1. In The Footsteps Of The Master: The Life and Times of Jesus Christ Second Cleansing of the Temple February 26, 2012 www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info

2. Stay in your seats Pay attention No talking to your neighbor No pulling hair No chewing gum No texting No phone calls No online gaming Class Rules www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 2

3. Matthew’s Version Matthew 21:11-12 – 12 And Jesus entered the temple and drove out all those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who were selling doves. 13 And He said to them, “It is written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer’; but you are making it a robbers’ den.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 3

4. For Discussion How do you picture this scene in your mind? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 4 VS.

5. Mark’s Version Mark 11:15-18 – 15 Then they came to Jerusalem. And He entered the temple and began to drive out those who were buying and selling in the temple, and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those who were selling doves; 16 and He would not permit anyone to carry merchandise through the temple. 17 And He began to teach and say to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a robbers’ den.” 18 The chief priests and the scribes heard this, and began seeking how to destroy Him; for they were afraid of Him, for the whole crowd was astonished at His teaching. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 5

6. Luke’s Version Luke 19:45-48 – 45 Jesus entered the temple and began to drive out those who were selling, 46 saying to them, “It is written, ‘And My house shall be a house of prayer,’ but you have made it a robbers’ den.” 47 And He was teaching daily in the temple; but the chief priests and the scribes and the leading men among the people were trying to destroy Him, 48 and they could not find anything that they might do, for all the people were hanging on to every word He said. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 6

7. A House of Prayer Isaiah 56:1-2 – 1 Thus says the LORD, “Preserve justice and do righteousness, for My salvation is about to come and My righteousness to be revealed. 2 How blessed is the man who does this, and the son of man who takes hold of it; who keeps from profaning the Sabbath, and keeps his hand from doing any evil.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 7

8. A House of Prayer (cont) Isaiah 56:5-6 – 5 “To them I will give in My house and within My walls a memorial, and a name better than that of sons and daughters; I will give them an everlasting name which will not be cut off. 6 Also the foreigners who join themselves to the LORD, To minister to Him, and to love the name of the LORD, to be His servants, every one who keeps from profaning the Sabbath and holds fast My covenant; www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 8

9. A House of Prayer (cont) Isaiah 56:7 – 7 “Even those I will bring to My holy mountain and make them joyful in My house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and their sacrifices will be acceptable on My altar; for My house will be called a house of prayer for all the peoples.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 9

10. For Discussion How could Jesus go about his reforming work and leave the Temple untouched? Jesus had to reclaim the Temple for its true purpose Yet to do that was to attract opposition www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 10

11. A Den of Robbers Jeremiah 7:1-4 – 1 The word that came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying, 2 “Stand in the gate of the LORD’S house and proclaim there this word and say, ‘Hear the word of the LORD, all you of Judah, who enter by these gates to worship the LORD!’” 3 Thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel, “Amend your ways and your deeds, and I will let you dwell in this place. 4 “Do not trust in deceptive words, saying, ‘This is the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD, the temple of the LORD.’ www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 11

12. A Den of Robbers (cont) Jeremiah 7:5-7 – 5 “For if you truly amend your ways and your deeds, if you truly practice justice between a man and his neighbor, 6 if you do not oppress the alien, the orphan, or the widow, and do not shed innocent blood in this place, nor walk after other gods to your own ruin, 7 then I will let you dwell in this place, in the land that I gave to your fathers forever and ever. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 12

13. A Den of Robbers (cont) Jeremiah 7:8-11 – 8 “Behold, you are trusting in deceptive words to no avail. 9 Will you steal, murder, and commit adultery and swear falsely, and offer sacrifices to Baal and walk after other gods that you have not known, 10 then come and stand before Me in this house, which is called by My name, and say, ‘We are delivered!’— that you may do all these abominations? 11 Has this house, which is called by My name, become a den of robbers in your sight? Behold, I, even I, have seen it,” declares the LORD. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 13

14. For Discussion The picture here is of a cave where the bandits and other evil men gather before and after their deeds Jesus is saying that the place there bears the Name of the Almighty has become a gathering place for evil men www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 14

15. Herod’s Temple www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 15 Court of Gentiles Temple Proper Court of Women Court of Israel Solomon’s Portico

16. For Discussion What was at issue here? Why would Jesus throw out the money- changers and street vendors? Why would he throw out the buyers, as well? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 16

17. The Lord in the Temple Malachi 3:1-4 – 1 “Behold, I am going to send My messenger, and he will clear the way before Me. And the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the messenger of the covenant, in whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts. 2 “But who can endure the day of His coming? And who can stand when He appears? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like fullers’ soap. 3 He will sit as a smelter and purifier of silver, and He will purify the sons of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, so that they may present to the LORD offerings in righteousness. 4 Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the LORD as in the days of old and as in former years.” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 17

18. The Issue? Travelers to Jerusalem for the feast days would potentially be in need of two things –Animals for sacrifice –Temple currency for temple tax www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 18

19. Animals for Sacrifice No one could expect an animal to endur a a journey of hundreds of miles and arrive unblemished The selling of unblemished animals in Jerusalem provided a needed “service” However, there would have been a premium price attached Ever buy gas a the only gas station for 100 miles? www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 19

20. Money Changers Travelers would have arrived in Jerusalem carrying various forms of Greek currency The OT required that the Temple tax be paid according to the Temple shekel The closest thing in these days was the Tyrian shekel So, these money changers provided a needed service, as well – for a price www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 20

21. Vendors Historians tell us that the vendors and moneychangers occupied the Mount of Olives during the feast days However, their introduction into the Temple area was a recent development in Jesus’ day The chief priests obviously approved of this practice, which was clearly a violation of the sanctity of the Temple www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 21

22. Location These vendors certainly would not have been inside the Temple gates, given the limited room They would have been set up in the Court of Gentiles –Plenty of room –Pass through there on the way to the Temple This was the only area where non- proselyted Gentiles could approach and hear the teaching www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 22

23. Location (cont) These activities not only profaned the Temple area, they cut off access for the Gentiles www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 23

24. The Real Issue The real issue was not what these vendors were doing, but where there were doing it Note that Jesus drove out not only the sellers, but the buyers, as well To paraphrase: –“This is MY House. Do your business elsewhere!” www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 24

25. For Discussion What can we take away from this episode? How we do things matters Our God is a Holy God We must approach Him and worship Him in holiness www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 25

26. www.FootstepsOfTheMaster.info 26 Next Week I Have No Idea