- John 2:21-25
-
- John 2:21 (KJB)
- But he spake of the temple of his body.
-
- Here John clarifies the statement that Jesus was not referring to the
physical temple because He knew in 37 years it would be destroyed and in
three years, the Mosaic system of animal sacrifices would be null and void
because Christ would become the final sacrifice for sin.
(Heb 9:26 KJV) For then must he often have
suffered since the foundation of the world: but now once in the end of the
world hath he appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of himself.
The temple which Christ would build is no longer a
physical temple but the temple of the body of believers. It would be a
spiritual house which would be built all over the world consisting of
believers from every country.
-
- (1 Cor 3:16 KJV) Know ye not that ye are
the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?
-
- (Eph 2:20-21 KJV) And are built upon the
foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being the
chief corner stone; {21} In whom all the building fitly framed
together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord:
-
- (1 Pet 2:5 KJV) Ye also, as lively stones,
are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual
sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
-
- John 2:22 (KJB)
- When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that
he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word
which Jesus had said.
-
- Jesus had expunged the moneychangers from the Temple and made the
statement that the Pharisees did not understand. Jesus said, “destroy this
temple and in three days I will raise it .” Since Jesus was at the physical
temple, the Jews had thought He made reference to the physical temple but He
was speaking about his body which would be resurrected from the dead on the
third day. John states that the disciples had remembered that Jesus spoke
this unto the Pharisees and then they believed the Scriptures and the word
that Jesus spoke. They normally did not understand these types of sayings as
they were walking with Jesus from town to town but after the final events
occurred, then they remembered what was said to them as the Holy Spirit
opened up the Scriptures to them. Understanding was given only to His
disciples after the resurrection. The Jews were still in darkness concerning
the Lord Jesus Christ because they had remained unbelievers even though He
had risen from the dead.
-
- John 2:23 (KJB)
- Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day,
many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.
-
- Miracles - Signs, tokens, or portent
-
- It is obvious many had seen what Jesus did in confronting the
moneychangers and the other false vendors in the Temple. When Jesus had
expunged them, He was quoting Scriptures that the people would have been
familiar with. This act and maybe the previous miracles Jesus did, such as
at Cana, may have been in the minds of the people. The word “miracles” is
the word for “signs” and Jesus was showing signs of His authority by
challenging the religious establishment. It is not known if He performed any
miracles at this Passover but His teachings and actions against corruption
had caused many people to believe in Him as He was showing that He was not
just another teacher but much more than that. There was a great number which
believed in Him according to the Greek word for “many.”
-
- John 2:24 (KJB)
- But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all
men,
-
- Commit - Have trust, confidence, or believe
-
- As with many that believed in Him, it was not done because they were
truly saved but they believed in Him based upon the miracles and signs that
He did. This is why Jesus did not commit Himself to them because He knew
that the belief of the great number who claimed belief was just superficial.
Those whom the Lord Jesus Christ commits Himself to are those that have
become truly saved through Him. This verse states that He knew the condition
of these people who claimed to believe and He knew it was not a born-again
based belief but based on visible signs.
-
- John 2:25 (KJB)
- And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in
man.
-
- Jesus did not need anyone to testify about the beliefs these people had
or to the general spiritual condition of them. Jesus knew that their beliefs
were based on what they saw and not on true salvation. Jesus, being God,
would know the hearts of these people because He is omniscient.
(Heb 4:12-13 KJV) For the word of God is
quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to
the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and
is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. {13}
Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all
things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to
do. As Hebrews 4:12-13 teaches, everything is
opened unto the eyes of the Lord and nothing is hidden.
(Job 22:13 KJV) And thou sayest, How doth God
know? can he judge through the dark cloud? Not
even darkness can keep anything hidden from the Lord.
-