The Cleaning Of The Temple JSS2 Christian Religious Studies (CRS) Lesson Note

 THE CLEANING OF TEMPLE

LESSON OBJECTIVES

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

1. Describe the historical context of the Jerusalem Temple in Jesus’ time
2. Explain what activities were taking place in the Temple that provoked Jesus’ response
3. Analyze Jesus’ actions and teachings during the Temple cleansing
4. Interpret the theological significance of this event in Jesus’ ministry
5. Apply lessons from this event to contemporary religious practice and faith

INTRODUCTION

The cleansing of the Temple is a significant event in Jesus’ ministry recorded in all four Gospels. Jesus demonstrated righteous anger toward practices that had corrupted the purpose of God’s Temple, revealing his authority and zeal for proper worship. This dramatic action challenged the religious establishment and foreshadowed Jesus’ teaching about true worship and his own role as the ultimate Temple of God’s presence.

HISTORICAL CONTEXT

The Jerusalem Temple

• Herod’s Temple (the Second Temple) was the center of Jewish religious life
• Construction began around 20 BC and continued throughout Jesus’ lifetime
• The Temple consisted of various courts: Court of Gentiles (outermost), Court of Women, Court of Israel, and the Holy of Holies
• It served as the only place where certain sacrifices and offerings could be made
• The Temple was both a religious center and an economic/political institution

Temple Practices in Jesus’ Time

• Money changing was necessary because:
  1. Roman coins bore the emperor’s image, considered idolatrous
  2. Temple tax had to be paid in Tyrian shekels, not Roman currency
• Animal selling was necessary because:
  1. Pilgrims traveling long distances needed to purchase sacrificial animals locally
  2. Animals had to be without blemish, so pre-approved animals were sold on site
• The Court of Gentiles was designated as a place of prayer for non-Jews
• These commercial activities took place in the Court of Gentiles

THE CLEANSING EVENT

Gospel Accounts

• Matthew 21:12-17
• Mark 11:15-19
• Luke 19:45-48
• John 2:13-22

Note: The Synoptic Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke) place this event during Jesus’ final week before his crucifixion. John’s Gospel places it at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, leading some scholars to suggest either:

1. Two separate cleansings occurred (one early and one late in Jesus’ ministry)
2. The event occurred once, but was placed at different points for theological reasons

What Jesus Did

• Drove out those selling animals and changing money
• Overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves
• Prevented people from carrying merchandise through the Temple courts
• Accused those involved of turning God’s house into a “den of robbers”
• Taught from Scripture about the Temple’s true purpose
• Healed the blind and lame who came to him in the Temple (Matthew’s account)

Jesus’ Words

• “It is written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’ but you are making it ‘a den of robbers'” (Matthew 21:13, Mark 11:17, Luke 19:46)
• “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” (John 2:16)
• “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days” (John 2:19) – referring to his body as the temple

THEOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE

1. Prophetic Action

• Jesus’ actions followed in the tradition of Old Testament prophets who used dramatic symbolic actions
• He fulfilled prophetic expectations about the Messiah’s zeal for God’s house (Psalm 69:9)
• His actions fulfilled Malachi’s prophecy about the Lord coming to purify his Temple (Malachi 3:1-4)

2. Authority Over the Temple

• Jesus demonstrated his divine authority by taking action in God’s house
• He challenged the authority of the priests and Temple officials
• This action contributed to the religious leaders’ decision to kill him

3. Critique of Exploitation

• Jesus condemned the exploitation of pilgrims through inflated exchange rates and prices
• He showed special concern for how these practices excluded the poor from worship
• His actions highlighted how commercial interests had displaced spiritual purposes

4. Inclusion of the Gentiles

• The marketplace was in the Court of Gentiles, limiting space for non-Jewish worshippers
• Jesus cited Isaiah 56:7: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations”
• This emphasized God’s concern for all peoples, not just Israel

5. Jesus as the New Temple

• In John’s account, Jesus connected the Temple cleansing with his death and resurrection
• He indicated that his body would replace the physical Temple as God’s dwelling place
• This pointed to a new understanding of worship not tied to a physical location

APPLICATION AND REFLECTION

1. True Worship

• What does authentic worship look like today?
• How might our practices either facilitate or hinder genuine encounters with God?
• What “tables need to be overturned” in our personal or communal spiritual lives?

2. Righteous Anger

• Jesus’ anger was directed at systems that hindered people from approaching God
• How do we distinguish between selfish anger and righteous indignation?
• When should Christians take bold action against religious corruption or exploitation?

3. Economic Justice

• How does money influence our religious practices today?
• What would Jesus challenge about the economic aspects of our faith communities?
• How can we ensure that faith doesn’t become a means of financial exploitation?

4. Inclusivity in Worship

• Are there ways our religious practices exclude certain groups?
• How can we make our worship spaces welcoming to all people?
• What barriers might prevent seekers from encountering God in our communities?

5. Jesus as Our Temple

• What does it mean that God’s presence now dwells in believers rather than in buildings?
• How should this shift our understanding of sacred space and worship?
• What responsibilities come with being “living temples” of God’s Spirit?

ACTIVITIES FOR DEEPER LEARNING

1. Temple Mapping Activity: Create a diagram of Herod’s Temple, labeling the different courts and explaining who was allowed in each area.
2. Comparative Study: Compare the four Gospel accounts of the Temple cleansing, noting similarities and differences.
3. Role-play Discussion: Assign students to represent different perspectives: a Temple priest, a money changer, a poor pilgrim, a Gentile worshipper, a disciple of Jesus. Discuss how each might have viewed Jesus’ actions.
4. Modern Application Exercise: Identify modern equivalents of practices that might keep people from truly worshipping God in our contexts today.
5. Creative Response: Write a reflection or create artwork depicting what Jesus might “cleanse” in our contemporary religious practices.

CONCLUSION

The cleansing of the Temple represents a pivotal moment in Jesus’ ministry where he boldly confronted corrupt religious practices. This event teaches us about God’s concern for genuine worship, economic justice, and inclusion of all people. It also points forward to Jesus himself becoming the ultimate meeting place between God and humanity, replacing the physical Temple with his own presence among his people.

FURTHER READING

• “Jesus and the Temple” by N.T. Wright
• “The Temple and the Church’s Mission” by G.K. Beale
• “Jesus and the Money Changers” by Craig A. Evans
• “The Jewish Temple: A Non-Biblical Sourcebook” by Robert Hayward