Catoctin clarion. [volume] (Mechanicstown, Md.) 1871-1940, 1908-01-23
THE SUNDAY SCHOOL.
INTERNATIONAL LESSON COM.
MENTS FOR JANUARY 20.
Subject: Jesus Cleanseth the Tenn.
pie, John 2:13-22-Golden Text,
Psalm 93:5-Commit Verses Is,
18-COmmentary,

lO-COmmentary'
TINIE.-27 A. D. PLACE.-Jerus.
alien.
EXPOSITION The zeal of
Thine house hath eaten Me up, 1917.
Jesus was an obe1ient Son of the
law and went up to the passover ac-
cording to the commandment (Deut.
1916; Luke 2:41). He found in the
temple men selling oxen, sheep and
doves, and also changers of money. A
similar state of affairs can be found
in many churches to-day. All these
things had something to do with the
temple services, but it was being car
was greatly displeased. The defense
of buying and selling in the house of
God often made to-day is that all this
has to do with the support of worship.
But this does not make 1t right in
Gods sight, as is plainly taught by
this lesson. Jesus put it all out of the
temple in no gentle manner. If He
were to go to-day to our places of
worship with our fairs and festivals
and auctioneers Of pews, etc., etc.,
doubtless He would put them out
also and would be no more gentle
than He was with these ancient de-
filers of the house of God. 1t was
not the force that there was in the
scourge of cords, nor the muscular
energy that Jesus displayed that
drove these defilers out. 1t was the
majesty of His presence and the con-
sciousness on their part that they had
no business there. Gentleness and
thoughtful consideration for even the
birds were mingled with His severity;
He did not drive out those who sold
the doves, but simply bade their own
ers carry them out. He gives a rea-
son for His action, namely, that Gods
house should not be made house of
merchandise. How many that profess
to be followers Of Jesus have for
gotten these words of their Master.
In the use of the words, "My Fathers
house." He shows His right to actsas
He did. 1t was His Fathers house
and it was His business to cleanse it.
The cleansing of the temple was only
temporary. All these things were
brought back again (Luke l9:45).
All religious reforms among men are
temporary. Man Is prone to back
sliding and we cannot live to-day in
the power of a reformation wrought
twenty years ago. Every new genera
tion must have its own reformation
and every new year must nave it's own
revival. When Jesus cleansed the
temple a second time He was even
more severe. He said that they had
made the house of God den Of rob-
bers instead Of house OF prayer
(Luke 1916, r. W. Men in their
defiling of Gods house thus go from
bad to worse. AT later date the
disciples in recalling this incident saw
in it fulfillment of Old Testament
prophecy regarding the Messiah (v.
II; CT. Ps. 69:9. 1t was zeal for His
Fathers house that constrained Jesus
to the present action. Is 1t zeal for
Gods house or Is 1t zeal for our own
ideas that constrains some OF us to
attacks upon the modern defilement
of the house of God?
ii. The sign that Jesus was the
Messiah, 1922. Both the disciples
and the Jews recognized in Jesus
assumption of authority and in His
words, "My Fathers house" ". 16),
a claim to be the Messiah. The Jews
at once demanded a sign to back up
this claim. Jesus gave them a sign,
a sign which they did not understand
at the time, the sign of the resurrec-
tion (v. 10; CT. Matt. 12:38-4O;
16:1-4. His resurrection from the
dead is Gods seal to all the claims OF
Jesus. The resurrection Of Jesus
from the dead Is one OF the best
proven facts of history, and 1t proves
everything that is essential in Chris
tianity. 1t is Gods seal upon Jesus
Christ's claim to be teacher sent
from God who spoke the very words
OF God (ch 7:16; 12:49; 14:10,
II, 24). 1t is Gods seal upon Jesus
Christ's claim to be divine person
in a unique sense (ch. 5:22, 23:
1O:3O; 1879; Mark 1876, R. W. 1t
is Gods seal upon Jesus Christ's
claim that He was to be the judge OF
the world (ch. 5:22,'23, 28, 29). Not
even the disciples of Jesus understood
His words at the time, but after His
resurrection they remembered them
and they served to confirm their
faith, as we'll they might. The final
outcome was that the disciples be-
lieved the Scripture and the word
which Jesus had said, /. e., they be-
lieved the Old Testament Scriptures
which prophesied these things and
the words of Jesus upon which God
had set the stamp of His own endorse
ment. Happy is the man to-day who
believes the Old Testament Scrip
lures and the word which Jesus
speaks. Jesus miracles at this time
led many to believe in Him, but Jesus
saw the superficial character of their
faith and did not believe in them Tvs.
1926, R. w. When men believe in
Jesus with that true and saving faith
which leads them to commit them
serves to Him, then and only then
does He commit Himself to them.
LEADING QUESTIONS. - What
characteristics Of Jesus come out In
this lesson? What fulfillment Of
prophecy is there in the lesson? What
sins of the modern church are re-
buked by this lesson? What does the
lesson teach about the resurrection of
Christ? How did the disciples show
their wisdom? What is the best les