My Father’s House

John 2:12-25

John 2:16

To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father’s house into a market!”

Jesus came from the Father full of grace and truth (1:14). By turning water to wine, Jesus’ grace was revealed. By cleansing the temple, Jesus’ truth is revealed.

In this passage, through the purification of the temple, Jesus restored the true meaning of the temple. He also revealed his deity. We find 4 different aspects of  Jesus’ deity:

(1) His intolerance of sin (Holiness). 

(2) His identity as the Son of God (God the Son): “My Father’s house”. 

(3) His resurrection power (Omnipotence). 

(4) His perception of men (Omniscience). 

Jesus is the true temple through which we can meet God and worship him. Jesus is Holy. Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus has power over death. Jesus is all-knowing. May God open our eyes to see the glory of Jesus, the Son of God and worship him. Amen. 

1. Read verses 12-16.

ANSWER:

Jn 2:12-16  After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.  13  When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.  14  In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.  15  So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.  16  To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"

When did Jesus go up to Jerusalem? (12-13)

ANSWER:

Jn 2:12-13  After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.  13  When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

It was Passover time.
God brought Israel out of Egypt through punishing them by the angel of death. But the angel of death passed over the people of Israel because of the blood of the lamb. The male lamb was slaughtered and that night they had a feast. That feast was called the Passover Feast. Every year at Passover time, every Jewish male over twelve years old was required to come to the temple. At that time, as many as 400,000 people were in Herod’s temple to celebrate the Passover. 

What did Jesus find in the temple? (14) 

ANSWER:

Jn 2:14  In the temple courts he found men selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.

Jesus found men selling cattle, sheep and doves.
During the Passover, worshipers brought many animals but the inspectors (mumcheh) would invariably reject them as unfit for sacrifice. Hence, the people would have to purchase one of the animals from inside the temple which could cost as much as fifteen times more than if it had been purchased outside.

Jesus found others sitting at tables exchanging money.
For temple taxes: Every Jewish male over 20 yrs old had to pay a temple tax - about two days pay. The temple tax was a half shekel (Exo 30:13). This tax had to be paid in the currency of the temple. (In Jesus’ day, the only coin they accepted was a Tyrian silver didrachma). Money changers were required to charge only 1/24 of a shekel to exchange currency for the two-drachma coin to pay the temple tax. But money-changers would cheat the people by setting a higher rate of exchange for one currency to another. To obtain money to purchase things in the temple, Pilgrims also had to go to the money changers where they were again cheated.

In other words, the high priests and religious leaders were robbing the pilgrims by forcing them to purchase approved sacrificial animals and currencies at inflated prices. 

What did Jesus do in the temple? (15-16)

ANSWER:

Jn 2:15-16  So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple area, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables.  16  To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"

He made a whip out of cords

He drove all from the temple area

He scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 

He said to those who sold doves, “get these out of here”

Jesus went into the temple. He spent time to make a whip by himself. He went right and left and drove those people and animals with a whip. He cleared the temple.

What made Jesus so angry? (16)

ANSWER:

Jn 2:16  To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! How dare you turn my Father's house into a market!"

Because of their Love of Money; 

‘Turning the temple into a market’ reveals their fundamental problem which is ‘Worshiping Money’.
The religious leaders were full of love of money. They were worshiping Money. They were worshiping an idol.
Jesus was angry because the temple of God was full of love of money.
Jesus was furious because the temple of God was full of idol worship.
They turned the temple of God into a market.
They turned worshiping God into a money making business.
Outwardly, the religious leaders provided the best animals for people (Deut 14:24-26). But inwardly, they did not care about worshiping God.
They were only interested in making money in the name of God.
They loved money more than God.
They were worshiping money, not God. (idol worship)
They were idol worshipers. They were slave to materialism. 

Because of their Irreverence to God. (No fear of God)

‘How dare’ reveals another fundamental problem they had which is no reverence to God, no fear of God.
The religious leaders did not have any reverence to God, or any fear of God.
Jesus was severely rebuking them by saying, “How dare”
-    How could you not have any fear of God?
-    How could you not have any respect for God?
-    How could you not have any reverence to God?
Jesus revealed his holy anger because the Jews had no reverence to God and were full of the love of money.

What does ‘my Father’s house’ imply? 

