Temple Baptist Church - 10-5-2022
John 2:13-22
Introduction:
A. Verse 13. “And the Jews' passover was at hand” The word “And” in verse 13 shows an immediate continuation of chapter 2.
1. Almost immediately after His baptism and the wedding at Cana, our Lord was in Jerusalem for Passover.
2. The Passover was established in Exodus 12:1-14 and was one of the greatest of the Jewish feasts.
B. We come to our text describing the cleansing of the temple by our Lord. Christ Jesus is now 30 years old and knew, being God in the flesh, what He would find when He came to the temple.
Luke 2:41 Now his parents went to Jerusalem every year at the feast of the Passover.
C. Verse 13. “and Jesus went up to Jerusalem” Passover was one of the 3 feasts that every ceremonially clean male was required to attend. Each year of His earthly life, Joseph and Mary would bring the family here to observe the Passover.
D. Verse 14. “And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting” Jesus was not surprised at what He had found for, as 100% man, He had observed the subtle changes over a 30 year period that led to what the temple had become. For 30 years, Jesus had come to Jerusalem for this feast day, and He knew what the temple had become in the eyes of Israel. As 100% God on His Father’s side, nothing was hidden from Him as He saw the end from the beginning.
E. The time is 1500 years past the Passover in Egypt and over 500 years past the building of Zerubbabel’s Temple at the end of the Babylonish Captivity. The changes in the temple had come slowly but surely and the result became common to the people, but not to God!
F. Verses 15, 16. “And 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; And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence” The cleansing of the temple was instant, not gradual! Our Lord made a scourge and drove them out, both man and beast, and overthrew the money tables!
G. Verse 16. “make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.” God was not pleased with the changes and condition of His house. It was His “Father’s house,” not theirs!
H. Verse 17. “And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.” The anger of the Lord described. Our Lord Jesus Christ was not passive in His cleansing. He was passionate because of His passion for the temple. It was His great love for the House of God that drove Him to anger.
J. What brought about these changes? I am sure that we could make a long list, but I want to look at just three things that brought about the anger of the Lord and the cleansing of His Father’s house.
1. The Failure of Israel to Remember. The Passover of the Lord was the greatest act ever performed by God. They made the House of the Lord a common place.
a. Israel forgot the bondage of Egypt. Exodus 3:7 And the LORD said, I have surely seen the affliction of my people which are in Egypt, and have heard their cry by reason of their taskmasters; for I know their sorrows;
Don’t ever forget where God brought you from!
b. Israel forgot the defeat of Egypt. The greatest power on earth destroyed. Exodus 10:7 And Pharaoh's servants said unto him, How long shall this man be a snare unto us? let the men go, that they may serve the LORD their God: knowest thou not yet that Egypt is destroyed?
Don’t ever forget the power God saved you from!
c. Israel forgot their salvation. Exodus 12:13 And the blood shall be to you for a token upon the houses where ye are: and when I see the blood, I will pass over you, and the plague shall not be upon you to destroy you, when I smite the land of Egypt.
Don’t ever forget what God did for you!
d. Israel forgot their deliverance. Exodus 14:8 And the LORD hardened the heart of Pharaoh king of Egypt, and he pursued after the children of Israel: and the children of Israel went out with an high hand.
Don’t ever forget where God brought you to!
2. The Failure of Israel to Respect. They made the House of the Lord a carnal place.
a. They brought inside what should have been done outside.
1) The selling of the sacrifices and exchange of the money was not evil in itself as these Jews who came from afar had to sell their animals, bring the money that was gained, and buy when they got to the feast.
2) Roman coins along with the money from other nations had to be changed into Jewish money such as the shekel.
3) It was to be done outside of the temple, not in it.
b. They were thieves.
1) They sold the blemished as unblemished. The quality of the animals sold were not the unblemished animals required for sacrifice.
2) They robbed the travelers by giving them a poor exchange rate for their money.
3. The Failure of Israel to Return. The made the House of the Lord a commercial place! A place of Merchandise.
a. The House of God was a place of Worship, not a place of merchandise.
b. The House of God was a place of Prayer, not a place of personal gain.
c. The House of God was a place of Sacrifice, not a place of convenience.
Conclusion: In the New Testament, the “Passover of the LORD” had become the “Jew’s Passover!”
a. God’s House is not to be common, carnal, or commercial! We need to keep our church from these things that are displeasing to the Lord.
b. Here at Temple, we will respect God’s house—both the pulpit and the pew. It may seem a little old fashioned, but our forefathers had it right and we will keep it right.
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;)
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
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