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By Dr. Randel Everett Founder and President, 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative Washington DC

Studies in Living in the Spirit

Lesson Two ’s Temple

Focal Text Mark 11:11-19

Background 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

Main Idea God wants His temple to be pure and holy.

Question to Explore Can God live in a dirty house?

Quick Read Our redemption was costly; therefore, we must glorify God in our bodies.

Introduction Controversy appears at some of the most surprising times. The monthly business meetings at the church I served as pastor typically didn’t draw a crowd. I knew something must have been brewing when I entered the room shortly after Meeting and saw the crowd. I couldn’t imagine what was so interesting. It didn’t take long to find out.

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A generous gift had been given to launch a bookstore at our church. I thought it was a great idea that would offer excellent biblical resources to our church family. The Episcopal Church near us had one that became very popular. We were never deceived to think it might bring a profit; the purpose was simply to offer good resources for spiritual development.

Of course, the battle cry was Mark 11:17, “Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? But you have made it a robbers’ den.” Having a store in a church facility is comparable to moneychangers in the temple. The irony was that I had not seen many of these concerned members at prayer meeting but most of them had previously eaten the $8 chicken earlier for our Wednesday night meal.

Even though the business meeting was spirited, the recommendation did pass, and we started a bookstore with the generous donation. It did okay but was never a huge success. Fortunately, the church didn’t split to start an anti-book congregation down the road. I was reminded that our appetite for chicken is often greater than our hunger for reading, and our passion for prayer never really increased our attendance to prayer meeting.

Mark jumps quickly into the events of Passion Week in Mark 11. He moves from the triumphal entry of , to the unusual story of the barren fig tree and then goes to the . At first glance these stories feel unrelated. But when we see them in light of all the events of the week, Jesus is publically acknowledging His purpose, His authority and power. With focus and intensity, Jesus is preparing the disciples to understand the cost of redemption and the challenges of discipleship.

The cleansing of the Temple in the early part of the week illustrates the failure of Temple in changing the hearts of humanity. The Temple, the priesthood, the festivals, the prophets all together were inadequate, merely pointing God’s people to that which was to come. When Friday comes, as Jesus breathes His last breath on the cross, the veil of the Temple is torn in two from top to bottom (:38). God is preparing His people for a new temple that is not restricted by location and purpose.

Commentary

Paying the Price (Mark 11:11)

Jesus previously said that His time had not yet come. Passion Week is when His time is at hand, and Jesus is called on to pay the ultimate price for redemption.

Mark 11 begins with the Triumphal Entry of the . In a fulfillment of prophecy Jesus enters riding on a donkey while others spread their coats and branches on the road shouting, “! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Page 2 of 8 Premium Commentary. Living in the Spirit--Lesson Two. Copyright © 2020 BAPTISTWAY PRESS©. A MINISTRY OF THE Baptist General Convention of Texas. Go to www.baptistway press.org or call 1-866- 249-1799 toll-free for additional Bible study materials for all ages. This lesson is not to be sold or distributed beyond the subscription agreement. The copyright notice and identifying information in this note must be included on any copies made.

Mark 11:11-19, God’s Temple

Lord; Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father ; Hosanna in the highest!’ (Mark 11: 9-10)

Anticipation was high as Jesus entered the city. From the time of John’s preaching many were convinced that the time had come for the Messiah to deliver His people. They had heard Jesus’ teachings, seen His , felt His compassion, and now it was time for the consummation of the new kingdom. Unfortunately the people were still confused about what that meant.