ANSWER:

The temple is God’s house, the place of his dwelling (1Ki 8:13) and the place to meet with him and worship him. It is, therefore, holy.
The temple should be for God. The temple should be all about God.
The temple is all about knowing God, loving God and worshiping God.
The temple is all about glorifying God, praising God and honoring God.  

Jesus called God his Father.  

Jesus proclaimed that he is the Son of God.
Through this, Jesus revealed his deity as the Son of God.
Nobody could possibly claim that he is the Son of God except Jesus.
Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus is God. 

2. Read verses 17-20.

ANSWER:

Jn 2:17-20  His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me."  18  Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"  19  Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."  20  The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?"

What did Jesus’ disciples remember? (17) 

ANSWER:

Jn 2:17  His disciples remembered that it is written: "Zeal for your house will consume me."

They remembered God’s word from Psa 69:9. There are several points to learn here: 

Jesus showed his zeal for God through showing his intolerance to sin. 
He did not tolerate the idol worship in the temple. He drove out idol worshipping from the temple.
Jesus would not tolerate this blasphemy.
Jesus could not tolerate this irreverence for God.
Jesus’ intolerance to sin shows his zeal for God.
Jesus’ intolerance to sin shows his passion for reverence to God.
Jesus’ intolerance to sin shows his deity. 

Jesus showed his zeal for God through risking his own life for God. 
He challenged the Jews, rebuking their evil deeds. The Jews felt threatened by Jesus and later planed to kill him. Jesus knew their wicked plan but he risked his own life for God and for the truth. After witnessing Jesus’ bold actions, the disciples remembered the life of David in the book of Psalms which indicated that David’s life was endangered due to his zeal for the temple of God. The disciples thought Jesus’ life might be in danger due to his zeal for God. 

Jesus’ intolerance to sin shows his deity.
Whoever is intolerant to sin must be righteous, good and holy (Heb 1:9).
No one is righteous or good or holy except God. (Rom 3:11-12; Mat 19:17)
It is impossible for the holy God to accept any kind of sin even if it is just a tiny bit (Hab 1:13).
Therefore, Jesus’ intolerance to sin clearly shows his deity.
Jesus is God (Jn 1:1). Jesus is Holy (Act 4:27). Jesus is without sin (Jn 8:29, 1Jn 3:5, Heb 4:15).
There is no sin or darkness in Jesus (1Jn 1:5).

Zeal for God and intolerance to sin is the sign of being a child of God. 

We are the temple Jesus purchased with his own blood and he has made his dwelling in us (Jn 14:23; Gal 4:6). He is now zealous to cleanse our hearts (Jas 4:5; Deu 4:24; Jn 13:8). In other words, his Spirit within us is zealous to have exclusive possession of our entire heart’s devotion and he leads us and empowers us to do this (Ro 8:13-14; Eze 36:27). Because of this...
Children of God have zeal for God, zeal for reverence for God, zeal for worshiping God.
Children of God should be full of passion for reverence for God.
Children of God have intolerance of sin because they are sensitive to sin and holiness. 
Children of God struggle/cry for their sins before God.
Children of God depend on the grace of God only and the cross of Jesus because of their sins.
Children of God hate to commit sin.
Children of God are quick to repent of their sins when they commit sins.
Children of God cannot commit sins continuously as a pattern of their lives (1Jn 3:6, 9).
May God have mercy on us to repent of our idol worships in our heart!
May God help us to have zeal for God, intolerance to sin!
May God help us to worship him, to love him, to glorify him only throughout our lives! 

What did the Jews demand of Jesus? (18)

ANSWER:

Jn 2:18  Then the Jews demanded of him, "What miraculous sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?"

The Jews demanded Jesus to show them a sign to prove his authority.
‘Prove your authority to do all this through miraculous sign.’ 
It was not because of their spiritual desire to know who Jesus was.
It was because of their wickedness (Mat 12:39).
They knew that Jesus had some kind of authority.
They knew that Jesus must be more than a mere man.
They did not want to repent of their sins before God because they were proud (Pro 9:8).
Instead, they demanded a sign from Jesus to prove his authority.

How did Jesus answer them? (19)

ANSWER:

Jn 2:19  Jesus answered them, "Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days."

His proclamation of his power over death.
“Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
This temple refers to the body of Jesus which is the real temple of God (Mat 12:6).
‘I will raise it again in three days’ refers to the resurrection of Jesus.
Jesus also proclaims that he has authority to take his life up again (Jn 10:18).
Jesus proclaims that he has power over death.
This is a claim no mere man could make.

