The Desire of Ages
by Ellen G. White
Chapter 65: The Temple Cleansed Again
This chapter is based on Matt. 21:12-16, 23-46;
Mark 11:15-19, 27-33; 12:1-12; Luke 19:45-48; 20:1-19.
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"It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."
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Pacific Press Publ. Assoc. |
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At the beginning of His ministry, Christ had driven from the
temple those who defiled it by their unholy traffic; and His stern and godlike
demeanor had struck terror to the hearts of the scheming traders. At the close
of His mission He came again to the temple, and found it still desecrated as
before. The condition of things was even worse than before. The outer court of
the temple was like a vast cattle yard. With the cries of the animals and the
sharp chinking of coin was mingled the sound of angry altercation between
traffickers, and among them were heard the voices of men in sacred office. The
dignitaries of the temple were themselves engaged in buying and selling and the
exchange of money. So completely were they controlled by their greed of gain
that in the sight of God they were no better than thieves. {DA 589.1}
Little did the priests and rulers realize the solemnity of
the work which it was theirs to perform. At every Passover and Feast of
Tabernacles, thousands of animals were slain, and their blood was caught by the
priests and poured upon the altar. The Jews had become familiar with the
offering of blood, and had almost lost sight of the fact that it was sin which
made necessary all this shedding of the blood of beasts. They did not discern
that it prefigured the blood of God's dear Son, [590] which
was to be shed for the life of the world, and that by the offering of
sacrifices men were to be directed to a crucified Redeemer. {DA 589.2}
Jesus looked upon the innocent victims of sacrifice, and saw
how the Jews had made these great convocations scenes of bloodshed and cruelty.
In place of humble repentance of sin, they had multiplied the sacrifice of
beasts, as if God could be honored by a heartless service. The priests and
rulers had hardened their hearts through selfishness and avarice. The very
symbols pointing to the Lamb of God they had made a means of getting gain. Thus
in the eyes of the people the sacredness of the sacrificial service had been in
a great measure destroyed. The indignation of Jesus was stirred; He knew that
His blood, so soon to be shed for the sins of the world, would be as little
appreciated by the priests and elders as was the blood of beasts which they
kept incessantly flowing. {DA
590.1}
Against these practices Christ had spoken through the
prophets. Samuel had said, "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt
offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey
is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams." And
Isaiah, seeing in prophetic vision the apostasy of the Jews, addressed them as
rulers of Sodom and Gomorrah: "Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of
Sodom; give ear unto the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrah. To what purpose
is the multitude of your sacrifices unto Me? saith the Lord: I am full of the
burnt offerings of rams, and the fat of fed beasts; and I delight not in the
blood of bullocks, or of lambs, or of he-goats. When ye come to appear before
Me, who hath required this at your hand, to tread My courts?" "Wash
you, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from before Mine eyes;
cease to do evil; learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge
the fatherless, plead for the widow." 1 Samuel 15:22; Isaiah 1:10-12, 16,
17. {DA 590.2}
He who had Himself given these prophecies now for the last
time repeated the warning. In fulfillment of prophecy the people had proclaimed
Jesus king of Israel. He had received their homage, and accepted the office of
king. In this character He must act. He knew that His efforts to reform a
corrupt priesthood would be in vain; nevertheless His work must be done; to an
unbelieving people the evidence of His divine mission must be given. {DA 590.3}
Again the piercing look of Jesus swept over the desecrated
court of the temple. All eyes were turned toward Him. Priest and ruler,
Pharisee [591] and Gentile, looked with astonishment and awe
upon Him who stood before them with the majesty of heaven's King. Divinity
flashed through humanity, investing Christ with a dignity and glory He had
never manifested before. Those standing nearest Him drew as far away as the
crowd would permit. Except for a few of His disciples, the Saviour stood alone.
Every sound was hushed. The deep silence seemed unbearable. Christ spoke with a
power that swayed the people like a mighty tempest: "It is written, My
house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of
thieves." His voice sounded like a trumpet through the temple. The
displeasure of His countenance seemed like consuming fire. With authority He
commanded, "Take these things hence." John 2:16. {DA 590.4}
Three years before, the rulers of the temple had been
ashamed of their flight before the command of Jesus. They had since wondered at
their own fears, and their unquestioning obedience to a single humble [592]
Man. They had felt that it was impossible for their undignified surrender to be
repeated. Yet they were now more terrified than before, and in greater haste to
obey His command. There were none who dared question His authority. Priests and
traders fled from His presence, driving their cattle before them. {DA 591.1}
On the way from the temple they were met by a throng who
came with their sick inquiring for the Great Healer. The report given by the
fleeing people caused some of these to turn back. They feared to meet One so
powerful, whose very look had driven the priests and rulers from His presence.
