John 2:13-2513And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, 14And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: 15And 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; 16And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise. 17And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. 18Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? 19Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. 20Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days? 21But he spake of the temple of his body. 22When 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. 23Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did. 24But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men, 25And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man. (John 2:13‑25)
The Jews passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, and found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheen and doves. and the changers of money sitting.”
That seems the first passover after the Lord Jesus began His public teaching: at that time Jewish men came from all countries, as that temple was the only place sacrifices were to be offered. Very many animals were used, and many gifts of money were given.
All should have been in praise to God; instead, it was as a market place to make money. The gifts were to be in special money, so men charged fees to make the changes, which was contrary to their laws (Ex. 30:11-1611And the Lord spake unto Moses, saying, 12When thou takest the sum of the children of Israel after their number, then shall they give every man a ransom for his soul unto the Lord, when thou numberest them; that there be no plague among them, when thou numberest them. 13This they shall give, every one that passeth among them that are numbered, half a shekel after the shekel of the sanctuary: (a shekel is twenty gerahs:) an half shekel shall be the offering of the Lord. 14Every one that passeth among them that are numbered, from twenty years old and above, shall give an offering unto the Lord. 15The rich shall not give more, and the poor shall not give less than half a shekel, when they give an offering unto the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls. 16And thou shalt take the atonement money of the children of Israel, and shalt appoint it for the service of the tabernacle of the congregation; that it may be a memorial unto the children of Israel before the Lord, to make an atonement for your souls. (Exodus 30:11‑16); Deut. 23:1919Thou shalt not lend upon usury to thy brother; usury of money, usury of victuals, usury of any thing that is lent upon usury: (Deuteronomy 23:19); Deut. 14:24,2524And if the way be too long for thee, so that thou art not able to carry it; or if the place be too far from thee, which the Lord thy God shall choose to set his name there, when the Lord thy God hath blessed thee: 25Then shalt thou turn it into money, and bind up the money in thine hand, and shalt go unto the place which the Lord thy God shall choose: (Deuteronomy 14:24‑25)).
Jesus was grieved to see the business there, and He made a scourge (a whip of leather cords) and drove out the sheep and oxen, and told the men selling doves to take them away, He overturned the tables of the money changers, and said,
“Take these things hence; make not My Father’s House a house of merchandise, (a place to buy and sell)”.
“The zeal of Thine House hath eaten Me up.” Ps. 69:9. That His Father should not be dishonored was more to Him than all else.
But the men in charge of the temple were indignant, although they knew the laws of God, and that it was entirely wrong for them to allow such things. They asked Jesus to show “a sign” of His right to do this.
His words, “My Father’s House”, was the same as to say He was the Son of God, and gave them the reason for His right to clear God’s House or what was wrong.
These men had not believed the answer of the prophet John that Jesus was the Son of God, the promised Holy One, for then they would have known His authority and have been ashamed at their wicked ways.
But Jesus gave them a sign; He said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.”
They did not understand that; they knew the temple had been many year, in building, and they asked how He could build it in three days; they meant to ridicule Him.
But “the sign” He told them was really to foretell His own death; they would try to “destroy” Him on the cross; and He would rise in three days. If they had believed the scriptures the, would have known that the Holy One, to come was their true “Temple”, for it was only by Him they could be blessed and God worshipped; He was their real “altar”, “ark”, and “mercy seat”.
After He was crucified they remembered His words that He would rise but not to put their trust in Him; they only wanted His tomb made more sure, (Matt. 27:62-6462Now the next day, that followed the day of the preparation, the chief priests and Pharisees came together unto Pilate, 63Saying, Sir, we remember that that deceiver said, while he was yet alive, After three days I will rise again. 64Command therefore that the sepulchre be made sure until the third day, lest his disciples come by night, and steal him away, and say unto the people, He is risen from the dead: so the last error shall be worse than the first. (Matthew 27:62‑64)). They did not give up their evil ways.
ML 02/09/1946