The First Cleansing of the Temple

 

Memory Verse

     “ ‘Behold, I send My messenger, And he will prepare the way before Me.  And the Lord, whom you seek, Will suddenly come to His temple, Even the Messenger of the covenant, In whom you delight.  Behold, He is coming,’ Says the Lord of hosts.  ‘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 launderers’ soap.  He will sit as a refiner and a purifier of silver; He will purify the sons of Levi, And purge them as gold and silver, That they may offer to the Lord An offering in righteousness.’ ”  Malachi 3:1–3, NKJV.

 

Suggested Reading:  John 2:13–24; The Desire of Ages, 154–166.

 

Introduction

     There were two references in last week’s lesson in which we learned that the first cleansing of the temple in the first advent has its counterpart in the proclamation of the second angel’s message in the summer of 1844.  In this lesson, we will study the work and purpose of Jesus in cleansing the temple the first time.

 

1    What changes took place in the Jewish worship and temple services during the inter-testament period that prepared them to reject the Savior?

 

note:  “As they departed from God, the Jews in a great degree lost sight of the teaching of the ritual service.  That service had been instituted by Christ Himself.  In every part it was a symbol of Him; and it had been full of vitality and spiritual beauty.  But the Jews lost the spiritual life from their ceremonies, and clung to the dead forms.  They trusted to the sacrifices and ordinances themselves, instead of resting upon Him to whom they pointed.  In order to supply the place of that which they had lost, the priests and rabbis multiplied requirements of their own; and the more rigid they grew, the less of the love of God was manifested.  They measured their holiness by the multitude of their ceremonies, while their hearts were filled with pride and hypocrisy. . . .

     “While the Jews desired the advent of the Messiah, they had no true conception of His mission.  They did not seek redemption from sin, but deliverance from the Romans.  They looked for the Messiah to come as a conqueror, to break the oppressor’s power, and exalt Israel to universal dominion.  Thus the way was prepared for them to reject the Saviour.”  The Desire of Ages, 29, 30.

 

2    What two things did Jesus try to do as He traveled with the people going to Jerusalem for the Passover?

 

note:  “In this journey, Jesus joined one of the large companies that were making their way to the capital.  He had not yet publicly announced His mission, and He mingled unnoticed with the throng.  Upon these occasions, the coming of the Messiah, to which such prominence had been given by the ministry of John, was often the theme of conversation.  The hope of national greatness was dwelt upon with kindling enthusiasm.  Jesus knew that this hope was to be disappointed, for it was founded on a misinterpretation of the Scriptures.  With deep earnestness He explained the prophecies, and tried to arouse the people to a closer study of God’s word.”  The Desire of Ages, 154.

 

3    What problem did Jesus find in the temple at the first Passover of His ministry?  John 2:14–16.

 

note:  “As Jesus came into the temple, He took in the whole scene.  He saw the unfair transactions.  He saw the distress of the poor, who thought that without shedding of blood there would be no forgiveness for their sins.  He saw the outer court of His temple converted into a place of unholy traffic.  The sacred enclosure had become one vast exchange.”  The Desire of Ages, 157.

     “The money changing gave opportunity for fraud and extortion, and it had grown into a disgraceful traffic, which was a source of revenue to the priests. . . .

     “A great number of sacrifices were offered at the time of the Passover, and the sales at the temple were very large.  The consequent confusion indicated a noisy cattle market rather than the sacred temple of God.  There could be heard sharp bargaining . . . and angry disputation.  So great was the confusion that the worshipers were disturbed, and the words addressed to the Most High were drowned in the uproar that invaded the temple.”  Ibid., 155.

 

4    Because the temple services were now perverted and misunderstood, and no link remained to bind the priests and rulers to God, what work was it necessary for Jesus to do?

 

note:  “Christ saw that something must be done.  Numerous ceremonies were enjoined upon the people without the proper instruction as to their import.  The worshipers offered their sacrifices without understanding that they were typical of the only perfect Sacrifice.  And among them, unrecognized and unhonored, stood the One symbolized by all their service.  He had given directions in regard to the offerings.  He understood their symbolic value, and He saw that they were now perverted and misunderstood.  Spiritual worship was fast disappearing.  No link bound the priests and rulers to their God.  Christ’s work was to establish an altogether different worship.”  The Desire of Ages, 157.

 

5    Of what were the church leaders unaware and with what results?

 

note:  “The Jews were exceedingly proud of their piety.  They rejoiced over their temple, and regarded a word spoken in its disfavor as blasphemy; they were very rigorous in the performance of ceremonies connected with it; but the love of money had overruled their scruples.  They were scarcely aware how far they had wandered from the original purpose of the service instituted by God Himself.”  The Desire of Ages, 155.

 

6    In cleansing the temple, what was Jesus announcing?

 

note:  “In the cleansing of the temple, Jesus was announcing His mission as the Messiah, and entering upon His work.  That temple, erected for the abode of the divine Presence, was designed to be an object lesson for Israel and for the world.  From eternal ages it was God’s purpose that every created being, from the bright and holy seraph to man, should be a temple for the indwelling of the Creator.  Because of sin, humanity ceased to be a temple for God.  Darkened and defiled by evil, the heart of man no longer revealed the glory of the Divine One.  But by the incarnation of the Son of God, the purpose of Heaven is fulfilled.  God dwells in humanity, and through saving grace the heart of man becomes again His temple.  God designed that the temple at Jerusalem should be a continual witness to the high destiny open to every soul.”  The Desire of Ages, 161.

