John 2: 13-25

 

This First Passover and the First Cleansing of the Temple

 

Second cleansing of the temple at the fourth and final Passover is recorded in:

            Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:5-1; Luke 19:45-46

 

2:13

“Passover of the Jews” or “Jewish Passover” indicates a non-Jewish audience was reading this book and supports the later date (85 AD)

 

2:14

Selling of animals for the sacrifices had become a way of making money of the Jews who traveled to Jerusalem for the feasts.

 

  • The priest would only accept Tyrian coins since they where made with the best silver.
  • The word used for “temple courts” is “hieron” and referred to the outer court of the Gentiles.  The word is not “naos” that would refer to the temple building.
  • So the only place the Gentiles could worship and pray to God was turned into a shopping mall by the priest.
  • About 3 weeks before the Passover the priest would set up the money changing tables.
  • Gentiles and travelers who wanted to purchase a sacrificial animal would need to first exchange their coins at the priest’s money changing tables for coins that were acceptable to the priest if they expected to purchase an animal from the priest.
  • A high percent or handling fee was charge for exchanging the coins.
  • With money to be made worship easily became corrupted.

 


                      

http://www.templemount.org/theories.html

http://emp.byui.edu/SATTERFIELDB/Rel211/TEMPLE.html

Malachi 3:1-3 “See, I will send my messenger, who will prepare the way before me.  Then suddenly the Lord you are seeking will come to his temple; the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, will come.’ says the Lord Almighty.”

 

Zechariah 14:21 there will no longer be a Canaanite in the house of the Lord

 

2:15

The Greek masculine plural pantas ("all") argues for Jesus driving the traders out, not just the animals, which the neuter plural panta would identify.

 

Schoinion ("cords") elsewhere describes the ropes on a ship (Acts 27:32).

 

Fort Antonia would have sent Roman troops if things had gotten out of hand or violet.

 

Obviously it was not physical force that caused the reaction as much as his presence and moral force.

 

 

 

2:16

Jesus claims to be God.

Jesus acts with authority in the house of God

2:17

Psalm 69:9

            1-4 the suffering of his soul

            21 the gall and vinegar at the cross

            8 separation from the people

 

2:18

A miraculous sign was asked for several other times:

1)      Matthew 12:38

2)      Matthew 16:1 and Mark 8:1

3)      Luke 11:16

 

2:19

The resurrection will be their sign.

 

2:20