Footprints of Jesus

The Cleansing Of The Temple (2:13-25)

Footprints of Jesus January 31, 2007

INTRODUCTION

1. It is common to think of Jesus as a gentle, peace-loving man...

   a. He certainly presented Himself as such on most occasions - e.g.,

      Matthew 11:28-30

2. Yet on occasion Jesus displayed strong righteous indignation...As He drove the moneychangers and merchandisers out of the temple

      - John 2:13-15

I. THE REBUKE OF THE LORD

   A. MERCHANDISING HIS FATHER'S HOUSE...

      1. The Lord's rebuke reveals the reason for His outburst - cf. John

         2:16

      2. The sellers of oxen and sheep, along with the moneychangers,

         had turned the temple into a house of merchandise

      3. It was to be a house of prayer, they had turned it into a den

         of thieves - cf. Mt 21:13

      -- The Lord was angered by the manner in which some used religion

         to make money

   B. MIGHT WE BE GUILTY OF A SIMILAR OFFENSE...?

      1. What if we attend church simply as a form of "networking", to

         make business contacts?

[The Lord has ordained that those who preach the gospel be supported (1

Corinthians 9:14).  But He is angered by those who view the Lord's temple

(people) as a way to get rich.  Next, we note that His anger was

prompted by...] 

II. THE ZEAL OF THE LORD

   A. ZEAL FOR HIS FATHER'S HOUSE...

      1. The disciples were reminded of an Old Testament prophecy - John

         2:17; cf. Psalm 69:9

      2. Jesus had zeal (fervor) for God's house, for it's intended

         purpose (a house of prayer)

III. THE AUTHORITY OF THE LORD

   A. THE SIGN THAT PROVES HIS AUTHORITY...

      1. They wanted to know what sign (miracle) He could offer to prove

         His right to cleanse the temple - John 2:18

      2. Jesus offered His ability to rise from the dead as the ultimate

   B. WE DO NOT HAVE THE SAME AUTHORITY...

      1. We are to judge with righteous judgment - John 7:24

         a. At times we must distinguish between "hogs" and "dogs" - Mt

            7:6

         b. We can distinguish between good and bad fruit - Mt 7:15-20

      2. But our authority to judge is limited - Mt 7:1-5

         a. There are things we cannot judge in this life - 1 Cor 4:3-5

         b. There are people we are not to judge - 1 Cor 5:11-13

         c. Vengeance in particular belongs to the Lord - cf. Romans 12:

            17-19

      -- While Jesus is our example (cf. 1 Peter 2:21), there are some

         "steps" that He took that we cannot take

IV. THE POWER OF THE LORD

   A. THE POWER THAT JUSTIFIES HIS ACTION...

      1. John mentions how many came to believe in Him because of His

         signs - John 2:23

      2. John also makes note of His unwillingness to commit Himself to

         others at this time

         a. He had no need to, because he knew all - John 2:24

         b. He had no need to, because he knew what was in man - Johnn 2:25

      -- Jesus is revealed as one who can discern the hearts of men

         - cf. Mt 9:4; Re 2:23

   B. WE DO NOT HAVE THE SAME POWER...

      1. We cannot discern the hearts of men like the Lord can; note

         these comments:

"We know what is done by men; Christ knows what is in them,

            he tries the heart."

         -- Matthew Henry Commentary

      2. Since we cannot read the hearts of men, we must be careful

         a. We are unable to always know the motives of others

         b. We must approach those in opposition with humility - cf.

            2 Titus 2:24-26 

         c. We must approach brethren overtaken in a fault with

            gentleness - cf. Galatians 6:1

CONCLUSION

1. Jesus possessed divine power to read the hearts of men, we

      sometimes cannot even discern our own hearts.

2. Jesus can clean us the same way he did the temple.

1. JOHN BECOMES A NAZARITE

John had no school from which to graduate at the age of fourteen, but his parents had selected this as the appropriate year for him to take the formal Nazarite vow. Accordingly, Zacharias and Elizabeth took their son to Engedi, down by the Dead Sea. This was the southern headquarters of the Nazarite brotherhood, and there the lad was duly and solemnly inducted into this order for life. After these ceremonies and the making of the vows to abstain from all intoxicating drinks, to let the hair grow, and to refrain from touching the dead, the family proceeded to Jerusalem, where, before the temple, John completed the making of the offerings which were required of those taking Nazarite vows.

John took the same life vows that had been administered to his illustrious predecessors, Samson and the prophet Samuel. A life Nazarite was looked upon as a sanctified and holy personality. The Jews regarded a Nazarite with almost the respect and veneration accorded the high priest, and this was not strange sinc

Nazarites of lifelong consecration were the only persons, except high priests, who were ever permitted to enter the holy of holies in the temple.