January 4, 2026, Sunday School Lesson

Jesus Cleanses God’ House

Lesson Text: John 2:13-17

Related Scriptures: Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-48; Jeremiah 7:1-15; Isaiah 56:1-7; Psalm 69:6-13

TIME: between A.D. 26 and 30

PLACE: Jerusalem

Golden Text “And when he had made a scourge of slam cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables” (John 2:15)

Introduction

Our last unit dealt with God’s holy presence. Out next unit deals with God’s holy house. This week, we begin with Jesus’ cleansing of the temple.

Normally we think of Jesus as a meek and mild man who was soft-spoken and kind. While he certainly was kind, He was not allergic to anger. In this passage, we see Jesus become so angry that He made a whip and drove people out of the temple. What did Jesus care about so much that He would physically drive people out of the temple?

As we learn what made Jesus angry, we learn what He cares about. Knowing what makes Jesus angry will help us learn more about our Lord and teach us to value the things that He values.

In this lesson, we will see that Jesus cares deeply about the Gentiles, the poor, and anyone who seeks to worship the Lord. When the authorities made it difficult for others to worship, He spang into action!

LESSON OUTLINE

1. A SEASON OF PILGRIMAGE – John 2:13

2. THE SITUATION IN THE TEMPLE - John 2:14-15

3. THE ZEAL OF JESUS - John 2:16-17

QUESTIONS

1. Why might John have recorded events out of order in his gospel?

2. How far did people travel for Passover?

3. Could Gentiles participate in Passover?

4. What was the first main problem with the temple?

5. What was the second main problem with the temple?

6. What Old Testament passage did Jesus quote in the parallel passage in Mark?

7. What had Malachi prophesied about the Lord’s messenger?

8. Why might Jesus have focused on the sellers of doves?

9. How did Jesus fulfill Zechariah 14?

10. How did Jesus fulfill Psalm 69?

ANSWERS

1. They note that Jesus’ miracles in John tend to correspond with His “I am” statements. For example, Jesus fed the five thousand and declared that He is the Bread of Life in chapter 6. He said that He is the Resurrection and the Life when He raised Lazarus in chapter 11. The point being made here in John 2 is that Jesus would replace the temple with His once-for-all sacrifice for sin (cf. vss. 19-22).

2. The pilgrimage festivals drew Jewish people not only from within Judea and Galilee but also from more far-flung areas too.

3. It was important that non-Jewish people from nations near and far, hearing about Israel’s God, would also sometimes come and see what was happening. They could come and worship the Lord too. This was supposed to be the purpose of the outer court of the temple, the Court of the Gentiles.

4. The first problem was that the markets had become corrupt to the point that Jesus called them a house of thieves. The exchangers and sellers were likely taking advantage of faithful worshippers who traveled a long way by charging outrageous prices.

5. The second crucial issue was that the merchants were selling in the outer temple court, preventing Gentiles (who could not pass further in ) from worshipping God without serious distractions. The sounds (and smells) of cattle, sheep, and birds would have made it hard for honest inquirers from the nations to seek the Lord.

6. In the parallel passage in Mark 11:17, Jesus quoted Isaiah 56:7 in noting that God’s house was to be a house of prayer for all nations, but the money changers had made it into a den of thieves (cf. Jer. 7:11).

7. Moreover, the fury of Jesus’ response appears to reflect the words of Malachi 3:1-3 that the Lord would send His messenger and that the Lord Himself would suddenly come to His temple. But who, Malachi asked Israel warningly, could endure the day of His coming? For He is like a refiner’s fire and like soap. He would purify the sons of Levi and purge them as gold and silver that they might offer unto the Lord an offering in righteousness. Cleansing the temple was not just about purging but about purifying the sons of Levi, including those of the priesthood who had become corrupted.

8. In verse 16, it is especially poignant that Jesus focused on those selling pigeons and doves. Those birds were used as an offering by the poor who could not afford a larger animal, such as a lamb (cf. Lev. 12:8). Jesus’ own parents brought doves as the required offering when they presented Him in the temple (Luke 2:24). Although He drove out all the animals, Jesus’ rebuke singled out the dove-sellers. That puts a particular focus on those who were using their position within what was meant to be a sacred space for all, as a means of abusing and taking advantage of the poor.

9. This event was prophesied in Zechariah 14:21, which says, “In that day there shall be no more the Canaanite in the house of the Lord of hosts.” The Hebrew word translated here as “Canaanite” is meant to convey the idea of “merchant,” “trafficker,” or “trader.” See how the same word is translated in Job 41:6 and Proverbs 31:24. Zechariah prophesied that one day there would no longer be merchants in the house of the Lord of Hosts. Jesus fulfilled Old Testament prophecy by driving out the greedy money changers and merchants.

10. Reflecting on what they had just witnessed, Jesus’ disciples remembered the words of Psalm 69:9. But note that John’s Gospel changes the verb from the past-tense to the future tense. Although this may have been hanged because Jesus lived centuries after David, it could also be that Jesus’ zeal for the house of God would