But a large number pressed through the hurrying crowd, eager to reach Him who
was their only hope. When the multitude fled from the temple, many had remained
behind. These were now joined by the newcomers. Again the temple court was
filled by the sick and the dying, and once more Jesus ministered to them. {DA 592.1}
After a season the priests and rulers ventured back to the
temple. When the panic had abated, they were seized with anxiety to know what
would be the next movement of Jesus. They expected Him to take the throne of
David. Quietly returning to the temple, they heard the voices of men, women,
and children praising God. Upon entering, they stood transfixed before the
wonderful scene. They saw the sick healed, the blind restored to sight, and
deaf receive their hearing, and the crippled leap for joy. The children were
foremost in the rejoicing. Jesus had healed their maladies; He had clasped them
in His arms, received their kisses of grateful affection, and some of them had
fallen asleep upon His breast as He was teaching the people. Now with glad
voices the children sounded His praise. They repeated the hosannas of the day
before, and waved palm branches triumphantly before the Saviour. The temple
echoed and re-echoed with their acclamations, "Blessed be He that cometh
in the name of the Lord!" "Behold, thy King cometh unto thee; He is
just, and having salvation!" Psalm 118:26; Zechariah 9:9. "Hosanna to
the Son of David!" {DA
592.2}
The sound of these happy, unrestrained voices was an offense
to the rulers of the temple. They set about putting a stop to such
demonstrations. They represented to the people that the house of God was
desecrated by the feet of the children and the shouts of rejoicing. Finding
that their words made no impression on the people, the rulers appealed to Christ:
"Hearest Thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye
never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings [593] Thou
hast perfected praise?" Prophecy had foretold that Christ should be
proclaimed as king, and that word must be fulfilled. The priests and rulers of
Israel refused to herald His glory, and God moved upon the children to be His
witnesses. Had the voices of the children been silent, the very pillars of the
temple would have sounded the Saviour's praise. {DA 592.3}
The Pharisees were utterly perplexed and disconcerted. One
whom they could not intimidate was in command. Jesus had taken His position as
guardian of the temple. Never before had He assumed such kingly authority.
Never before had His words and works possessed so great power. He had done
marvelous works throughout Jerusalem, but never before in a manner so solemn
and impressive. In presence of the people who had witnessed His wonderful
works, the priests and rulers dared not show Him open hostility. Though enraged
and confounded by His answer, they were unable to accomplish anything further
that day. {DA 593.1}
The next morning the Sanhedrin again considered what course
to pursue toward Jesus. Three years before, they had demanded a sign of His
Messiahship. Since that time He had wrought mighty works throughout the land.
He had healed the sick, miraculously fed thousands of people, walked upon the
waves, and spoken peace to the troubled sea. He had repeatedly read the hearts
of men as an open book; He had cast out demons, and raised the dead. The rulers
had before them the evidences of His Messiahship. They now decided to demand no
sign of His authority, but to draw out some admission or declaration by which
He might be condemned. {DA
593.2}
Repairing to the temple where He was teaching, they
proceeded to question Him: "By what authority doest Thou these things? and
who gave Thee this authority?" They expected Him to claim that His
authority was from God. Such an assertion they intended to deny. But Jesus met
them with a question apparently pertaining to another subject, and He made His
reply to them conditional on their answering this question. "The baptism
of John," He said, "whence was it? from heaven, or of men?" {DA 593.3}
The priests saw that they were in a dilemma from which no
sophistry could extricate them. If they said that John's baptism was from
heaven, their inconsistency would be made apparent. Christ would say, Why have
ye not then believed on him? John had testified of Christ, "Behold [594]
the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world." John 1:29. If
the priests believed John's testimony, how could they deny the Messiahship of
Christ? If they declared their real belief, that John's ministry was of men,
they would bring upon themselves a storm of indignation; for the people
believed John to be a prophet. {DA 593.4}
With intense interest the multitude awaited the decision.
They knew that the priests had professed to accept the ministry of John, and
they expected them to acknowledge without a question that he was sent from God.