Jesus entered Jerusalem and went to the Temple. “He looked around at everything, not as a tourist viewing the sacred precincts for the first time (Jesus had been in Jerusalem before), but as the sovereign Lord examining the institution to see whether it was fulfilling its divinely appointed mission. The examination was in preparation for the prophetic act of cleansing. But since the hour was late, Jesus delayed his action against the temple and withdrew his disciples to for the night!’ (Gaebelein, page 725)

Cursing the Barren Tree (Mark 11:12-14)

Before Mark gets to the cleansing of the Temple he tells one of the most difficult stories in the . When Jesus left Bethany, he was hungry and seeing a fig tree approached the tree for its fruit. Even though the tree was covered with leaves it had no fruit. Mark even mentions that it was not yet the right season for fruit. However because it bore no fruit Jesus cursed the tree and cried, “May no one ever eat fruit from you again.”

Theologians have wondered at the reason why Jesus used his power to curse a tree for failing to bear figs even though it was still two to three months early for bearing fruit. Perhaps it was a living example of the of Jesus’ story about the barren fig tree in Luke 13:6-9.

The next day when they passed by the tree Peter said, “Rabbi, look, the fig tree which You cursed has withered.” (11:21) Jesus responded to Peter by challenging him to have faith. As Jesus approaches the cross, He demonstrates his authority over nature, over the priesthood and ultimately over sin and death.

Perhaps the fig tree, often seen as a symbol of Israel, was a reminder that even though Israel had the appearance of faithfulness it was spiritually barren. In John 15 Jesus describes Himself as the true vine. Only those who abide in Him will bear fruit. “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself unless it abides in the vine, so neither can you unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches; he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit, for apart from Me you can do nothing.”

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Mark 11:11-19, God’s Temple

(Luke 15:4-5) A fig tree that bears no fruit is useless just as one who is a follower of Christ is useless unless he bears the fruit of the Spirit.

Jesus’ curse of the tree is a reminder of God’s judgment. The cross is a picture of God’s grace and mercy but also God’s righteousness. Those who believe in Christ will have eternal life, but those who do not are condemned already, (John 3: 16-18)

The story of the fig tree is also a reminder of the humanity of Jesus. Hilary of Poitiers wrote, “As we behold the mystery of his tears, hunger, and thirst, let us remember that the one who wept also raised the dead to life, rejoicing for Lazarus. From the very One who thirsted flowed rivers of living water. He who hungered was able to wither the fig tree which offered no fruit for his hunger. How could this be, that he who was able to strike the green tree dead merely by his word could also have a nature that could hunger? This was the mystery of his hunger, grief, and thirst, that the Word was assuming flesh. His humanity was entirely exposed to our weaknesses, yet even then his glory was not wholly put away as he suffered these indignities.” (Oden, pages 157- 158)

Cleansing the Temple (Mark 11:14-17)

The of Mark began with the preaching of repentance by . Jesus’ action in the Temple illustrates God’s anger when the Temple has been defiled.

All three have the cleansing of the temple at the end of Jesus’ ministry, however John places it at the beginning. Most theologians prefer the timing of Matthew, Mark and Luke rather than John’s. Yet why could not Jesus have cleansed the temple at the beginning and end of his ministry?

“The first passage quoted by Jesus is :7, a prediction that non- who worship God will be allowed to worship in the temple. By allowing the Court of the Gentiles, the only place in the temple area where Gentiles were allowed to worship God, to become a noisy, smelly public market, the Jewish religious leaders were preventing Gentiles from exercising the spiritual privilege promised them. How could a Gentile pray amid all that noise and stench? And God’s house was supposed to be ‘a house of prayer for all nations.’” (Gaebelein, pages 727-728)

The second quotation is from :11, “But you have made it a robbers’ den.” The Temple was designed as a place of prayer and yet the Court of Gentiles had become a marketplace and a shortcut for those traveling between the and the city.

Herod’s Temple was completed in 9 BC. The sacred area of the building was so respected that 1,000 priests were trained as masons to build the structure. “The outer Page 4 of 8 Premium Commentary. Living in the Spirit--Lesson Two. Copyright © 2020 BAPTISTWAY PRESS©. A MINISTRY OF THE Baptist General Convention of Texas. Go to www.baptistway press.org or call 1-866- 249-1799 toll-free for additional Bible study materials for all ages. This lesson is not to be sold or distributed beyond the subscription agreement. The copyright notice and identifying information in this note must be included on any copies made.

