesus spoke of the raising up of the Temple of His body, the spiritual implications are extensive and marvelous.
a) Primarily, He spoke of the physical resurrection of His body. (Verse 22)
b) Implied also is that in Him would be the building again of the Davidic Kingdom. (Acts 15:16; Ezek. 34:24; 37:22-28)
c) In Christ the church also is raised up in the place of the Jewish Theocracy. (Eph. 2:19-23)
4. In three short years Messiah would be cut off; He would be taken, and by wicked hands, crucified and slain. Death, however, would not be able to hold Him, and He would come forth from the grave victorious. (Acts 2:23, 24)
a) He is risen and now sits upon the throne of David, as the reigning Lord over all.
b) The risen Christ is the Head of the body of the church, which is His true Temple, the “habitation of God.”
c) Not only so, but the church is made up of many redeemed individuals whose bodies are temples of the Holy Ghost.
d) We learn from this amazing event that God is glorified in these temples as they are living sanctuaries, i.e. houses of prayer.
(1) Let us not allow these temples to be corrupted and defiled by unholy practices.
(2) May our Lord, when visiting His sanctuaries never find that the true glory has been set aside for sake of unworthy interests.
(3) Our hearts must never become dens of darkness where sin hides, but rather temples of righteousness set aglow with the light of Christ’s love and favor
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