DESTINY’S BIBLE STUDY NOTES AND QUOTES

(The Life and Ministry of Jesus #41)

The Temple Cleansed Again (See Matthew 21:12-16, 23-46, Mark 11:15-19, 27-33, 12:1-12, Luke 19:45-48, 20:1-19

At the beginning of His ministry, Christ had driven from the temple those who defiled it by their unholy traffic. His stern, Godlike demeanor had struck terror to the hearts of the scheming traders. At the close of His mission He came again to the temple, found it still desecrated, and worse than before.

The indignation of Jesus was stirred. He knew that His blood, so soon to be shed for the sins of the world, would be as little appreciated by the priests and elders as was the blood of beasts they kept incessantly flowing. “I desire mercy and not sacrifice.” (Matthew 9:13)

Divinity flashed through humanity, investing Christ with a dignity and glory He had never manifested before. Christ spoke with a power that swayed the people like a mighty tempest.

“It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer, but you have made it a den of thieves.” His voice sounded like a trumpet through the temple. The displeasure of His countenance seemed like consuming fire. With authority He commanded, “Take these things away.” (John 2:16)

There were none who dared question His authority.

The Pharisees were utterly perplexed and disconcerted. One who they could not intimidate was in command. Jesus had taken His position as guardian of the temple.

Before the proud dignitary of the temple stood the Majesty of heaven, without adornment or display. His garments were travel stained. His face was pale, and expressed a patient sadness. Yet written there were dignity and benevolence that contrasted strangely with the proud, self-confident, and angry air of the high priest.

In prophetic vision, Isaiah saw that the cornerstone was a symbol of Christ.

In Christ the guilty heart can find relief. He is the sure foundation! All who make Him their dependence rest in perfect security!

To fall upon the Rock and be broken is to give up our self-righteousness and go to Christ with the humility of a child, repenting of our transgressions, and believing in His forgiving love. And so also it is by faith and obedience that we build on Christ as our foundation.

Without the life of Christ in us, we cannot withstand the storms of temptation. Our eternal safety depends upon our building upon the sure foundation. Multitudes are today building upon foundations that have not been truly tested. When the rain falls, and the tempest rages, and the floods come, their house will fall, because it is not founded upon the eternal Rock, the chief cornerstone Christ Jesus.

Controversy (See Matthew 22:15-46, Mark 12:13-40, Luke 20:20-47)

The priests and rulers had listened in silence to Christ’s pointed rebukes. They could not refute His charges. But they were only the more determined to entrap Him, and with this object in mind, they sent to Him spies, which would feign themselves just men, that they might take hold of His words, so that they might deliver Him unto the power and authority of the governor.

Those that put the question to Jesus thought that they had sufficiently disguised their purpose, but Jesus read their hearts as an open book, and sounded their hypocrisy.

Christ’s reply was no evasion, but a candid answer to their question.

No sooner were the Pharisees silenced when the Sadducees came forward with their artful questions.

The Sadducees denied the existence of angels.

It was the Sadducees’ belief, that having created man, God had left him to himself, independent of a higher influence. They held that man was free to control his own life and to shape the events of the world. That destiny was in his own hands.

They denied that the Spirit of God works through human efforts or natural means. Yet they still held that through the proper employment of his natural powers, man could become elevated, and enlightened. That by rigorous and austere exactions his life could be purified.

Their ideas of God molded their own characters. As in their view that He had no interest in humanity. So they had little regard for one another, and there was little union among them. Refusing to acknowledge the influence of the Holy Spirit upon human action, they lacked His power in their lives.

Their hearts were not touched by the wants and sufferings of others. They lived for themselves.

The Sadducees reasoned that if the body is to be composed of the same particles of matter in its immortal as in its mortal state, then when raised from the dead it must have flesh and blood, and must resume in the eternal world the life interrupted on earth.

In answer to their questions, Jesus lifted the veil from the future life. “In the resurrection,” He said, “they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven.”

He showed that the Sadducees were wrong in their belief. Their premises were false. “You do err,” He added, “not knowing the scriptures nor the power of God.” He did not charge them, as He had charged the Pharisees, with hypocrisy, but with error of belief.

The Sadducees had flattered themselves that they of all men adhered most strictly to the Scriptures. But Jesus showed that they had not known their true meaning. That knowledge must be brought home to the heart by the enlightenment of the Holy Spirit. They were seeking to bring the mysteries of God within the compass of their finite reasonings.

Millions become infidels because their finite minds cannot comprehend the mysteries of God!

The only key to the mysteries that surround us is to acknowledge in them all the presence and power of God. Humanity needs to recognize God as the Creator of the universe. They need a broader view of His character, and of the mystery of His agencies.

Our Lord presents the first four and the last six commandments as a divine whole, and teaches that love to God will be shown by obedience to all of His commandments. To love God with all the heart, and with all the understanding, and with all the soul, and with all the strength, and to love his neighbor as himself, is more than all whole burnt offerings and sacrifices.

The wisdom  of Christ’s answer had convinced the scribe. He knew that the Jewish religion consisted in outward ceremonies rather than inward piety.

The law points out man’s duty, and shows him his guilt. To Christ he must look for pardon, and for power to do what the law enjoins.

The Pharisees had gathered close about Christ as He answered the question of the scribe. Now turning, He put a question to them: “What do you think of Christ? Whose son is He?” the question was designed to test their belief concerning the Messiah, and to show whether they regarded Him as simply a man, or as the Son of God. A chorus of voiced answered, “The Son of David.”

In reply to the statement  that Christ was the Son of David, Jesus said: “How then does David in Spirit (the Spirit of Inspiration from God) call Him Lord, saying, The Lord said unto my Lord, You sit on My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool? If David then calls Him Lord, how is He his son?”

And no man was able to answer Him a word. Neither did any man from that day forward ask Him any more questions.