But after conferring secretly together, the priests decided not to commit
themselves. Hypocritically professing ignorance, they said, "We cannot
tell." "Neither tell I you," said Christ, "by what
authority I do these things." {DA 594.1}
Scribes, priests, and rulers were all silenced. Baffled and
disappointed, they stood with lowering brows, not daring to press further
questions upon Christ. By their cowardice and indecision they had in a great
measure forfeited the respect of the people, who now stood by, amused to see
these proud, self-righteous men defeated. {DA 594.2}
All these sayings and doings of Christ were important, and
their influence was to be felt in an ever-increasing degree after His
crucifixion and ascension. Many of those who had anxiously awaited the result
of the questioning of Jesus were finally to become His disciples, first drawn
toward Him by His words on that eventful day. The scene in the temple court was
never to fade from their minds. The contrast between Jesus and the high priest
as they talked together was marked. The proud dignitary of the temple was
clothed in rich and costly garments. Upon his head was a glittering tiara. His
bearing was majestic, his hair and his long flowing beard were silvered by age.
His appearance awed the beholders. Before this august personage stood the
Majesty of heaven, without adornment or display. His garments were travel
stained; His face was pale, and expressed a patient sadness; yet written there
were dignity and benevolence that contrasted strangely with the proud,
self-confident, and angry air of the high priest. Many of those who witnessed
the words and deeds of Jesus in the temple from that time enshrined Him in
their hearts as a prophet of God. But as the popular feeling turned in His
favor, the hatred of the priests toward Jesus increased. The wisdom by which He
escaped the snares set for His feet, being a new evidence of His divinity,
added fuel to their wrath. {DA
594.3}
In His contest with the rabbis, it was not Christ's purpose
to humiliate His opponents. He was not glad to see them in a hard place. He had
[595]
an important lesson to teach. He had mortified His enemies by allowing them to
be entangled in the net they had spread for Him. Their acknowledged ignorance
in regard to the character of John's baptism gave Him an opportunity to speak,
and He improved the opportunity by presenting before them their real position,
adding another warning to the many already given. {DA 594.4}
"What think ye?" He said. "A certain man had
two sons; and he came to the first, and said, Son, go work today in my
vineyard. He answered and said, I will not: but afterward he repented, and
went. And he came to the second, and said likewise. And he answered and said, I
go, sir: and went not. Whether of them twain did the will of his father?" {DA 595.1}
This abrupt question threw His hearers off their guard. They
had followed the parable closely, and now immediately answered, "The
first." Fixing His steady eye upon them, Jesus responded in stern and
solemn tones: "Verily I say unto you, That the publicans and the harlots
go into the kingdom of God before you. For John came unto you in the way of
righteousness, and ye believed him not: but the publicans and the harlots
believed him: and ye, when ye had seen it, repented not afterward, that ye
might believe him." {DA
595.2}
The priests and rulers could not but give a correct answer
to Christ's question, and thus He obtained their opinion in favor of the first
son. This son represented the publicans, those who were despised and hated by
the Pharisees. The publicans had been grossly immoral. They had indeed been
transgressors of the law of God, showing in their lives an absolute resistance
to His requirements. They had been unthankful and unholy; when told to go and
work in the Lord's vineyard, they had given a contemptuous refusal. But when
John came, preaching repentance and baptism, the publicans received his message
and were baptized. {DA
595.3}
The second son represented the leading men of the Jewish
nation. Some of the Pharisees had repented and received the baptism of John;
but the leaders would not acknowledge that he came from God. His warnings and
denunciations did not lead them to reformation. They "rejected the counsel
of God against themselves, being not baptized of him." Luke 7:30. They
treated his message with disdain. Like the second son, who, when called, said,
"I go, sir," but went not, the priests and rulers professed
obedience, but acted disobedience. They made great professions of piety, they
claimed to be obeying the law of God, but they rendered only a false obedience.
The publicans were denounced and cursed by the Pharisees as infidels; but they
showed by their faith and works that [596] they
were going into the kingdom of heaven before those self-righteous men who had
been given great light, but whose works did not correspond to their profession
of godliness. {DA 595.4}
The priests and rulers were unwilling to bear these
searching truths; they remained silent, however, hoping that Jesus would say
something which they could turn against Him; but they had still more to bear. {DA 596.1}
"Hear another parable," Christ said: "There
was a certain householder, which planted a vineyard, and hedged it round about,
and digged a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen,
and went into a far country: and when the time of the fruit drew near, he sent
his servants to the husbandmen, that they might receive the fruits of it. And
the husbandmen took his servants, and beat one, and killed another, and stoned
another. Again, he sent other servants more than the first: and they did unto
them likewise. But last of all he sent unto them his son, saying, They will
reverence my son. But when the husbandmen saw the son, they said among
themselves, This is the heir; come, let us kill him, and let us seize on his
inheritance. And they caught him, and cast him out of the vineyard, and slew
him. When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto those
husbandmen?" {DA
596.2}
Jesus addressed all the people present; but the priests and
rulers answered. "He will miserably destroy those wicked men," they
said, "and will let out his vineyard unto other husbandmen, which shall
render him the fruits in their seasons." The speakers had not at first
perceived the application of the parable, but they now saw that they had
pronounced their own condemnation. In the parable the householder represented
God, the vineyard the Jewish nation, and the hedge the divine law which was their
protection. The tower was a symbol of the temple. The lord of the vineyard had
done everything needful for its prosperity. "What could have been done
more to my vineyard," he says, "that I have not done in it."
