Jesus in the Temple

15 On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves,
16 and would not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts.

vs 15-16 What kind of an impression would Jesus’ actions make on those in the temple? What kinds of things do we need to toss out of the church? What kinds of things do we need to toss out of our life?

Jesus had to know that his actions would offend the rulers of the temple. But he was entering the temple as the Son of God taking his rightful place in his temple of worship.

The Wycliffe Bible Commentary explains, "Those who sold and bought, the moneychangers, and those that sold doves were in the employ of Annas and the high priestly family. The animals were sold for sacrificial purposes, and the moneychangers exchanged the common currency for the half-shekel necessary to pay the temple tax. Exorbitant rates, however, were charged."

It is easy for us to overlook that our church and our lives also need to be temples where the Son of God can enter. There may be many things in our lives or in our church that displease God. We need to work at tossing those things out so that we will be a dwelling place which honors God.

17 And as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it ‘a den of robbers.’ "

vs 17 What was the main reason Jesus gave for taking these actions? Why would this upset Jesus so much?

The people had perverted the temple from its intended purpose. Instead of being a place where people could meet and worship God, it had become a marketplace.

Here Jesus is quoting from Isaiah 56:7, "These I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations." and Jeremiah 7:11, "Has this house, which bears my Name, become a den of robbers to you? But I have been watching! declares the Lord."

Jesus was upset because the rulers were taking advantage of the people’s natural desire to worship God and enriching themselves and their families. Even today, there are ministers who are after material wealth instead of heavenly reward. They take advantage of people by making outlandish promises if people will only send them money "on faith." God wants us to minister to people because of their needs, not so they will give us money.

18 The chief priests and the teachers of the law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him, because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching.

vs 18 What were the different reactions from the two groups of people? Why were they so different? How do you respond when Jesus is trying to clean out your life?

There were two opposite reactions to Jesus’ actions. The ones who were gaining monetarily by these sinful practices were so upset that they wanted to kill Jesus. The other people sensed that there was something special about Jesus’ ministry. The rulers were so angry they didn’t even listen to Jesus’ message, but this verse tells us the people were amazed at his teaching. They felt the divine message in their spirit.

When we take a strong stand for Christ, we will get the same two-edged response. Those who want to genuinely serve God will rally around us and join us. But those who coming to church only for the wrong reasons will be offended by our stand and will be angry with us. Jesus was not afraid to stand up for what was right. Neither should we.

19 When evening came, they went out of the city.

vs 19 Why would Jesus and his disciples go out of the city in the evening? What is it about the countryside that we find so peaceful?

As Jesus prepares for his final week of ministry, he wants to get alone with his disciples. He wants to teach them and help them understand what is about to happen. Any time we are involved in any ministry, it is good to be able to get alone with God from time to time. We cannot do any work in our own strength. We need a time of refreshing.

There is something about getting alone in a quiet spot that helps us to re-focus on God. It is an interesting thing about human nature, that as cities get larger and more spread out, they have to build parks along the way. We want to have a little oasis of solitude in even the busiest and most hectic urban atmosphere.

27 They arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts, the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him.
28 "By what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave you authority to do this?"

vs 27-28 Who heard these questions by the Jewish rulers? Why do you think they asked them? What is Jesus doing in your life that you are questioning?

The Jewish leaders are commanding Jesus’ authority in public. Of course, they could have met him privately. But they wanted to put him on the spot in the hearing of everyone in the temple.

MacDonald points out, "They hoped to trap Him, no matter how He answered. If He claimed to have authority in Himself as the Son of God, they would accuse Him of blasphemy. If He claimed authority from men, they would discredit Him. If He claimed to have received authority from God, they would challenge the claim; they considered themselves the God-appointed religious leaders of the people."

If they had supported what Jesus was doing, they would never have asked these questions. But the fact is they did not like what was happening. They were afraid of the threat that Jesus presented to their leadership. There are times when we feel the same way. We start questioning God because we don’t like divine interference in our life. We have our own plans and it seems like God is trying to interfere with them. This is why we sometimes question God.

29 Jesus replied, "I will ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am doing these things.
30 John's baptism - was it from heaven, or from men? Tell me!"

vs 29-30 Has God ever asked you a question? How did you respond to it? Why do you think God sometimes doesn’t answer us, but instead asks us a question?

Instead of answering the men, Jesus asked them a question. I have had this happen to me. I am complaining to God about something when I sense the divine voice speaking to my heart with a question. It usually makes me stop and think. God may be asking you a question. Are you ready to hear it?

31 They discussed it among themselves and said, "If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will ask, ‘Then why didn't you believe him?’
32 But if we say, ‘From men’..." (They feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.)

vs 31-32 What would the consequences be for the rulers for each possible answer? Why were the Jewish leaders and the common people so far apart in their assessment of John the Baptist?

Jesus asks them a question he knows that it’s impossible for them to answer. But the question also points out the attitude of their hearts. If they genuinely wanted to seek God, they would have listened to John the Baptist’s message. Once again, we see a great divide between the Jewish rulers and the common people. The people accept John’s message and sensed God’s presence in his life. But the rulers really were more interested in their own political power than the things of God. So they only saw men like John and Jesus as threats to them. They could not look beyond the human to the spiritual.

Unfortunately, I have seen the same thing with Christian ministers. Too often it seems some are more interested in their paycheck and financial security than in performing the ministry to which God has called them. How many times have I seen a minister "called" to another church which just happened to pay more compensation instead of being faithful to the growing work which God blessed them with in their present ministry!

33 So they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."

vs 33 Did the rulers answer Jesus honestly? How do you think they felt? Why wouldn’t Jesus plainly tell them.

The rulers didn’t answer Jesus’ question honestly. They knew what they thought about John the Baptist. They just didn’t want to share their thoughts. Sometimes God asks us a question. We know how we feel, but we don’t want to answer it. We think we are hiding something from God, but the truth is we are trying to hide it from ourselves. If the rulers had been willing to face Christ’s question, they might have been able to realize how their wrong attitudes were affecting their behavior. Later on, we know that many Pharisees and Saducees did become Christians. So perhaps some started thinking about Christ’s question. But how many more refused to think about it and lost out with God?

Jesus would not plainly answer them because they would not receive his answer anyway. There will be people you meet that only want to argue about Christianity. After a while you realize that it is senseless to continue trying to answer their questions. They are not listening and are unwilling to receive what you have to say.

Let us be willing to receive whatever God has to say to us. Let us listen to his words and be willing to change our wrong motives and bad attitudes. The rulers biggest problem is that they had such a high opinion of themselves, they were unwilling to receive instruction from anyone else. Are we that why? Do we think we are spiritually superior to everyone else? If so, we need to start listening for those questions that Jesus might be asking us.

Footnotes:



	Mark 11:15-33