14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers doing business.

1. (verses 13-14) How do some people attempt to use the church for their own advantage?

It is sad but true, sometimes churches, ministers, and laymen get focused on their own benefits instead of what will benefit God. It has always bothered me when a successful minister at a church leaves that church to accept a better-paying position at a larger church. Are we in this to better ourselves, or to build God’s kingdom? But I have also seen laymen who like to attend churches because they will be able to be in the limelight more. In fact I know one person who was having a basic philosophical difference with the church and felt like it was time to move on but hesitated because he would no longer have his position of ministry. Of course we all benefit from the ministry of church. But when it becomes more important than our ministry to God, we are in trouble.

15 When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables.

2. (verse 15) Are there areas in your life that you need cleaned out?

I thought this would be a good question to ask ourselves. We can easily condemn the money changers for having a wrong focus in their life, but what about our priorities? Are there things in our life that need to be cleaned out? If there are, let’s go to the Lord and repent before he brings out his whip of cords!

Barnes comments, "Thus he showed that his great regard was for the pure worship of his Father; and one great design of his coming was to reform the abuses which had crept into that worship, and to bring man to a proper regard for the glory of God."

16 And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!"

3. (verse 16) Was there anything wrong with selling doves for offerings?

I don’t believe there is anything wrong with people selling doves for offerings. It was the way they were doing it. Instead of seeing the temple as a place of prayer, the people were seeing a house of merchandise. They could have sold them outside the temple. Instead they were making merchandise in a portion of the temple which was reserved for Gentile believers.

17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, "Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up."

4. (verse 17) Churches need to receive offerings, but what are some ways people make merchandise of the church?

I think churches can emphasize giving too much. I think we can put a price tag on things that shouldn’t have one. The important thing is to have a zeal for God’s house. The purpose of the church is to worship God, learn from his word, and be empowered to reach others with the gospel message. If that is our focus, then, when we take offerings, they will be done properly. But if our purpose is to make money, or to enrich the pastor’s paycheck, or even to say we have a huge savings account, then we need to be careful of what we are doing.

18 So the Jews answered and said to Him, "What sign do You show to us, since You do these things?"

19 Jesus answered and said to them, "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."

20 Then the Jews said, "It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?"

21 But He was speaking of the temple of His body.

5. (verses 18-21) Why did Jesus give them this sign? Why didn’t he simply answer them? Read Matthew 27:63.

The Jewish leaders were demanding by what authority Jesus was doing these things. Jesus did not directly answer them but gave them a sign. Why was he so vague? Apparently they understood what Jesus was talking about because in Matthew 27:63 they told Pilate, "Sir, we remember, while He was still alive, how that deceiver said, ‘After three days I will rise.’ " What he did was give them a sign by which they could believe. I think that many of the Jewish leaders became believers after the resurrection because of this. In Acts 5:34-40 we see the Sanhedron apparently divided. These verses say that Gamaliel persuaded the council, but he could not have been alone in his belief that perhaps this new movement of Christianity was from God for it to be passed by the whole council. Perhaps it was other scribes and Pharisees that remembered Jesus’ words and believed in their heart.

The words Jesus used could have referred both to the body and to the temple. An interesting thought is that perhaps he meant it both ways. The ultimate sign would be the resurrection of his body after three days. But he is also challenging the Jews to tear down the physical temple and he would rebuild it in three days. Perhaps if the Jews had accepted his challenge, they would all have become believers. But they were unwilling to do that.

22 Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.

6. (verse 22) Has God ever told you something that you don’t understand until a later time?

Pity the poor disciples. Many times Jesus said things that they would only understand later.

How confusing this must have been at times. But God does the same to us today. Many times he

does not show us the complete picture until much later. He wants us to learn to walk by faith, not by sight.

Barnes writes, "We learn from this also the importance of treasuring up the truths of the Bible now, though we may not perfectly understand them. Hereafter they may be plain to us. It is, therefore, important that children should learn the truths of the sacred Scriptures. Treasured up in their memory they may not be understood now, but hereafter those truths may be clear to them."

23 Now when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.

7. (verse 23) Do we have a lot of people today seeking after signs and miracles? Do you think it’s OK to do that?

Many people seek signs and wonders from God. Today’s American Church Culture is often influenced by where is the place where it’s happening. You’d be surprised how many churches like our own (older, traditional churches) are trying to transform their services to be like a Willow Creek – youth oriented, contemporary music, skits. Now I think change is good. But some people are mis-guided into thinking that if they would only change their format, people would come flocking to their church. Someone once told me that the problem with churches today is that very few experience any true growth. They just change congregations. Suddenly Church A is the place where it’s happening so everyone flocks to Church A for awhile. Then Church B becomes the in-place to be and everyone flocks to Church B. There has been no real growth, only a movement of believers from one church to another. I think special events and special services are good, but let us not be just a follower of special events. God wants us to be firmly planted in our local church. This is the way we can minister to others and be a blessing to other Christians and reach the lost – by having a solid foundation.

24 But Jesus did not commit Himself to them, because He knew all men,

25 and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man.

8. (verses 24-25) What do you think these verses mean? Should we seek the praise of men?

Notice Jesus’ attitude toward the sign-seekers. He understood that they were only seeking the excitement of the moment. Let us not be that way. When we serve God, there are going to be many exciting times, there are going to be times of refreshing, and times of closeness to God. But there are also going to be quiet times, there are going to be non-emotional services. There will be times when we need to learn from the Bible and grow in our Spirit. There may even be times where we have to struggle through our problems. But all these will make us stronger believers.

Footnotes:

This study on John 2:13-25 © 1997 by David Humpal. All Rights Reserved.

Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament pg. 273, Kregel Publications

Barnes’ Notes on the New Testament pg. 274, Kregel Publications