Mark 11:11-19, God’s Temple

court of the Temple was surrounded by a portico, inside the walls. As described by Josephus, the South porch had four rows of columns and was called the Royal Porch. The porticoes of the other sides each had two rows. Solomon’s Porch stretched along the East side. In these colonnades the scribes held their schools and debates; and the merchants and moneychangers had their stalls. The inner area was raised slightly above the Court of Gentiles and surrounded by a balustrade. Notices in Greek and Latin warned that no responsibility could be taken for the probable death of any Gentile who ventured within.

“The first court inside (Women’s Court) contained the chests for gifts towards the expenses of the services. Men were allowed into the Court of Israel, raised above the Court of the Women. The Priests’ Court was built of uncut stone and the plan of the shrine copied Solomon’s. A doorway 20 cubits wide and 40 high gave entry, and one half that size led into the holy place. A curtain divided the holy place from the inner sanctuary.” (New Bible Atlas, Editors: JH Paterson and DJ Wiseman, Inter-Varsity Press, Tyndale House Publishers, Leicester, England, 1985, pages 110-111).

Great care was given to the construction and maintenance of the Temple. Strict observance to the laws governing the Temple was carefully enforced. Distinctions were made between Jews and Gentiles, men and women. The roles of the priests were clearly defined and only the High Priest could go into the , and then only on the Day of Atonement after much cleansing and preparation. The Temple, the offerings and the sacrifices were reminders of the holiness of God and the sinfulness of humanity.

When Moses repeated the Law to the Israelites in Deuteronomy 5 the people responded, “We will hear and do it.” (5:27). God’s response was, “Oh that they had such a heart in them, that they would fear Me and keep My commandments always, that it may be well with them and with their sons forever!”(5:29) Outward religion was not enough. God’s people needed a new heart.

“Cattle and doves were a necessity for the prescribed sacrifices but a poor excuse for making this great court of the Temple itself into a stockyard. Places to change money were also a need, for a tax was collected from every Israelite who was twenty years old, Exodus 30:11-16.” (Lenski, page 486) “The Roman money the pilgrims brought to Jerusalem had to be changed into the Tyrian currency (the closest thing to the old Hebrew shekel), since the annual Temple tax had to be paid in that currency. By overturning the tables of the moneychangers and the benches of those selling doves, Jesus was directly challenging the authority of the high priest, because they were there by his authorization.” (Gaebelein, page 727)

Irreverence and disregard for the Gentiles were not the only problems with the Temple practices. “The corruption goes deeper than evidenced by merchants selling sacrificial Page 5 of 8 Premium Commentary. Living in the Spirit--Lesson Two. Copyright © 2020 BAPTISTWAY PRESS©. A MINISTRY OF THE Baptist General Convention of Texas. Go to www.baptistway press.org or call 1-866- 249-1799 toll-free for additional Bible study materials for all ages. This lesson is not to be sold or distributed beyond the subscription agreement. The copyright notice and identifying information in this note must be included on any copies made.

Mark 11:11-19, God’s Temple

doves and animals at outrageous prices to the poor who come to worship. Priests exploit their position by taking a share of the profits and collecting an artificially contrived Temple tax from the pilgrims and worshippers. The scene is reminiscent of a big-time gambling operation. The Temple could not have been corrupted without the collusion of the priests. Heavy responsibility rests upon those who are called to be keepers of the courts that surround the Holy place.” (McKenna, page 231)

Jesus struck out at these abuses with righteous anger. He drove out those who were buying and selling and overturned the tables of the moneychangers and those selling doves. He cut off the foot traffic of those cutting through the Temple using it as a shortcut between the Mount of Olives and the city. “And He began to teach and say to them, ‘Is it not written, My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? But you have made it a robbers den.’” (Mark 11:17)

God was redeeming a people for Himself; who would worship Him; serve Him; and work for justice. Yet even those whom He called substituted the trappings of religion for a relationship with Him. God ordained the Temple, the priesthood, and the sacrifices as an invitation to enter into the presence of a holy God with praise, adoration and worship. Yet this privilege was spoiled by greed, lust for power and oppression of the poor by the priests and merchants. Instead of finding grace and mercy the religious leaders experienced the wrath of a righteous God.

