Take These Things Away

John 2:13-22

Key Verse 16 “And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade.””

1. V13. What feast was happening at the time of today’s passage? What is the Passover feast? What should the jewish people be doing during Passover in Jerusalem?

2. V14-17. What did Jesus find in the temple during Passover? Why were people selling oxen, sheep, and pigeons, and changing money? What did Jesus do? Why?(16-17)

   1. Why is it a problem if the Father’s house/the temple is a house of trade? (Zechariah 14:21)

3. V17. After seeing Jesus’ actions what verse did the disciples remember? (Psalm 69:9) What did this verse help them realize about Jesus? What does it mean to have zeal for the Father’s house? What happens if we have zeal for other things instead of the Father’s house? How do our lifestyles, actions, and behaviors show what we have zeal for?

4. V18. After Jesus did this, what did the Jews say to him? Why do you think they said this?

5. V19-21. How did Jesus respond to the Jew’s request for a sign? Why is Jesus’ resurrection the most important sign of his authority? Why does Jesus refer to his body as a temple?

6. V22. When Jesus was raised from the dead and the disciples remembered Jesus’ words, what did they believe? What does it mean to believe the Scripture and the words of Jesus?

7. Personal reflection: Do you have zeal for the house of the Lord? Why/why not? What is happening inside of your temple? What is the focus? Why might it be an issue if we focus our lives on trade and making money?

---