Lesson Text: John 2:12-25
John 2:12
After this - the wedding at Cana
went down — Capernaum being lower than Cana
Capernaum - believed to be on the Northeast side of the Sea of Galilee.
Matt. 11:23 & Luke 10:15 prophetically speak of the demise of Capernaum. It has so completely disappeared that it cannot be placed with any degree of certainty today.
Capernaum is mentioned only in the Gospels. It appears this is where Jesus lived when he was not in Jerusalem and its environs.
“his mother” — again, Joseph is not mentioned. He may have already been deceased. His mother is once again with him, but does not seem to have regularly accompanied him.
his brethren — siblings? cousins?
John 2:13
How many Passovers did Jesus celebrate during his ministry?
2? 3? 4?
Disputed, with most commentators saying 3. It appears that he began his ministry just before this one, and ended with one. Another (John 6:4) is mentioned in this Gospel. If this be the case it limits his earthly ministry to between two and three years.
J. C . Ryle — “ Our Lord's regular attendance on the feasts and ordinances of the law of Moses deserves notice. So long as the dispensation of the Old Testament lasted, He gave it all due honor, however unworthy the hands which administered it. The unworthiness of ministers will not justify us in neglecting God's ordinances.” (Ryle's Expository Thoughts on the Gospel, Vol. 3, John 1:1 — John 10:30, p. 108)
"Jesus went up to Jerusalem" — Jerusalem was always "up."
His going to Jerusalem to celebrate Passover was according to the Law.
Exodus 23:15-17 Deuteronomy 16:5-6
John 2:14-17
"in the temple" — includes the outer courts as well as the temple proper.
This is the first episode; there is another at the close of his ministry (Matt. 21:12).
As to how Jesus could get away with this, see Barnes on this verse.
Albert Barnes says:
“We see here how strong is the love of gain - the ruling passion of mankind. Not even the sacredness of the temple, the presence of God, the awful ceremonials of religion, deterred them from this unholy traffic. So wicked men and hypocrites will always turn “religion,” if possible, into gain; and not even the sanctuary, the Sabbath, or the most awful and sacred scenes, will deter them from schemes of gain. Compare Amos 8:5. So strong is this groveling passion, and so deep is that depravity which fears not God, and regards not his Sabbaths, his sanctuary, or his law.”
This arrangement was probably started to provide sacrificial beasts that were certified perfect for those that came from long distances. The money changers were required both to convert foreign money to domestic but also to convert the coin of the realm to Jewish money.
Vincent says : “The money-changers opened their stalls in the country towns a month before the feast. By the time of the first arrivals of passover-pilgrims at Jerusalem, the country stalls were closed, and the money-changers sat in the temple.”
J.C. Ryle: “No doubt they would have pleaded that all was done with a good intention! Their end was to provide facilities for worshiping God! But good intentions cannot sanctify unscriptural actions.”
John 2:15-16
small cords = rushes, probably used for tying up animals.
drove out the sheep and oxen and money changers
overturned the money tables and dumped their money out
told those that sold the doves to take their birds out of there
my Father's house — an assertion that he was divine.
Merchandising of Jesus is big business.
T-shirts: emulating Coca Cola® ads — “Jesus He's the real thing”
John 2:17
Psa. 9:9
WWJD? — not a good question; should be, “What would Jesus do if he were in my shoes?”
Dyke: "This act of Christ is not to be drawn into imitation, because He did it as Lord of the temple by virtue of His Sonship."
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