Extinguishing the Light (Mark 11:18-19)

The guilt of the chief priests and scribes was exposed and they were angry. Their authority was threatened and their corrupt system was challenged. They had to find a way to destroy Jesus. The very leaders who were given the task of building a bridge between God and people, were the ones intent on silencing the very Messiah they professed to serve.

Mark writes in verse 18 that these leaders were afraid of Jesus. Their deeds were exposed and their authority threatened. Their positions and wealth were challenged by Jesus’ integrity. Darkness seeks to extinguish light.

Hebrews 11 is called the roll call of the faithful. Tribute is given to men and women from the who lived courageous lives of faith. Each paid a heavy price for their faithfulness. Moses refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, “choosing rather to endure ill-treatment with the people of God than to enjoy the passing pleasures of sin.” (Hebrews 11:25) “They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were tempted, they were put to death with the sword; they went about in sheepskins, in goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, ill-treated (men of whom the world was not worthy).” (11:37-38)

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Mark 11:11-19, God’s Temple

Some say the safest place to be is in the center of God’s will. Yet the truth is often the most dangerous place to be is in the center of God’s will. John the Baptist challenged King Herod and was beheaded. Jesus knew that His actions were leading Him to the cross.

Jesus’ example reminds His followers that they must stand against injustice even though it may cost them. Peter, whose eyewitness accounts informed Mark’s gospel, wrote, “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.” (1 Peter 4: 12-13)

The first readers of Mark’s gospel were already facing persecution in Rome. Many of them would die for their faith. Even today thousands are suffering in exile, in prisons and even in death because they are the light of Christ living in a dark world. Workers of injustice hate those who preach justice.

A few days after the cleansing of the Temple, the priests’ plans were carried out. Jesus was crucified. Yet He was raised and will judge the world with righteousness.

Glorifying God (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

A Samaritan woman challenged Jesus with the question of which was the correct place to worship. Jesus replied, “But an hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshippers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for such people the Father seeks to be His worshippers.” (John 4:23)

The new temple is not one that is made by hands, not divided by race or gender, or priestly calling. The new temple is the believer’s body. “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body.” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20)

Conclusion

The desecration of the Temple by the priests was egregious. How much more is God grieved when Christ-followers defile the Holy Spirit who lives within them? God’s new temples have been bought with a price; therefore we must glorify God with our bodies.

May we continue to pray the prayer of the unnamed ancient Syrian hermit mentioned in Lesson One? Pray it throughout the study of the Holy Spirit until it becomes a part of our daily ritual.

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Mark 11:11-19, God’s Temple

“Grant me, Lord, at this time a mind filled with the love of you, and one that bears a knowledge of you, an intellect filled with insight into you, and a pure heart in which the light of the vision of you shines out.”

Meet the Writer: Dr. Randel Everett Randel spent four decades pastoring churches in Florida, Virginia, Arkansas and Texas. He founded the John Leland Center for Theological Studies in Falls Church, Virginia and also served as the Executive Director of the Baptist General Convention of Texas. He has served in leadership for the Baptist World Alliance and is the Founder and President of the 21st Century Wilberforce Initiative based in Washington, DC. 21Wilberforce focuses attention on religious persecution abroad and the enduring importance of religious liberty in the United States. Throughout his career Randel has traveled to nearly 40 countries and witnessed persecution first-hand. Randel and his wife Sheila live in Waco, Texas.

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