Model of the Temple and Court
Jerusalem, Israel
The Money Changes had space for their animals
and tables. Jesus changed that scene!
It
was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to
Jerusalem. In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves
for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. Jesus
made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out
the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers' coins over the floor, and
turned over their tables. Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he
told them, "Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father's house
into a marketplace!" Then his disciples remembered this prophecy from the
Scriptures: "Passion for God's house will consume me." But the Jewish
leaders demanded, "What are you doing? If God gave you authority to do
this, show us a miraculous sign to prove it." "All right," Jesus
replied. "Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up."
"What!" they exclaimed. "It has taken forty-six years to build
this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?" But when Jesus said
"this temple," he meant his own body. After he was raised from the
dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the
Scriptures and what Jesus had said. John 2:13-25
Meditate.
Remember God’s guidance in scripture?
At
the time of the Passover, all Jewish men had to go to Jerusalem, as required by
God in His instruction to the Israelites.
Each year you must celebrate three
festivals in my honor. First, celebrate the Festival of Unleavened Bread (Passover). For seven days the
bread you eat must be made without yeast, just as I commanded you. Celebrate
this festival annually at the appointed time in early spring, in the month of
Abib, for that is the anniversary of your departure from Egypt. No one may appear
before me without an offering. Second, celebrate the Festival of Harvest (Pentecost),
when you bring me the first crops of your harvest. Finally, celebrate the
Festival of the Final Harvest (Festival of Shelters) at the end of the
harvest season, when you have harvested all the crops from your fields. Exodus
23:14-16
As stated
in Psalm 69:9 David wrote…Passion for God's house will consume me…. This
is just as what the disciple recalled. They likely studied the Psalms as young synagogue
students. They could see this happening as Jesus entered the Temple court and cleansed
the Temple area. It wasn’t actually in the Temple, but on the grounds from the Gates
to the Outer Court. Within that Outer Court is apparently where the merchants worked,
selling the blemish-free animals for sacrifice and exchanging money for the
Temple coins necessary for the taxes. They were making a living, cheating out-of-town
Jews, all in the name of holiness. No wonder Jesus was righteously angry with
them.
What
do we learn about Jesus from this incident in the Temple? Jesus was respectful
to His Father. He wanted everyone to honor His Father…and His Home—the Temple.
Holiness at the Temple. Jesus abhorred the selling of animals and exchanging of
Temple coins. He had righteous anger towards the whole group. Get Out! Jesus expects
the same of us. Respect and honor for the Lord and His house—our churches. Does
passion for God’s house consume you?
Prayer
– Lord Jesus, we admire You for Your holiness and righteousness. Help us to
honor You…and be like You, respecting and honoring our Heavenly Father.
Verse
of Salvation ~ Help us, O God of our salvation! Help us for the glory of your
name. Save us and forgive our sins for the honor of your name. Psalm 79:9
© 2026 Text, photos, and
illustrations by Mickey M. Hunacek. All rights reserved.
All scripture quoted
from the New Living Translation (NLT) unless otherwise noted.
New Living Translation
copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation.
Used by permission of
Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights
reserved.
Biblical search from
Blue Letter Bible - http://v3.blueletterbible.org/search.cfm.
Books by Mickey M.
Hunacek
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