July 13 - July 18: Cleansing the Temple (8)

SACRED ALTARS AND HOLY GIFTS

Unit II: Jesus and the Temple (4 lessons)

8. Cleansing the Temple (lesson 3 of 4)

Daily Bible Meditations by Katie Herring

Sunday, July 13: Isaiah 56

God calls all people, including those who would be outcast by society, to His house of prayer. As Christians, we are responsible for reaching out to those who are abandoned and struggling, as God reached out to us. The Lord told His people in Isaiah 56:1 to "guard justice and do righteousness." As we look around at the injustices of the world, we may not be able to stomp out evil and injustice. But we can do our best to stand in the way of evil doers as we joyfully welcome the outcasts into our communities and congregation of believers.

Monday, July 14: 1 Timothy 2:1-8

If we are praying only for ourselves and those in our inner circles, then we are acting from a limited mindset that is not In line with the instructions in 1 Timothy to pray on behalf of all people. Jesus died so that all may know Him, and we can continue to try to expand our perspective, to think outside of ourselves when we seek to imitate Christ's love for everyone. When we practice bringing others into our prayers, we can worship God without distractions because we are not harbor- ing ill will for our neighbors-if we strive to love them as God loves us.

Tuesday, July 15: Ecclesiastes 5:1-7

God knows our hearts and our intentions and sees past any attempts of being false. There is no need to pretend to be holier than you are when you come to God in worship or to try to impress others in the church. It does not do any good anyway. God wants our messy, honest, real selves as we gather together to praise Him. There is nothing that God does not already know about us anyway. Being sincere would be a stronger testimony to others around us who may share similar life experiences and perspectives.

Wednesday, July 16: Acts 17:22-34

Though we often refer to the church as "God's house," God is not housed in a building for us to visit once a week and then carry on with our lives. We serve a living God who cannot be bound by human-made structures. He wants to be part of every aspect of our lives. We can feel free to call out to God wherever we are and at any time of day or night. Acts 17:27 assures us that when we seek God, He will not be far from us because we live in Him. This is a beautiful promise of a close relationship that we can rely on as Christians who serve an ever-present God.

Thursday, July 17: Jeremiah 7:1-15

There are some people who will fool themselves and others by declaring to the crowds around them that they are faithful to God, but they are secretly sinning against God by hurting others in their hidden lives. God calls on these people to humbly repent of their sins and to change their ways. Making a loud and big show of praising God, so that others can see their faithfulness, will not hide from God what is the truth of a person's heart. God is love and He desires us to lovingly live out our faith in our community by demonstrating His love to others.

Friday, July 18: Malachi 3:1-6

Jesus was sent to purify and refine God's people. There is no better model of Christian living than Jesus' life and His ultimate sacrifice for us. The Old Testament prophesied a Redeemer would come and save all people. Jesus was the embodiment of this gift from God to His creation. As we study Jesus' teachings and life, let us also remember to take His example into our daily interactions and prayers. As we do, He will refine and purify our lives. Jesus preached care for the poor, the stranger, the imprisoned, and all those who society may consider as the least of these. This is our calling as His followers.

Sabbath, July 19: John 2:13-25

It would be helpful to remember that Jesus was passionately against turning His Father's House into a place of business. There are few instances in the New Testament when Jesus showed such righteous anger as when he was flipping tables and using a whip of cords to drive out the businessmen from the Temple. We may not normally have people selling livestock in our churches, but that does not mean that there is not a form of commerce that can slip into ministries, sermons, and even fellowship groups. The church was never meant to acquire wealth, but to preach the Good News and serve the needy.

Reading:

Study: John 2:13-25

Background: John 2:13-25; Matthew 21:12-17; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-48

Andachtstext: Jeremia 7:1-15

Key Verse:

[A]nd to those who were selling the doves [Jesus] said, "Take these things away from here; stop making My Father's house a place of business!" (John 2:16).

Heart of the Lesson:

People sometimes lack awareness of building protocols and may a space with little regard for the business that transpires there. What does it mean to honor a building and the purpose for which it was constructed? Jesus showed proper reverence for the Temple when He zealously cleared out the merchants.

Questions for Studying the Text:

1. What rules did you grow up with about what could not be done in the church building? When did you realize that the church is more than a building? Do you still see value in treating the building with reverence?
2. Where was the Temple located, and what role did it play in Jewish worship? (See 1 Kings 8:22-30.) Why were merchants and money changers operating within the Temple courts?
3. What actions did Jesus take when He entered the Temple? Why did He react so strongly? How did He justify His actions? What did He mean by calling it "My Father's house" (v.16)?
4. What Old Testament prophecy did the disciples recall (v.17; Psalm 69:9)? Why was this significant? How can we develop zeal for God's house? What does this look like practically?
5. Why did the Jewish leaders ask for a sign rather than addressing their own corruption (v.18)? How does this request reflect their mindset? What is the significance of signs in John's Gospel? Do we ever require "proof" from God before trusting Him? How can we develop faith that does not rely on external evidence?
6. Many people believed in Jesus because of His miracles, but He did not entrust Himself to them. What does this tell us about the difference between true faith and temporary belief? In what ways can we evaluate our own faith? Are we following Jesus because of what He does for us, or because of who He is?

Understanding and Living by Ewart McFarlane

As many people today are concerned with healthy lifestyles, they may undergo routine cleansing. The intent of cleansing, they posit, is to rid the body of unwanted or foreign matter (toxins). Some may do full detox while others do partial cleansing under various names. Toxins may enter the body through foods that are consumed, but also through abuses and unintended environmental conditions.

