Jesus clears the temple courts Flashcards
How does John differ from the Synoptics in his portrayal of this event?
He places it at the start of the gospel rather than the end to establish the idea that Jesus his here to replace the temple cult from the beginning
Why does Jesus oppose the Jews according to John?
They have entirely mistaken the OT and so Jesus is angry at the grand scale of the temple, as it misses the entire point of the scriptures
What is the significance of Jesus saying ‘destroy this temple and I will raise it up in three days’
It presents the idea that Jesus is in control of his death and resurrection. It will also be used against Jesus during his trials
What sign persuades the Romans that Jesus must die?
The Raising of Lazarus from the dead
Why is the temple cleansing likely to be a real event?
It passes the criterion of multiple attestation and contains historically accurate details about the layout of the temple
What is the criterion of multiple attestation?
It appears in all four gospels with few differences
Explain the temple cleansing in terms of Christology
Jesus calls the temple ‘my father’s house’, linking to the idea that he is the Son of God
Explain the temple cleansing in terms of blasphemy
By calling the temple a market Jesus is insulting a holy place. By putting a temporary stop to animal sacrifice he is obstructing worship. By suggesting he can rebuild the temple in three days he is claiming to be greater than the temple
Explain the temple cleansing in terms of Jesus being a threat to power
Undermines the Sadducees. If Jesus was joined by other anti-temple sects it could cause mass chaos
Explain the temple cleansing in terms of political expediency
During the Passover Jerusalem was filled with pilgrims, so news could spread and provoke others who either disliked the temple or desired conflict with the Romans. The authorities wanted to prevent further disturbances by arresting the ringleader
Why is Jesus claiming to be greater than the temple blasphemous?
Because Jews at this time saw the temple as God’s presence on Earth, since it housed the arc of the covenant
