Sermon Listening Guide
Speaker: Dr. Condy Richardson
Scripture: John 2:12-22
Sermon Title: “The Cleansing of the Temple””
John 2:12-22 (NIV)
12 After this he went down to Capernaum with his mother and brothers and his disciples. There they stayed for a few days.
Jesus Clears the Temple Courts
13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”
19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
Jesus Clears the Temple Courts
13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”
18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”
19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
First Thoughts
This Sunday, we celebrate Palm Sunday as an event that took place just before Passover.
John 2:12-22 also describes an event that happened just before Passover.
As Jesus enters Jerusalem, he focuses on the temple.
Jesus is Angry!
After attending a joyous wedding feast in Cana, Jesus was angered at the temple.
In the temple courts, many were involved in money-making and extortion.
Many have claimed that Jesus moved from “Lamb of God” to Lion in this chapter alone.
This is not the only time Jesus was angry in the Bible.
Some things in this world should make us angry.
Notice what did and did not make Jesus angry.
Why was Jesus Angry?
The money-making was a symptom of a larger issue.
Jesus was angry because the worship of God was not the primary focus at the temple.
Psalm 69:9 tells us zeal for God’s house should consume us.
As we become de-sensitized to the greatness of God, we downgrade him.
If we do not have a steady diet of God’s word, we are subject to moral depravity.
How are you preparing to worship on Sunday morning?
Could our lack of reverence harm the spiritual lives of others?
What was Jesus’ Point?
In verses 18-22, Jesus draws a comparison between himself and the actual temple.
In 2 Corinthians 6:16, Paul tells believers that their bodies are temples of the Lord.
If Jesus walked into your heart right now, what irreverent activity would he find?
What are the things that take you away from worshipping God?
Final Thoughts
As Jesus inspects our lives and our church, will he find true worship or lazy spirituality?
If he is worthy of worship, he is worthy of your attention.
This Sunday, we celebrate Palm Sunday as an event that took place just before Passover.
John 2:12-22 also describes an event that happened just before Passover.
As Jesus enters Jerusalem, he focuses on the temple.
Jesus is Angry!
After attending a joyous wedding feast in Cana, Jesus was angered at the temple.
In the temple courts, many were involved in money-making and extortion.
Many have claimed that Jesus moved from “Lamb of God” to Lion in this chapter alone.
This is not the only time Jesus was angry in the Bible.
Some things in this world should make us angry.
Notice what did and did not make Jesus angry.
Why was Jesus Angry?
The money-making was a symptom of a larger issue.
Jesus was angry because the worship of God was not the primary focus at the temple.
Psalm 69:9 tells us zeal for God’s house should consume us.
As we become de-sensitized to the greatness of God, we downgrade him.
If we do not have a steady diet of God’s word, we are subject to moral depravity.
How are you preparing to worship on Sunday morning?
Could our lack of reverence harm the spiritual lives of others?
What was Jesus’ Point?
In verses 18-22, Jesus draws a comparison between himself and the actual temple.
In 2 Corinthians 6:16, Paul tells believers that their bodies are temples of the Lord.
If Jesus walked into your heart right now, what irreverent activity would he find?
What are the things that take you away from worshipping God?
Final Thoughts
As Jesus inspects our lives and our church, will he find true worship or lazy spirituality?
If he is worthy of worship, he is worthy of your attention.