Paul referred to the body as the temple of God (2 Corinthians 6:16). As with body cleansing, this temple may also need pe- riodic cleansing to correct past abuses, install the correct heart, and correct the irreverence shown over extended periods.

The Sanctuary

As the children of Israel journeyed towards the Promised Land, they were given precise instructions for building a tabernacle in which the Ark of Covenant would dwell, and from which the priests could carry out ceremonial duties (Exodus 25-27). The Ark of the Covenant represented the presence of God, and its movement, guided by God's cloud, would signify when the children of Israel were to be on the move and when they should rest (Numbers 9:17-18). There were strict instructions, as to who could and could not enter the sanctuary, who could be in the presence of the Ark of Covenant, and the state of cleanliness that they must be in if they were to enter (Exodus 29:44). Persons who entered with uncleanness would make whatever they touched become unclean, which would require the priests to perform certain rites of consecration to make it clean again. As the Israelites transitioned from their pilgrimage to their permanent home, the Ark also got a permanent home in the Temple built by Solomon. The same rules that applied to the mobile home also applied to the temple home of the Ark.

Abuses of Temple Worship

If the ruler, the priest, or the people committed sin, they had to present a bullock or lamb as a sin offering and the priest, who was sanctified, would offer it in the sanctuary to make atonement (Leviticus 4). Likewise, if they had any uncleanness including touching a dead body or having leprosy, they should present a lamb without blemish or if they could not afford a lamb, two turtle doves could be used (Leviticus 13-15). The Passover celebration also required a lamb without blemish.

Unavailability or unaffordability gave rise to merchants selling animals close to or at the Temple gates to persons who wished to present their offerings to the priest to make atonement, or to celebrate Passover. As in most marketplaces, there would be jostling for sales from those prospective purchasers. From John 2, we know there were people there not only providing the required animals, but also with offshoot businesses, such as money changers (John 2:14). Clearly these people were not there to worship but to conduct business. Such was the abuse of the Temple in Jesus' time.

This instance however was not the only recorded abuse of God's worship space. Aaron's sons, Nadab and Abihu, made an unauthorized offering before the Lord in the tabernacle. The Lord performed a cleansing, consuming them both with fire (Leviticus 10:1-2). Hezekiah had to order a cleansing of the Temple after the sacrilege of previous kings worshipping images and placing them in the Temple (2 Chronicles 29:3-19). The abuse of the Temple continued, as successive kings led Israel to worship idols and gods of other nations. In the process they committed murder, adultery, false testimony, burned incense, and walked after other gods. It got to the point where the Lord said to Jeremiah, "Is this house, which is called by my name, become a den of robbers in your eyes" (Jeremiah 7:11, KJV), and He promised another cleansing.

The Temple Where God Dwells

Jesus' cleansing of the Temple in Jerusalem not only signified that the abuse needed to stop in the physical Temple, but also foreshadowed the cleansing that should happen in the future should there be similar occurrences. Cleansing the Temple would rid it of abuses, restore it to proper worship, and bring reverence to God. As the Temple needed to be in pristine condition for worship, so did the person - both for entering the Temple and for conducting worship. Jesus alluded to this when He said the true worshippers would worship neither in Jerusalem (where the Temple was) nor on any moun- tain but will worship in spirit and in truth (John 4:21, 24).

Jesus later referred to His body being the temple, which He promised He would raise up if destroyed, and did at the resurrection (v.19-21). It was, therefore, no coincidence when Paul said the body is the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwells in you (1 Corinthians 3:16). Anywhere the believer goes, they can worship and honor God, because He abides within. Paul further said that if anyone destroys the temple of God, he will also be destroyed, because it is holy (1 Corinthians 3:17). As the physical temples in Shiloh and Jerusalem were destroyed because of abuses and worship of idols, and Nadab and Abihu were destroyed for offering strange worship, so anyone who defiles the body (temple) will be destroyed (Jeremiah 7:14).

As the physical Temple was holy to receive the presence of the glory of God, so must the body be holy to receive the Spirit of God. As some cleanse the body of toxins, we must also (through the blood of Jesus) cleanse the body of spiritual infirmities to make it holy and reverent so that God will abide in it. Removing the stony heart, and replacing it with a consecrated heart of flesh, will make the body a will- ing host, ready to welcome the Holy Spirit to take up residence in the temple.

A Life of Reverence to God

Jesus' cleansing of the Temple was an attempt to bring back reverence to it, as the Lord Himself said, "Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary" (Leviticus 19:30, KJV). God will abide in any and all of us if we are found acceptable to Him. As such, Peter encouraged us to "be diligent to be found spotless and blameless by Him" (2 Peter 3:14), as we grow into a holy temple, fit to be the house of God. Let us dedicate and consecrate ourselves to the service of the Lord, so that we can enter boldly into the holy of holies as we live a life of reverence to Almighty God.

Hints for Teaching:

Lesson Goals:

1. Identify Jesus' desire to rout out the abuses of Temple worship.
2. Grow in confidence that Jesus is the temple where God dwells.
3. Commit to a life of reverence that shows proper respect to God.

Teaching Activity:

Set up a mock marketplace with booths, pretend money, items for sale, etc. Assign roles - merchants, money changers, worshipers, and Jesus. Let the merchants loudly sell their goods while Jesus overturns the tables. How did it feel to be in a noisy, busy marketplace when you came to worship? What does this reveal about Jesus' priorities for worship? Ask participants to write down things in their lives that may be cluttering their spiritual temple and silently ask God to help them remove these obstacles. What are ways we can keep our spiritual lives centered on God?

Looking Forward:

Jesus' cleansing of the Temple challenged us to evaluate our own reverence in worship and in living. Next, Jesus' warning about the destruction of the Temple will keep us looking forward to His return.