John 2:13-25
Notes
Transcript
Game until ~ 8pm
Study - use the same format as last week with the kids reading the passage over a few times on their own for ~10 minutes, then split them into 2 groups to do small group discussions.
Study Notes on Passage for Leaders:
General Note
This is the first time Jesus would cleanse the temple. The second time would occur just a few days before He was crucified in Matt 21:12-17.
Verse 13 - “Now the Passover of the Jews as at hand...”
All Jewish adult males were required to attend the three major feasts each year (Passover, Pentecost, & Tabernacles), of which Passover was the most important and most well attended. Some historians estimate that up to 2 million Jews from all over the Roman Empire could be in Jerusalem for Passover at this time
Verse 14 - “…those who sold oxen & sheep and doves...”
For the passover, many animal sacrifices were occurring at the temple. Jews were to bring a perfect/spotless sacrifice with them. The priesthood at the time had a racket set up where they would “inspect” animals and inevitably find a “blemish” somewhere, and then they’d sell one of their pre-approved sacrificial animals to the person instead and make a profit
Verse 14 - “…and the money changers doing business.”
The Jews would have to pay a temple tax as they came to worship at the temple. Since they came from all over the Roman Empire, they would bring whatever currency was local to their home town. The priests would not accept any currency except their own special temple coin and they’d require everyone to exchange their money for that temple coin. Instead of just exchanging the money, they would charge an exchange fee, so the Jews would have to pay the exchange fee on top of the temple tax.
Verse 16 - “…Do not make My Father’s house a house of merchandise!”
Jesus was upset about the profit that the religious leaders were making off of the Jews’ worship of the Lord at the temple.
Verse 17 - “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up”
Psalm 69:9 is quoted here, speaking of Jesus’ zeal (fire) for the purity of God’s house/temple
Verse 20 - “It has take forty six years to build this temple...”
The Jews had re-built the temple during the time of Nehemiah & Zerubbabel in 516 BC, but over time it had fallen into a state of disrepair. In 20-19 BC, Herod the Great started a massive re-building project at the temple to make it into a grand structure, including building a large retaining wall around the temple mount to support his remodeled grand temple - of which one wall has become the famous Western (Wailing) Wall in Jerusalem today. The building project would eventually last for 83 years, finally wrapping up in 63 AD.
Verse 23 - “…many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.”
This was a superficial belief in Jesus and the spectacular miracles and signs He did, not a true following of Him as Savior. That is why Jesus didn’t commit Himself to them, because He knew what was in their hearts and that their belief wasn’t genuine.
Announcements
No Youth Group next week for Fall Break!
We’ll be back on October 20th
Small Group Questions
What did you like most about this passage?
Was there anything that you read that you didn’t understand or confused you that you’d like to discuss to understand better?
What was one thing you learned about God or yourself?
Why do you think Jesus acted so severely with the moneychangers at the temple?
Use this as a chance to explain how the priests were getting rich off of religion as seen in the notes above
Was it okay for Jesus to be angry about what was happening at the temple?
Read Ephesians 4:26. What does that verse say about anger an our actions?
26 “In your anger do not sin”: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry,
Why doesn’t Jesus tolerate sin in our lives just like He didn’t tolerate the sin at the temple?
Read 1 John 1:9. What is our role in allowing Jesus to cleanse our hearts of sin?
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
What is God’s role in that verse?
Why is it freeing to be cleansed of our sin?
In what ways do you need to allow Jesus to cleanse your life/heart tonight?
Prayer Requests & Group Prayer