Lessons on the Life and Ministry of Jesus Christ and His Apostles
Lesson No. Twenty
Jesus and the Temple
Introduction – The temple had an important role during the life and ministry of the Lord. The following are some of the known events that took place when Jesus was at the temple in Jerusalem:
When Jesus was eight days old Simeon and Anna, in the temple, testified of Him (See Luke 2:22-38) “And, behold, there was a man in Jerusalem, whose name was Simeon; and the same man was just and devout…and the Holy Ghost was upon him. And it was revealed unto him by the Holy Ghost, that he should not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, Then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God, and said, Lord, now lettest thou thy servant depart in peace, according to thy word: For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all people; A light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of thy people Israel” (Luke 2:25-32).
“And there was one Anna, a prophetess…of a great age who departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant (when Jesus was brought to the temple) gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem” (Luke 2:36-38).
Simeon and Anna add their testimony that Jesus is the Messiah to that of the angels and shepherds.
Jesus, age twelve, teaches in the temple – After having been in Jerusalem for Passover, and when returning to Nazareth, Jesus was not with the company. After three days Mary and Joseph found Jesus “in the temple, sitting in the midst of the doctors, and they were hearing him, and asking him questions. And all who heard him were astonished at his understanding and answers. And when his parents saw him, they were amazed: and his mother said unto him, Son, why hast though thus dealt with us? Behold, thy father and I have sought thee sorrowing. And he said unto them, why is it that ye sought me? Knew ye not that I must be about my Father’s business?” (Luke 2:46-49).
This is the first recorded account of Jesus testifying that He was the Son of God.
Jesus cleanses the temple the first time – “And Jesus went up to Jerusalem, And found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables; And said unto them who sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise” (John 2:13-16).
At the beginning of His ministry Jesus proclaims His divine Sonship by referring to the temple as “my Father’s house” (John 2:16).
Jesus cleansed the temple again after which He preached the gospel – During the three years of His ministry Jesus often visited and taught at the temple. Now, on the Monday of His last week as the Mortal Messiah, “he went into the temple, and began to cast out them who sold therein, and them who bought; Saying unto them, It is written, My house is a house of prayer: but ye have made it a den of thieves” (John 19:45-46). Jesus again proclaims his divinity by referring to the temple as “My house.”
Luke records that during His last week “he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel” (Luke 20:1). He gave the parable of the Wicked Husbandmen (see JST Matthew 21:33-46) where His reference to Himself as the son of “a certain householder, who planted a vineyard…and let it out to husbandmen, and went into a far country.” The husbandmen rejected and killed the servants (prophets) sent to them, and finally they killed the husbandman’s son (Jesus) who was sent to them.
The Joseph Smith Translation (JST) gives additional understanding of the parable of the Wicked Husbandmen: “And when the Lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, he will destroy those miserable, wicked men, and will let again his vineyard unto other husbandmen, even in the last days, who shall render him the fruits in their seasons” (JST Matthew 21:46).
Jesus laments over the coming destruction of the temple and of Jerusalem – After warning the Scribes and Pharisees, “Then Jesus began to weep over Jerusalem saying, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, ye who will kill the prophets, and will stone them who are sent unto you, how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and ye would not! Behold, your house is left unto you desolate” (JST Matthew 23:37).
The temple is no longer “My Father’s House” or “My house” but it is now “your house” and “is left unto you desolate.” This is the last prophecy the Jews would hear Him utter. He now withdraws from the temple in Jerusalem, never to return to it in mortality. Later He would withdraw His Spirit leaving both the temple and Jerusalem to be destroyed by the Romans.
The importance of the temple as Israel is gathered in the last days – Joseph Smith gave great insight on the Lord’s teachings in Matthew 23:37 on “how often would I have gathered your children together, even as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Joseph asked the question, “What was the object of the gathering the Jews, or the people of God in any age of the world?...The main object was to build unto the Lord a house whereby He could reveal unto His people the ordinances of His house and the glories of His kingdom, and teach the people the way of salvation; for there are certain ordinances and principles that, when they are taught and practiced, must be done in a place or house built for that purpose” (Documentary History of the Church 5:423).
As temples are being built around the earth, the Lord is fulfilling His promise to gather Israel in the last days so that “He can reveal unto His people the ordinances of His house and the glories of His kingdom, and teach the people the way of salvation.”
President Russell M. Nelson has invited us to join with the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the greatest work in the world which is to gather Israel on both sides of the veil in preparation for the Second Coming of the Lord.