Jesus made a whip

[Ron]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

The Bible doesn't say that he actually hit the people. He could have used the whip for the animals.

In verse 16 He tells the sellers to get the doves out of the Temple. If he was violent against everything he would have thrown the cages down or opened them and let the doves out himself.

I believe, in accordance with scripture, he drove them out with His words and used the cords on the animals. JMO.

PO, if I lived in that time and I saw Jesus coming at me with righteous indignation and carry a whip, I know what I would do....



"RUN!"

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

That makes sense. It was just one of those little things that piqued my curiosity on this lovely Omaha day........

I'm wondering also - If they were in the Court of the Gentiles, which is what I understand, did they know they shouldn't have been there "selling" in the first place? The Priest surely knew they were doing wrong by allowing it.


So.........

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Ron

PO, if I lived in that time and I saw Jesus coming at me with righteous indignation and carry a whip, I know what I would do....

"RUN!"

You know He had to have had a presence about Him that made people take note.

The Bible says that after he was baptized the Holy Spirit descended on Him "like as" a dove.

Whatever was felt or seen was something very gentle.

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

I'm wondering also - If they were in the Court of the Gentiles, which is what I understand, did they know they shouldn't have been there "selling" in the first place? The Priest surely knew they were doing wrong by allowing it.


So.........

I don't think it was the "selling" that was the issue, it was the overcharging.....from what I've heard.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

I don't think it was the "selling" that was the issue, it was the overcharging.....from what I've heard.

Yes, you are right. But why were they in the court of the Gentiles selling?

[Pressing-On]

Josephus (Jos. War 5, v, 2; cf. Jos. War 6, ii, 4; Jos. Antiq. 15. xi, 5; Philo Leg. 212) says: "Proceeding across this [the open court] towards the second court of the temple, one found it surrounded by a stone balustrade, three cubits high and of exquisite workmanship; in this at regular intervals stood slabs giving warning, some in Greek, others in Latin characters, of the law of purification, to wit that no foreigner was permitted to enter the holy place, for so the second enclosure of the temple was called."

Clermont-Ganneau discovered one of these warning notices in 1871. It reads:

"No man of another nation to enter within the fence and enclosure round the temple. And whoever is caught will have himself to blame that his death ensues" (cf. Acts 21:26-30)

Well, that was simple. lol

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

If that's the case, does a pastor have the right to punch someone in church who is disrespecting the sanctuary, by say - chewing gum, or talking thru his sermon? What about a person who comes into the sanctuary drunk? What about someone who steals money from the Sunday School offering plate?

And, understand, I'm just opening discussion on what could be perceived as Biblical paradox.

The REAL sanctuary and the REAL house of God is a human body in whom the Spirit of God dwells. We should not defile that temple ref 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

[Sam]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Yes, you are right. But why were they in the court of the Gentiles selling?

Because of their contempt for the Gentiles.
It's OK to practice our money making scheme here. These are just Gentiles, second class citizens.

Offerings had to be in Jewish currency so money changers were there to provide the proper coinage but at a profit.

Sacrifices had to meet certain criteria. Animals were inspected and routinely rejected so the offerer had to buy one there at an inflated price. Later the rejected animal was probably sold to another person at a profit, of course.

The priests got a cut of the profits.

[Praxeas]

Originally Posted by Ferd

For Michael Phelps
John 2:
13 It was nearly time for the Jewish Passover celebration, so Jesus went to Jerusalem. 14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money. 15 Jesus made a whip from some ropes and chased them all out of the Temple. He drove out the sheep and cattle, scattered the money changers’ coins over the floor, and turned over their tables. 16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, “Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!”

It doesn't actually say Jesus hit them or hit them hard enough to damage them.

[Praxeas]

How about this...

Mat 5:22 But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment; whoever insults his brother will be liable to the council; and whoever says, 'You fool!' will be liable to the hell of fire.

Mat 23:16 "Woe to you, blind guides, who say, 'If anyone swears by the temple, it is nothing, but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.'
Mat 23:17 You blind fools! For which is greater, the gold or the temple that has made the gold sacred?

Jesus called them fools....I know the answer....do you? :-)