His historical resurrection.
Jesus proved his claim through his resurrection.
Jesus showed his power and authority through his resurrection.
Jesus resurrection shows his almighty power (Omnipotence).
Jesus resurrection shows his deity (Omnipotence).

These words were misunderstood and used against Jesus in his trial (Mat 26:61) and were used to taunt him as he hung from the cross (Mat 27:40).

How did the Jews respond? (20)

ANSWER:

Jn 2:20  The Jews replied, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?"

They laughed at the idea, thinking that he was referring to Herod’s Temple. 

(Note: Verse 20 furnishes the grounds for us to believe that this event really did happen at the start of Jesus’ ministry)

3. Read verses 21-22.

ANSWER:

Jn 2:21-22  But the temple he had spoken of was his body.  22  After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken. 

What did Jesus mean by the temple? (21)

ANSWER:

Jn 2:21  But the temple he had spoken of was his body.

He was referring to his own body rather than Herod’s temple which he had spoken of as his “Father’s house”.

Jesus’ body was the place of God’s dwelling (Jn 1:14) just as the physical temple was the place of God’s dwelling (1Ki 8:13). Just as the temple building was the place God established where sinful man could approach the Holy God and be with him, so also Jesus’ body was the place where sinful man could approach the Holy God and be with him. 

The body of Jesus is still a temple of God (Eph 2:19-22; 1Pe 2:5).
We are the body of the Christ. We are the temple of God (1Co 6:19; 2Co 6:16; 1Jn 4:13).

What did they recall after Jesus was raised?  

ANSWER:

Jn 2:22  After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

They recalled what he had said. 

What then did they believe? (22)

ANSWER:

Jn 2:22  After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the Scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

They believed from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead (Jn 20:9) and they believed Jesus words (v 19) that he would raise his own body from the dead in three days.

The Scripture speaks of the Messiah rising from the dead in Psa 16:10 and Isa 53:10-11. We infer this from Isa 53:8-11 which repeatedly and explicitly speaks of the Messiah’s death and by combining this with passages that speak of his eternal reign (1Chr 17:12; Dan 7:13-14; Isa 9:7). We reason from these Scriptures that God had to raise his Messiah from the dead (Heb 11:19).

Jesus gave them the Holy Spirit after he raised himself from the dead (Jn 20:22). Then, through the Spirit, they could recall Jesus’ words (Jn 14:26) and understand from Scripture that Jesus had to rise from the dead (Jn 16:13; Luk 24:45).

4. Read verses 23-25.

ANSWER:

Jn 2:23-25  Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name.  24  But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men.  25  He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

What did Jesus do during the Passover Feast? (23) 

ANSWER:

Jn 2:23  Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name.

He performed miraculous signs.

How did many people respond?  

ANSWER:

Jn 2:23  Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, many people saw the miraculous signs he was doing and believed in his name.

They believed in his name (a person’s “name” refers to his character and work). They believed him to be the Messiah. The signs he performed pointed to him as being the Messiah. 

But why would Jesus not entrust himself to them? (24-25)

ANSWER:

Jn 2:24-25  But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all men.  25  He did not need man's testimony about man, for he knew what was in a man.

The people trusted Jesus’ name but they did not entrust themselves to Jesus and so Jesus did not entrust himself to them for he knew what was in their hearts. Hence, their faith was not saving faith. Saving faith brings forth repentance, surrendering oneself to Jesus to be saved (Jn 5:40, 12:35). Faith gives us the right [power] to become a child of God (Jn 1:12) but that right must be exercised.

Jesus knew their faith was superficial, not genuine, not sincere, not seeking God, not seeking the truth and only interested in miracles and popularity from men. Their superficial faith would wither when persecution comes (Mat 13:6). Jesus does not accept signs seeking faith (Mat 12:39).

Verses 24 and 25 show about Jesus:  

Jesus is God who is all-knowing (omniscient)
Only God knows all men. Only God knows what is in a man.
Jesus knows everything about everybody. Jesus knows all about all men. 

Jesus knows our sin, our thoughts and everything about us.
We need to live before him with fear, with reverence, with honesty.
We are completely exposed to him because he knows everything about us. 

Jesus knows our inner sufferings, our struggles, and our pains, our fear, and our sorrows.
Only Jesus can understand us; no one can understand us like Jesus.
Don’t expect people to understand us. (That’s a mission impossible.)
People’s understanding about us is very limited and not accurate.
Come to Jesus and ask him for wisdom, comfort, strength, grace, love and mercy. 

