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THE KING’S BUSINESS
Reverence of Jesus for His Father’s House JANUARY 28, 1917. LESSON IV. John 2:13-22. (Memorize vs. 15, 16). G olden T ext : “My house shall be-called a house of prayer.”—Matt. 21:13.
EXPOSITION AND PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS
vs. 13-16. "And the Jews' Passover (Passover of the Jews) was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem, (.) and (add, He) found in the temple those that sold oxen, and sheep, and doves, and the changers of money, sitting: and when He had (omit, had) made a scourge of small (omit, small) cords, He drove them (and .cast) all out of the temple, and (both) the sheep, (omit , ) and the oxen; and (add, He) poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the (their) tables; and said to them that sold doves (and to them thqt sold doves He said), Take these things hence; make not my Father's house a (an) house of m e r c h a n d is e We have here the beginning of Christ’s public ministry in its fullest sense. Beginning at Jerusalem at the time of the Passover (ch. 2:12—3:21), then extending to Judea (3 :22-36), then to Samaria (4:1-42), and then to Galilee (4:43-54). The record here says that “Jesus went up to Jerusalem.” This is a literal statement of fact, Jerusalem being 2500 feet above the sea level and 3200 feet above Capernaum. He went to Jerusalem at this time as a loyal son of the. law, the Mosaic law requiring every male to go up at this time (Ex. 23:17; 34:23). But He also went because “the hour was come” for the beginning of His public ministry (cf. v. 4). It was deeply significant that He should begin His ministry at the Jews’ Passover, because He Himself was the true Passover. One scholar calls attention to thirteen points of coincidence between Christ and the Passover, another calls attention to seventeen, and still another to nineteen. Some think that this Passover is spoken of as “the Passover of the Jews" to distinguish it from the “Christian Pass- over” or Easter celebration which had become a recognized institution at the
time when this gospel was written. This is not at all clear. John was writing for Gentiles, and constantly refers to Jewish institutions which he explains (cf. v. 6 ). A certain school of criticism would" make this cleansing of the temple identical with that of the Synoptic Gospels, but for this there is no warrant whatever. The two are entirely different from one another. This occurred at the beginning of our Lord’s . ministry and was a proclamation that He was the Messiah, the Son of God, and that as such He had a right to cleanse His Father’s house. It was a definite and ..distinct claim to being the One prophesied in .Malachi 3:1, 2, The cleansing men tioned in the Synoptic Gospel was at the close of His ministry and had quite a different purpose in view. The details of the two are different. The account here given was evidently written by an eye wit ness. The temple was defiled, not merely by the uncleanness that would be inevitable from the presence of so many sheep and cattle and pigeons, .turning the court of the Gentiles into a cattle market, but still more by the covetousness and extortion that had crept in in connection with the sale of these animals. All the things sold and the busi ness transacted had to do with the wor ship of the temple. The oxen and sheep and rdoves were for sacrifice, and the money changed was the Roman and Greek money that was exchanged for the Jewish coin which circulated through Palestine, and which alone the temple authorities accepted as the half shekel due as the Jewish poll tax (cf. Ex. 30:12-16). But the Son of God will not tolerate commer cialism in connection with His worship, even when that commercialism has to. do with things which are necessary for His service. God’s house must not be turned
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