THE LAST WEEK OF JESUS' PUBLIC MINISTRY AND HIS CRUCIFIXION

-Jesus Once Again Cleanses the Temple

-Matthew 21:12-13; Mark 11:15-19; Luke 19:45-48

-When Jesus entered into Jerusalem, He went to the temple.  Having seen the abuse of the temple

 the day before, he cast out “them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of

 the moneychangers and the seats of them that sold doves” (Mark 11:15).  This is the second time

 He cleansed the temple - the first occasion having taken place when Jesus first visited Jerusalem

 following the beginning of His public work (pg 17 of our study).

            -Rather than utilizing the temple as a “house of prayer” (Isa 56:7) they were once again

             misusing the temple as a place for their dishonest business practices.

            -In regards to Mark 11:16, McGarvey and Pendleton stated the following:  “The temple space

             being level and roomy tempted the people of Jerusalem to use it as a thoroughfare, or short-

             cut from one part of the city to another, but Jesus did not permit them to carry any sack, bag,

             jug, pail, basket, parcel or such like thing through the sacred enclosure” (pg 582).

-The chief priests and the scribes, aware of the actions and words of Jesus, sought to destroy Him.

 However, they were afraid to take actions against Him at this time for fear of the people who

 had overwhelmingly welcomed Him into the city with great praise the day before.

-Each day that Jesus visited Jerusalem, He taught publicly at the temple (Luke 19:47).

 Undoubtedly this added to the frustration of the Jewish leaders who wanted to kill Him but

 observed that the people were listening to Him.

-[**Special Note:  This study has primarily followed the chronology of events as presented by

 A.T. Robertson, who places the events of John 12:20-50 (the time when some Greeks wanted to

 see Jesus and Jesus’ discourse that followed) here at this point - Monday of the crucifixion week. 

 However, in this study, we’ll place the events of John 12:20-50 on Tuesday in accordance with

 the chronology presented by McGarvey and Pendleton in The Four-Fold Gospel.]

-Once again, as evening approached, Jesus and the apostles departed from Jerusalem and

 returned to Bethany.