The National tribune., 1894-08-23


lime moral majesty and power with which
our Savior performed this act, and silences
the objections of some modern skeptics who
see in it an outbreak of violent passion,
which is always a sign ofweakness. 1t was
a judicial act of a religious reformer, vindi-
eating in just and holy zeal the honor of the
Lord of the Temple, and revealed the pres
ence of a superhuman authority and dignity
which filled even these profane tTaffickers
with awe and made them yield without
murmur."
J.. L. Robinson, in Young Churchman,
says: 1t is the only time in all His minis
try when the indignation aroused within Him
by mans sinfulness seemed to partake of the
intensity of human anger; the only time in
all His life that His hand was uphfted for
the punishment of SIM"
Dissertation of sacred things has always
been regarded as sacrelege. Wars have
grown out of such irreverence for sacred
things and places regarded as holy. The
second Grecian war, called sacred, was
caused by the Ph0cians cultivating portion
of the plain of Delphos, which was regarded
as sacred to Apollo.
5. Explanations.
/. Passover 49, That was purely q
feast of the Jews. 1t celebrates the sparing
of the first-born of the Hebrews just before
they escaped Egyptian bondage. During
his ministry Christ attended four of those
feasts. a. The case in our Iesso8. D. See
st. L., 6:1; ST. John, 81. c. ST. John,
Ga. d. St. John, II So. The festival was
kept annually and covered seven days. The
Jews yet celebrate the Passover. Many
Christians hold The Holy Communion is
substitute in the modern Church.
Jawc baI nnI
such structure. The tabernacle preceded it.
Then Solomon built the Temple. Herod the
Great Is years before Christ's birth, began
to reconstruct it, and the work was not
finished even when Christ commenced to
preach. JOS. Ant, 10: IL, i; 90, 8, II; 20,
8, 5, Z.
g. Oxen, sheep, doves. Josephus says that
at times / 800, 900 victims of all kinds were
offered in sacrifice. In one year 256, 500
sheep alone were sacrificed. Read Lev, %:
1924. As to doves, see Lev, ST; 1922;
ST. L., 2: 90 "a
a. Changers of money. Every adult
male among the Jews was required to pay
yearly tax of half shekel for the support
of the Temple-worship. twas not lawful to
receive this tribute money in Roman coin,
stamped as it was with heather symbols and
Inscriptions. The money-changers were men
who, for profit, took this current Roman
coin and gave in return Hebrew shekes and
half shekels, mined in the time of the Mac
cabees. Jesus intimated, in Matt, 81 Is,
that these various kinds of traffic had be-
come an occasion of fraud and extortion."
Read Deu., IA: 1926. Dr. Albert Barnes
thinks all kinds of business may have been
conducted in the Temple area by these
trallickers They were sort of broker
ha ol,
ticularly on Ex., 30:13
5. Sitting. IA. That is the posture
quite common for Eastern merchants. 6.
Scourge. Is. A whip. The cords were
probably those at hand used in tying the
animals for sale, and leading them away
for slaughter. Each buyer would need
sort of halter.
Z. Drove. 10 People, Oxen and sheep
could be driven. The doves were probably
in coops or cages, and had TO be carried out
in them. Hence we have not droye, but
take, in Y. Is. 1t is not said Christ struck
a blow.
g. Merchandise. 16. House of market
ing, or salesroom.
g. Zeal. II. For Of say for-the zeal
for thine house, for it's honor, purity, rever-
ence, sanctty. Pc, 69:9.
10. Eaten me up. II. Hath taken pos
session Of me-consumed all my energies
absorbed all my attention-made me so in
dignant / fear no danger in coming to the
defense of the sanctuary.
6. Suggestions.
/. Reverence Gods sanctuary. Lev,
80: 80. In sense it is holy ground. |
on entering mosques remove
boots and wear slippers.
If in one sense the outside of the Temple |
is so sacred, much more so the interior
edifce
Church buildings are for worship, and |
should not be opened for secular concerts, |
etc.
When we enter the sanctuary we should |
not allow thoughts of trade to get the upper |
most of our minds; drive out ideas of bust |
ness
9. Be not avaricious.
3. Study the Bible, and be able to quote
in defense of truth and duty.
A. Righteous Indignation has play.
5. Says Henry: Lawful things ill-timed
and ill-placed may become sinful things;
hat which was decent enough in another
place and not only lawful but laudable on
another day, yet defles the sanctuary and
profanes the Temple"
6. One says: eff the business is to profit
The Church let it go on. No. The priests
getting some of the profits would not sane
lily the sacrilegious sales. The fact the
things sold were for Temple use would not
egitimatize the traffic within the Temple
walls. We find Christ expelled men who
lid proper business, and we may allow for
he moment in fair dealing, but who desc
Grated Gods house by selling and buying
therein.