Explore the Bible: Clears
• The Explore the Bible lesson for October 29 focuses on Mark 11:15–25.
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The Temple prophecy in Isaiah 56:6-7 states: “[To the] foreigners who bind themselves to the Lord to minister to him, to love the name of the Lord, and to be his servants, all who keep the Sabbath without desecrating it and who hold fast to my covenant—these I will bring to my holy mountain and give them joy in my house of prayer. Their burnt offerings and sacrifices will be accepted on my altar; for my house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
Jesus’ Temple Visits (Luke 2:23-24, 41; John 2:13-20 and 7:14-52; Mark 11:11, 15-18, 27-33 and 12:1-13:2)
The Second Temple in Jerusalem—Herod’s Temple—is a place for worshippers to gather to experience God’s presence, to worship, fellowship with others and offer sacrifices for their sins. The Court of Priests is near the temple’s center. There are separate inner courts for Jewish men and women and an outer Court of Gentiles.
Jesus has visited the temple often.
• His parents brought him here for consecration “Every firstborn male is to be consecrated to the Lord” (Exodus 13) and offered a sacrifice for Mary’s purification: “a pair of doves” (Leviticus 12).
• Every year, Jesus’ parents took him to Jerusalem for Passover. At age 12, Jesus became engaged in conversation with teachers in the temple and neglected to join his parents’ traveling party as they left for home. Three days later, his parents found him still with the teachers.
• Devout Jewish men were expected to go to the Temple several times a year from age 13. Jesus would have gone.
• During his ministry, Jesus taught in the temple every day when visiting Jerusalem.
Jesus’ Final Jerusalem Trip—Arrival (Mark 11:1-14)
In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus repeatedly tells his disciples “The Son of Man must go up to Jerusalem where he will suffer many things and then be killed.”
Jerusalem begins with a great moment; Jesus is received as a king by the people. On the first work day of the week (Palm Sunday), Jesus enters Jerusalem on a borrowed colt. A crowd spreads cloaks on the road as Jesus approaches. Some wave palm branches. People go ahead of Jesus and shout: “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!” The city of Jerusalem is stirred by his entrance.
Jesus goes to the temple courts. He looks at everything happening there. Due to the lateness of the hour, Jesus retires to Bethany, a Jerusalem suburb, for the evening.
Jesus is hungry as he enters the city on Monday morning. He spies a healthy-looking fig tree but it has no fruit. Jesus curses the tree; the tree will wither and never bear figs.
Jesus Clears Temple Courts (Mark 11:15-17)
Worshippers come to the temple to worship God, offer sacrifices, be taught in the faith and fellowship with others. Those planning to make a sacrifice can bring their own animal or purchase one from temple-authorized sellers who have booths in the temple itself. Worshippers carrying Roman or Greek coins may exchange them for Jewish coins at nearby money changer tables to pay the required temple tax. Merchants are conveniently located in the outer Court of Gentiles; visible to all who enter the Temple.
Jesus enters. He sees a desecration of the sacred peace associated with a place of worship. A marketplace lies in the very midst of the worshippers. The Court of Gentiles is noisy, smelly, haggling and bickering. It reveals a corrupt management uninterested in God’s purposes.
Jesus drives the buyers and sellers from the temple. He overturns the tables of money changers. He stops porters from carrying merchandise through the temple as a shortcut on their delivery route. He clears the temple of all desecrators. Jesus’ explanation: “My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.” To the shocked crowd, he makes clear what he sees: “You have made it a den of robbers”.
Significant worship experiences recorded in the Old Testament occur in settings without distractions. Consider examples of Abraham, Hagar, Moses, Hannah, Elijah and Isaiah. Their focus can be on meeting God in significant moments of their lives. The builders of Solomon’s Temple dressed the stone blocks at the quarry so the building construction site was reverently quiet—no hammers and chisels. Solomon’s Temple dedication is a day of glory for king, people and God. He enters his temple.
“My house will be called a house of prayer for all nations.”
Reaction to Clearing (Mark 11:18)
The citizens of Jerusalem must have silently praised Jesus for clearing the temple to its intended sacred purpose. Everyone knew by the end of the week, the buyers and sellers and money changers would return to favored spots in the temple’s outer courts. Josephus, the Jewish historian, writes that chief priests had a major financial interest in businesses operating in the outer courts. For them, Jesus was an upstart and represented a dangerous threat to the peace of Jerusalem and their prosperity. The clearing of the temple is a step too far. The religious authorities conclude Jesus must die.
Glen Funderburk has taught children’s Sunday school for many years. These lessons on the Gospel of Mark are written from the perspective of children.