Chapter 16—In His Temple
This chapter is based on
John 2:12-22
.
“After this He went down to Capernaum, He, and His mother, and
His brethren, and His disciples: and they continued there not many
days. And the Jews’ Passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to
Jerusalem.”
In this journey, Jesus joined one of the large companies that were
making their way to the capital. He had not yet publicly announced
His mission, and He mingled unnoticed with the throng. Upon these
occasions, the coming of the Messiah, to which such prominence had
been given by the ministry of John, was often the theme of conver-
sation. The hope of national greatness was dwelt upon with kindling
enthusiasm. Jesus knew that this hope was to be disappointed, for
it was founded on a misinterpretation of the Scriptures. With deep
earnestness He explained the prophecies, and tried to arouse the people
to a closer study of God’s word.
The Jewish leaders had instructed the people that at Jerusalem they
were to be taught to worship God. Here during the Passover week large
numbers assembled, coming from all parts of Palestine, and even from
distant lands. The temple courts were filled with a promiscuous throng.
Many were unable to bring with them the sacrifices that were to be
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offered up as typifying the one great Sacrifice. For the convenience of
these, animals were bought and sold in the outer court of the temple.
Here all classes of people assembled to purchase their offerings. Here
all foreign money was exchanged for the coin of the sanctuary.
Every Jew was required to pay yearly a half shekel as “a ransom
for his soul;” and the money thus collected was used for the support of
the temple.
Exodus 30:12-16
. Besides this, large sums were brought
as freewill offerings, to be deposited in the temple treasury. And it
was required that all foreign coin should be changed for a coin called
the temple shekel, which was accepted for the service of the sanctuary.
The money changing gave opportunity for fraud and extortion, and it
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