Isaiah 5:4. Thus was represented God's unwearied care for Israel. And as the
husbandmen were to return to the lord a due proportion of the fruits of the
vineyard, so God's people were to honor Him by a life corresponding to their
sacred privileges. But as the husbandmen had killed the servants whom the
master sent to them for fruit, so the Jews had put to death the prophets whom
God sent to call them to repentance. Messenger after messenger had been slain.
Thus far the application of the parable could not be questioned, and in what
followed it was not less evident. In the beloved son whom the lord of the
vineyard finally sent to his disobedient servants, and whom they [597]
seized and slew, the priests and rulers saw a distinct picture of Jesus and His
impending fate. Already they were planning to slay Him whom the Father had sent
to them as a last appeal. In the retribution inflicted upon the ungrateful
husbandmen was portrayed the doom of those who should put Christ to death. {DA 596.3}
Looking with pity upon them, the Saviour continued,
"Did ye never read in the Scriptures, The stone which the builders
rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord's doing,
and it is marvelous in our eyes? Therefore say I unto you, The kingdom of God
shall be taken from you, and given to a nation bringing forth the fruits
thereof. And whosoever shall fall on this stone shall be broken: but on
whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder." {DA 597.1}
This prophecy the Jews had often repeated in the synagogues,
applying it to the coming Messiah. Christ was the cornerstone of the Jewish
economy, and of the whole plan of salvation. This foundation stone the Jewish
builders, the priests and rulers of Israel, were now rejecting. The Saviour
called their attention to the prophecies that would show them their danger. By
every means in His power He sought to make plain to them the nature of the deed
they were about to do. {DA
597.2}
And His words had another purpose. In asking the question,
"When the lord therefore of the vineyard cometh, what will he do unto
those husbandmen?" Christ designed that the Pharisees should answer as
they did. He designed that they should condemn themselves. His warnings,
failing to arouse them to repentance, would seal their doom, and He wished them
to see that they had brought ruin on themselves. He designed to show them the
justice of God in the withdrawal of their national privileges, which had
already begun, and which would end, not only in the destruction of their temple
and their city, but in the dispersion of the nation. {DA 597.3}
The hearers recognized the warning. But notwithstanding the
sentence they themselves had pronounced, the priests and rulers were ready to
fill out the picture by saying, "This is the heir; come, let us kill
him." "But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the
multitude," for the public sentiment was in Christ's favor. {DA 597.4}
In quoting the prophecy of the rejected stone, Christ
referred to an actual occurrence in the history of Israel. The incident was
connected with the building of the first temple. While it had a special
application at the time of Christ's first advent, and should have appealed with
special force to the Jews, it has also a lesson for us. When the temple of
Solomon [598]
was erected, the immense stones for the walls and the foundation were entirely
prepared at the quarry; after they were brought to the place of building, not
an instrument was to be used upon them; the workmen had only to place them in
position. For use in the foundation, one stone of unusual size and peculiar
shape had been brought; but the workmen could find no place for it, and would
not accept it. It was an annoyance to them as it lay unused in their way. Long
it remained a rejected stone. But when the builders came to the laying of the
corner, they searched for a long time to find a stone of sufficient size and
strength, and of the proper shape, to take that particular place, and bear the
great weight which would rest upon it. Should they make an unwise choice for
this important place, the safety of the entire building would be endangered.
They must find a stone capable of resisting the influence of the sun, of frost,
and of tempest. Several stones had at different times been chosen, but under
the pressure of immense weights they had crumbled to pieces. Others could not
bear the test of the sudden atmospheric changes. But at last attention was
called to the stone so long rejected. It had been exposed to the air, to sun
and storm, without revealing the slightest crack. The builders examined this
stone. It had borne every test but one. If it could bear the test of severe
pressure, they decided to accept it for the cornerstone. The trial was made.
The stone was accepted, brought to its assigned position, and found to be an
exact fit. In prophetic vision, Isaiah was shown that this stone was a symbol
of Christ. He says: {DA
597.5}
"Sanctify the Lord of hosts Himself; and let Him be
your fear, and let Him be your dread. And He shall be for a sanctuary; but for
a stone of stumbling and for a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel,
for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. And many among them
shall stumble, and fall, and be broken, and be snared, and be taken."