 

7    What additional announcement did Jesus make at this time?

 

note:  “In cleansing the temple from the world’s buyers and sellers, Jesus announced His mission to cleanse the heart from the defilement of sin,—from the earthly desires, the selfish lusts, the evil habits, that corrupt the soul.”  The Desire of Ages, 161.

 

8    What work does Malachi say Jesus would do when He would come to the temple at the first Passover?  Malachi 3:1–3.

 

note:  “ ‘Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.’  1 Corinthians 3:16, 17.  No man can of himself cast out the evil throng that have taken possession of the heart.  Only Christ can cleanse the soul temple. . . .  ‘He will subdue our iniquities; and Thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea.’  11 Corinthians 6:16; Micah 7:19.  His presence will cleanse and sanctify the soul, so that it may be a holy temple unto the Lord, and ‘an habitation of God through the Spirit.’  Ephesians 2:21, 22.”  The Desire of Ages, 161, 162.

 

9    How did the Jewish leaders (priests and rulers) respond to this work of Jesus?  John 2:18.

 

note:  “For a time they were convinced that Christ was a prophet; and many believed Him to be the Messiah.  The Holy Spirit flashed into their minds the utterances of the prophets concerning Christ.  Would they yield to this conviction?

     “Repent they would not.  They knew that Christ’s sympathy for the poor had been aroused.  They knew that they had been guilty of extortion in their dealings with the people.  Because Christ discerned their thoughts they hated Him.  His public rebuke was humiliating to their pride, and they were jealous of His growing influence with the people.  They determined to challenge Him as to the power by which He had driven them forth, and who gave Him this power.”  The Desire of Ages, 162.

 

10  What two-fold meaning did Jesus have when He said, “Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up”?  John 2:19, 20.

 

note:  “In these words His meaning was twofold.  He referred not only to the destruction of the Jewish temple and worship, but to His own death,—the destruction of the temple of His body.  This the Jews were already plotting.  As the priests and rulers returned to the temple, they had proposed to kill Jesus, and thus rid themselves of the troubler.  Yet when He set before them their purpose, they did not understand Him.  They took His words as applying only to the temple at Jerusalem, and with indignation exclaimed, ‘Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt Thou rear it up in three days?’  [John 2:20.]  Now they felt that Jesus had justified their unbelief, and they were confirmed in their rejection of Him.”  The Desire of Ages, 164.

 

11  How did the large majority of the people react to the work of Jesus in cleansing the temple?

 

note:  “The crowd that had fled from the temple court after a time slowly drifted back.  They had partially recovered from the panic that had seized them, but their faces expressed irresolution and timidity.  They looked with amazement on the works of Jesus, and were convicted that in Him the prophecies concerning the Messiah were fulfilled.  The sin of the desecration of the temple rested, in a great degree, upon the priests.  It was by their arrangement that the court had been turned into a market place.  The people were comparatively innocent.  They were impressed by the divine authority of Jesus; but with them the influence of the priests and rulers was paramount.  They regarded Christ’s mission as an innovation, and questioned His right to interfere with what was permitted by the authorities of the temple.  They were offended because the traffic had been interrupted, and they stifled the convictions of the Holy Spirit.”  The Desire of Ages, 163, 164.

 

12  What was the attitude of the small group of poor people who remained behind when Jesus cleansed the temple?

 

note:  “The poor remained behind; and these were now looking to Jesus, whose countenance expressed His love and sympathy.  With tears in His eyes, He said to the trembling ones around Him: Fear not; I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me.  For this cause came I into the world. 

     “The people pressed into Christ’s presence with urgent, pitiful appeals: Master, bless me.  His ear heard every cry.  With pity exceeding that of a tender mother He bent over the suffering little ones.  All received attention.  Everyone was healed of whatever disease he had.  The dumb opened their lips in praise; the blind beheld the face of their Restorer.  The hearts of the sufferers were made glad.”  The Desire of Ages, 163.

 

13  How did these people react to the crucifixion of Jesus three years later?

 

note:  “At the crucifixion of Christ, those who had thus been healed did not join with the rabble throng in crying, ‘Crucify Him, crucify Him.’  Their sympathies were with Jesus; for they had felt His great sympathy and wonderful power.  They knew Him to be their Saviour; for He had given them health of body and soul.  They listened to the preaching of the apostles, and the entrance of God’s word into their hearts gave them understanding.  They became agents of God’s mercy, and instruments of His salvation.”  The Desire of Ages, 163.

 

14  Why were a few priests and rulers not opposed to Christ when He cleansed the temple?  John 3:1, 2.

 

note:  “Christ’s exercise of authority in the cleansing of the temple had roused the determined hatred of the priests and rulers.  They feared the power of this stranger.  Such boldness on the part of an obscure Galilean was not to be tolerated.  They were bent on putting an end to His work. But not all were agreed in this purpose.  There were some that feared to oppose One who was so evidently moved upon by the Spirit of God.  They remembered how prophets had been slain for rebuking the sins of the leaders in Israel.  They knew that the bondage of the Jews to a heathen nation was the result of their stubbornness in rejecting reproofs from God.  They feared that in plotting against Jesus the priests and rulers were following in the steps of their fathers, and would bring fresh calamities upon the nation.  Nicodemus shared these feelings.”  The Desire of Ages, 167.