SUMMARY OF JOHN 2:13-17
Jesus went to Jerusalem for Passover. When he saw that inside the temple courts people were selling cattle, sheep, and doves, he drove all of the money lenders out of the temple.
He told them to stop turning His Father’s house into a market.
BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 3, Day 3: John 2:13-17
6) Passover. At Passover, a sacrificial lamb is required to cleanse them of sin. If the people traveled, they could instead tithe silver. The money lenders were there to supply these requirements to the Jewish people.
7a) He got angry. He made a whip and drove the money lenders out.
b) To take bold, immediate action when you see something being done that is not right.
8a) Psalm 69:9: “for zeal for your house consumes me, and the insults of those who insult you fall on me.” This speaks to the zeal Jesus had for the purity of the temple. And, God speaks this in Psalm, but here it explains Jesus’ actions. It is implied that Jesus is acting for/as God here.
b) Jesus will come to the temple and purify it, which is what he did when he kicked out the money lenders.
Conclusions BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 3, Day 3: John 2:13-17
I love this example of Jesus’ very human emotions and his direct action to correct the wrong.
End Notes BSF Study Questions John’s Gospel: The Truth Lesson 3, Day 3: John 2:13-17
Bible scholars estimate that more than 2 million Jews came to Jerusalem for Passover. Paying the temple tax was required, which is why there were money lenders there.
Background: The money lenders were in the Court of the Gentiles, the only place the Gentiles could allowed to pray and offer sacrifices. Jesus sees this as a defiling of the temple since it’s been turned into a marketplace. Great synopsis HERE
Furthermore, the temple tax had to be paid in Tyrian shekels, which had the most amount of silver in it, so the money changers had to exchange the Jews’ coinage in order to satisfy this requirement.
Making a whip would take a bit to time. Jesus did this methodically. He did not drive out the money lenders out of passion.
The outer court was where Gentiles could worship the Lord. With the money lenders there, this space was not corrupt.
Jesus converts water first, then cleanses the temple. Conversion first, then cleansing of the temple.
More Great Resources for Our Study of the Gospel of John
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