Carried down in prophetic vision to the first advent, the prophet is shown that
Christ is to bear trials and tests of which the treatment of the chief
cornerstone in the temple of Solomon was symbolic. "Therefore thus saith
the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tried stone, a
precious cornerstone, a sure foundation: he that believeth shall not make
haste." Isaiah 8:13-15; 28:16. {DA 598.1}
In infinite wisdom, God chose the foundation stone, and laid
it Himself. He called it "a sure foundation." The entire world may
lay upon it their burdens and griefs; it can endure them all. With perfect
safety they may build upon it. Christ is a "tried stone." Those who
trust in Him, He never disappoints. He has borne every test. He has endured the
pressure [599] of Adam's guilt, and the guilt of his posterity,
and has come off more than conqueror of the powers of evil. He has borne the
burdens cast upon Him by every repenting sinner. In Christ the guilty heart has
found relief. He is the sure foundation. All who make Him their dependence rest
in perfect security. {DA
598.2}
In Isaiah's prophecy, Christ is declared to be both a sure
foundation and a stone of stumbling. The apostle Peter, writing by inspiration
of the Holy Spirit, clearly shows to whom Christ is a foundation stone, and to
whom a rock of offense: {DA
599.1}
"If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To
whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of
God, and precious, 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. Wherefore also it is contained in the Scripture, Behold, I lay in
Sion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on Him shall
not be confounded. Unto you therefore which believe He is precious: but unto
them which be disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is
made the head of the corner, and a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense,
even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient." 1 Peter 2:3-8.
{DA 599.2}
To those who believe, Christ is the sure foundation. These
are they who fall upon the Rock and are broken. Submission to Christ and faith
in Him are here represented. To fall upon the Rock and be broken is to give up
our self-righteousness and to go to Christ with the humility of a child,
repenting of our transgressions, and believing in His forgiving love. And so
also it is by faith and obedience that we build on Christ as our foundation. {DA 599.3}
Upon this living stone, Jews and Gentiles alike may build.
This is the only foundation upon which we may securely build. It is broad
enough for all, and strong enough to sustain the weight and burden of the whole
world. And by connection with Christ, the living stone, all who build upon this
foundation become living stones. Many persons are by their own endeavors hewn,
polished, and beautified; but they cannot become "living stones,"
because they are not connected with Christ. Without this connection, no man can
be saved. Without the life of Christ in us, we cannot withstand the storms of
temptation. Our eternal safety depends upon our building upon the sure
foundation. Multitudes are today building upon foundations that have not been
tested. When the rain falls, and the tempest rages, and the floods come, [600]
their house will fall, because it is not founded upon the eternal Rock, the
chief cornerstone Christ Jesus. {DA 599.4}
"To them which stumble at the word, being
disobedient," Christ is a rock of offense. But "the stone which the
builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner." Like the
rejected stone, Christ in His earthly mission had borne neglect and abuse. He
was "despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with
grief: . . . He was despised, and we esteemed Him not." Isaiah
53:3. But the time was near when He would be glorified. By the resurrection
from the dead He would be declared "the Son of God with power."
Romans 1:4. At His second coming He would be revealed as Lord of heaven and
earth. Those who were now about to crucify Him would recognize His greatness.
Before the universe the rejected stone would become the head of the corner. {DA 600.1}
And on "whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to
powder." The people who rejected Christ were soon to see their city and
their nation destroyed. Their glory would be broken, and scattered as the dust
before the wind. And what was it that destroyed the Jews? It was the rock
which, had they built upon it, would have been their security. It was the
goodness of God despised, the righteousness spurned, the mercy slighted. Men
set themselves in opposition to God, and all that would have been their
salvation was turned to their destruction. All that God ordained unto life they
found to be unto death. In the Jews' crucifixion of Christ was involved the
destruction of Jerusalem. The blood shed upon Calvary was the weight that sank
them to ruin for this world and for the world to come. So it will be in the
great final day, when judgment shall fall upon the rejecters of God's grace.
Christ, their rock of offense, will then appear to them as an avenging
mountain. The glory of His countenance, which to the righteous is life, will be
to the wicked a consuming fire. Because of love rejected, grace despised, the
sinner will be destroyed. {DA
600.2}
By many illustrations and repeated warnings, Jesus showed
what would be the result to the Jews of rejecting the Son of God. In these
words He was addressing all in every age who refuse to receive Him as their
Redeemer. Every warning is for them. The desecrated temple, the disobedient
son, the false husbandmen, the contemptuous builders, have their counterpart in
the experience of every sinner. Unless he repent, the doom which they
foreshadowed will be his. {DA
600.3}
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"Controversy"
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