Listening To Hope

The Lord Claims His Temple

Hope Chapel, 11-08-09

by Geno Hildebrandt

Lesson:  Jesus headed first-thing to the Temple right after his Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem because he intended to throw out idols of commerce and establish Himself as the true King and Lord of all God’s people, worthy of their worship.

Text:            Luke 19:45-48, 20:2; Isaiah 56:1-8; Jeremiah 7:1-11

Ice-Breaker Questions:

1. Have you ever returned to a place important to your early development?  An elementary school?  A small church in the woods?  A scout camp?  A childhood development center?  How did that feel?
2. To what significant place would you return, if you could?  Why?

Background:

Today’s text begins just after Jesus enters Jerusalem and straight-way goes to the Temple and drives out the money-changers.  All four gospels relate this story, so it made a great impression on the disciples.  Essentially, those changing foreign currency into the half-shekel prescribed in the Torah were doing the visiting pilgrims to the Temple a service.  However, the High Priest and his family and friends were gouging the visitors and running up a considerable profit for this activity.  Also being sold for use in Temple worship were various animals as well as other necessary supplies.

Jesus stepped into the middle of this commerce and shut it down.  This made him popular with the people but a stench to the local leaders.  Also of note is that the majority of this commerce was taking place in the Court of the Gentiles, the only place on the Temple grounds specifically set aside for non-Jews.  Jesus actions could be interpreted to show His displeasure at the nations being disenfranchised in God’s House of Prayer.

Digging Deeper:

1. Read Luke 19:45-48 in your group.  In Luke 20:2 Jesus was challenged by the local religious leaders to explain on what basis he did and said the things he did and said.  How would you answer this question on his behalf?

2. How do you embrace the violence and passion shown by Jesus in this passage?  Does is bother you?  Challenge your conceptions of Jesus in any way?

3. Read Luke 16:13.  In his action to cleanse the Temple Jesus essentially put an end to idolatry in order to re-establish a purer worship of God.  Where might we be engaged in idol worship or a crass commercialization of true worship?

4. Geno taught that two characteristics of prayer were important: consistency and content.  Do you agree with this contention?  Why or why not?

5. Read Isaiah 56:1-8.  Jesus quoted verse seven while he was cleansing the Temple.  What does this mean?

6. Read Jeremiah 7:1-11.  Jesus quote verse 11 while he was cleansing the Temple.  What does this mean?

Wrap-Up:

• In pairs or groups of three take some time to share how the lesson(s) of this story about Jesus affected you.  Is there anything that needs to be confessed?  Have the others pray for you.

Outreach/Mission:

• With your group think of people from marginalized societal demographics you could begin to include in your outreach efforts.  How would you bring them into your worship settings?