In Conclusion: 

Jesus showed his deity through his holiness.   

Jesus showed his deity through his claim to be the Son of God. 

Jesus showed his deity through his resurrection power over death. 

Jesus showed his deity through his omniscience. 

Jesus is the Son of God who is holy and who has power over death and knows everything. We are to worship him with all our hearts. I pray that we may come to Jesus so that through him, we can worship God. Amen. 

 Herod’s temple could accommodate 400,000 pilgrims and Jerusalem held 300,000-500,000 people during the feasts (E. P. Sanders, Judaism: Practice and Belief: 63 B.C.E.—66 C.E., p. 127, 128.) But Joachim Jeremias calculated that 180,000 people were in Jerusalem at the feasts (Jerusalem in the time of Jesus, page 84). Tacitus said that 600,000 were besieged in Jerusalem (Historiae 5.13) and Josephus said there were 3 million (War 2.14.3) in Jerusalem but these are not regarded as accurate figures.

 "...a pair of doves could cost as much as fifteen times more inside the Temple than if it had been purchased outside." (William Barclay, The Gospel of John, Page 129). Mishnah, Kerithot 1:7, records an event in which prices were 100 times higher in the temple: “A pair of birds in Jerusalem went up in price to a golden denar. Said Rabban Simeon b. Gamaliel, "By this sanctuary! I shall not rest tonight until they shall be at [silver] denars." He entered the court and taught [the following law]: "The woman who is subject to five confirmed miscarriages [or] five confirmed fluxes brings a single offering. And she eats animal sacrifices. And the rest [of the offerings] do not remain as an obligation for her." And pairs of birds stood on that very day at a quarter-denar each [one one-hundredth of the former price].” (Robert H. Stein, Jesus the Messiah: a survey of the life of Christ, Pg 189) (Edersheim refers to this also in Life and Times of Jesus, Pg 752).

 "According to the Mishnah [Mishnah Bekhoroth 8.7], the Temple offering was to be done in Tyrian coinage, which was silver. The Tyrian mint was autonomous and not associated with the hated Roman Empire. Finally, the silver content of Tyrian coins was higher than that of Roman coins, and so the Tyrian coins were intrinsically more valuable." (James H. Charlesworth, Jesus and archaeology, Pg 549)

 "How much does the premium amount to? According to R. Meir, to one silver Meah (one twenty-fourth of a shekel); but the sages say, to one-half of a Meah." (Mishnah Shekalim 1.7, translated by Michael L. Rodkinson, [1918], at sacred-texts.com)

 “There was no standard rate of exchange, so it became a time for bargaining. The money changers usually cheated these visitors as often and as much as they could.” (V. Gilbert Beers, The Victor Journey Through the Bible, Pg 218)

 “For, there was a great deal to be bought within the Temple-area, needful for the feast (in the way of sacrifices and their adjuncts), or for purification, and it would be better to get the right money from the authorised changers, than have disputes with the dealers.” (Alfred Edersheim, Life and Times of Jesus, Pg 740)

 “Following this earlier date, Jesus' ministry may have begun around AD 26 or 27. Possible support for this earlier date comes from John 2:20, on Jesus’ first Passover visit to Jerusalem, the Jews claim that "it has taken forty-six years to build this temple." According to Josephus, Herod began rebuilding the temple in the eighteenth year of his reign (Ant. 15.11.1), about 20 or 19 BC. Forty-six years from this comes to about AD 27 or 28 (there is no year zero).” (Mark L. Strauss, Four portraits, one Jesus: an introduction to Jesus and the Gospels, Pg 407) This is affirmed by Joachim Jeremias, "‘Forty and six years was this Temple in building, and wilt thou raise it up in three days?’ (John 2.20) said the Jews to Jesus about AD 27, and even then the building was not complete." (Joachim Jeremias, Jerusalem in the time of Jesus, Pg 21.)

 John used the Greek verb pisteuo to make a wordplay. In 2:23, John said that many believed (episteusan) in him; in 2:24, John said that Jesus did not entrust (episteusen) himself to them. Another way to word this would be, “many trusted in his name. . . . but he did not entrust Himself to them.” (Bruce B. Barton, The Life Application Bible Commentary: John, Pg 48)

 The response of the crowds contrasts with that of the disciples in verse 11 who did entrust (episteusan) themselves to Jesus on seeing his miracle.