2. Misuse of the Temple
John 2:13-25

3. Setting Jn 2:13-14 In the Temple at the Passover
Jews from all over came to Jerusalem for the feast
The yearly temple tax had to be paid in Jewish coins
The Passover lamb had to be unblemished, etc

4. Setting To be convenient Moneychangers set up in the outer court
Change any currency to correct Jewish coin
Stalls were set up to sell Passover lambs
Other stalls set up to sell other sacrificial animals
For burnt offerings or peace or fellowship offerings

5. Jesus’ reaction
Jn 2:15
Some think Jesus was simply a loving , peaceful, soft-spoken man
But here Jesus made and used a whip
To drive out the money-changers and the livestock sellers, as well as the livestock
As He went, He flipped over tables and poured out the money the merchants had
Simply put, He was angry
Why?

6. Jesus’ explanation Jn 2:16
He told those selling doves to take them away
He did not set them free, he did not destroy their property
This was the wrong location for such activity
The livestock merchants could still reclaim their livestock (with some inconvenience)
The moneychangers could still reclaim their money (by picking it up off the ground)
His Father’s house was not an emporium
It was a house of worship
How could anyone worship with all the business going on

7. Why did they leave? We are not told directly
Perhaps intimidated by the whip and His zeal
Perhaps they felt somewhat guilty when their abuse was pointed out to them
Perhaps they felt Jesus could be a prophet
This seems to be the opening event in His public ministry
But Jesus would have been at the Temple three times each year (as He was at age 12)
So they perhaps knew Him and some of His teachings to some extent

8. The disciples’ reaction
Jn 2:17
Remembered Psalm 69:9
A psalm of David
David was passionate about His love for God and a place to worship God
If David was passionate, Jesus was consumed with that zeal to a greater extent
He wasn’t upset for Himself
He was upset about what they had done to the worship of God
Jesus had fulfilled the words of David
Yet another reminder that He was the Christ

9. The Jews’ reaction
Jn 2:18
Probably the temple authorities (Sadducees) who had allowed the activity
By driving out the merchants, Jesus was implicitly claiming the right to supersede the temple authorities
A prophet, for example, would have such right
They wanted a sign to prove He had authority
Not yet denying the possibility He had the right
But OT prophets (Moses, Elijah, Elisha, Isaiah, etc) had done signs that confirmed their position

10. Jesus’ sign
Jn 2:19-22
“Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
Jews thought He referred to the building they were in
It had been under construction for 46 years (and wasn’t considered completely finished for almost another 30 years)
If destroyed, how could it be raised in 3 days?

11. Jesus’ sign Jesus makes a play on words
“Destroy” can mean to knockdown or kill
“Raise up” can mean rebuild or awaken or rise from the dead
Did He promise to rebuild the temple?
He said in Grk egeiro autos “I will raise myself”
autos meaning “self” as auto- still does as a prefix in English
The Jews misunderstood
They even intentionally misquoted Him (Mt 26:59-61, 27:39-40)
Though they then knew what He actually said and meant (Mt 27:63)
Even the disciples didn’t understand until after His resurrection, then their faith increased

12. Lessons Do we make God’s house an emporium?
We don’t have a physical temple
But the church (the people) is God’s temple
Eph 2:19-22
Some use their church as a business
Stores, coffee-shops, bake sales, yard sales, etc
Or as a place of “good works”
Homeless shelters, food pantries, disaster relief, medical clinics, etc
Jesus didn’t say the activity was wrong (it was needed), but it was not done in the right way or place
Instead of acting as they ought (1 Tim 3:15)

13. Lessons Do we make God’s house an emporium?
We as individuals are also each a temple of God
1 Cor 3:16-17, 6:19-20
Some devote their lives to the pursuit of material gain
Some spend the time devoted to God actually wishing they could be pursuing material things (Amos 8:4-6)
Some come to church to network, make business contacts, do fundraisers, etc.

14. Lessons How is our zeal for the house of God?
Jesus saw something was wrong and it consumed Him so He acted
Do we see something wrong and just turn a blind eye?
When the proper worship of God becomes instead an entertainment time?
When the church becomes a business?
When the church loses sight of its purpose of saving souls?
Or do we zealously move to correct the problem?

15. Belief John 2:23-25 After the incident at the temple, many believed
Jesus apparently did miracles/signs
So even though He said His resurrection would be the ultimate and indisputable sign, He did provide more immediate proof as well
Their faith did not mean they were saved
Jn 1:12, 8:30-31
But Jesus did not commit Himself to the people
Unwilling to become what they wanted/expected
He knew what they wanted (just as He knew Nathanael before they met)
Just as He knows the heart of all men

16. Conclusion Are you zealous for God’s house?
Or do you make it a house of merchandise?
Will you follow the Lord no matter what the crowd does?
Or will you go along with the flow?
Do you believe enough in Jesus to commit yourself to obeying all that He taught?
Or do you only believe enough to want Him to be what you desire?
Jesus knows your answers to all these questions. Do you?