Thematic Bible: Herod the great's temple


Thematic Bible



Jesus answered him: I have spoken openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues, and in the temple where all the Jews gathered. I spoke nothing in secret.

Chief priests and scribes approached him at the Temple in Jerusalem. They said to him: By what authority do you do these things? Or who gave you authority to do these things? Jesus said: I will ask you one question. Give me an answer, and I will say by what authority I do these things. read more.
The baptism of John was it from heaven or from men? Give me an answer. They thought about it among themselves saying: If we say from heaven he will say why did you not have faith in him? They feared the people. If we say from men the people would not like it because they all thought John was a true prophet. They told Jesus We have no idea. Jesus said to them: I should not say to you by what authority I do these things.

Still teaching in the temple Jesus said: Do the scribes say that the Christ is the son of David? Inspired by Holy Spirit David said: 'Jehovah said to my Lord sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies a footstool for your feet.' (Psalm 110:1) David called him Lord. How is it that he is his son? The people were pleased with what he said. read more.
He said: Beware of the scribes, who desire to walk in long robes, and to have greetings in the marketplaces. They demand the front seats in the synagogues and prominent places at feasts. They devour widows' houses and for pretence make long prayers. These shall receive greater condemnation. He sat down near the collection boxes and observed how the crowd dropped money into the boxes. Many that were rich dropped in much. A poor widow came along and dropped in two mites. He told his disciples: Truly I tell you this poor widow gave more then all the others who gave to the collection box. They all gave out of their surplus. She gave out of her poverty. She gave all that she owned, all her living.

I was with you every day in the Temple teaching and you did not take me. This is done so that the scriptures will be fulfilled.

Later Jesus found him in the temple and told him: Now that you are healed do not sin anymore and avoid worse things happening to you. The man went away and told the Jews Jesus made him whole. The Jews persecuted Jesus because he did these things on the Sabbath. read more.
Jesus responded to them: My Father works until now and I work.

Midway through the feast Jesus went to the temple and taught. The Jews wondered saying: How does this man know letters? He has had no formal education. Jesus replied: My teaching is not my own. It is his who sent me. read more.
If any man does his will he shall know the teachings. He will know if it is from God, or whether I speak from myself. He who speaks from his own authority seeks his own glory. He who seeks glory for the one who sent him is true. Unrighteousness is not found in him. Did Moses give you the law? Yet none of you obey the law! Why do you seek to kill me? The crowd answered: You have a demon! Who seeks to kill you? Jesus responded: I did one work and you all marveled because of it. Moses gave you circumcision. Not that it is of Moses, but of the fathers. And you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. A man receives circumcision on the Sabbath. That way the Law of Moses may not be broken. Are you angry with me, because I made an entire man whole on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance! Judge a righteous judgment. Some in Jerusalem asked: Is this he whom they seek to kill? He spoke openly and they said nothing to him. Can it be that the rulers indeed know that this is the Christ? How is it we know where this man is from but when the Christ comes no one will know where he is from? Jesus shouted in the temple: You know me and from where I came. I did not come on my own. He who sent me is true and you do not know him.

It was wintertime. Jesus was walking in the temple on Solomon's porch (the Colonnade of Solomon). The Jews came to him and asked: How long will you keep us in suspense? If you are the Christ, tell us plainly. Jesus replied: I told you and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name bear witness of me. read more.
You do not believe because you are not my sheep! My sheep hear my voice. I know them and they follow me. I give them eternal life. They will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father has given them to me. He is greater than all and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one (united in purpose). The Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus replied to them: I have shown you many good works from the Father. For which of those works do you stone me? The Jews answered him: We do not stone you for good work but for blasphemy. You are a man and you make yourself like God. (John 1:1) Jesus said: Is it not written in your law, I said, you are 'god-like ones'? So if he called them 'god-like ones,' those to whom the word of God came, and the Scriptures may not be annulled, do you say to the one whom the Father sanctified and sent into the world, you blaspheme? And this because I said, I am the Son of God. (Psalm 82:1, 6) (John 1:34; 5:18) (Luke 1:35) If I am not doing the works of my Father, do not believe me. But if I do them and you do not believe me, believe the works! That way you may know and understand that the Father is with me, and I am with the Father.


Jesus went into the Temple and drove out all who were trading there. He overturned the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of those trading in doves. He told them: It is written, 'My house is to be named a house of prayer,' but you are making it a hiding place of thieves.

Jesus entered the temple and drove out the merchants. He said: It is written my house shall be a house of prayer. You have made it a den of robbers.

When in Jerusalem he entered the temple and turned over the tables of the moneychangers and the seats of the people who sold doves. He would not allow any man to carry merchandise through the temple. When he taught, he said: Is it not written, my house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations? But you have made it a den of robbers.

He made a whip of cords, and chased them all out of the temple, including the sheep and the oxen. He poured out the coins of the moneychangers and overturned the tables. He told those who sold doves: Take these things away. Do not make my Father's house a house of merchandise.


There was in the days of Herod, the king of Judea, a priest named Zechariah. He was of the priestly division of Abijah. He had a wife of the daughters of Aaron. Her name was Elizabeth. They were both righteous before God. They blamelessly obeyed all the commandments and ordinances of God (Greek: kurios: God). They had no child for Elizabeth was barren and they both were well advanced in years. read more.
He faithfully executed the priest's duties before God. The custom was to draw lots to see who served in the temple. It was his turn to enter into the temple of God and burn incense. The whole crowd of people prayed outside at the hour of incense. God's angel appeared to him when he was standing on the right side of the altar of incense. Zechariah was troubled. When he saw the angel he was filled with fear. Have no fear Zechariah, said the angel, for God has heard your prayer. Your wife Elisabeth will have a son and his name will be John. You will be filled with joy, and many will be happy at his birth. He will be great in the eyes of God. He will not drink wine or strong drink and he will be full of Holy Spirit from the time of his birth. Great numbers of the children of Israel will return to Jehovah their God because of him. (1 Samuel 7:3) He will go before God in the spirit and power of Elijah. He will turn the hearts of fathers to their children and wrongdoers to the way of righteousness. This will make ready a people whose hearts have been directed to Jehovah (YHWH). (Malachi 3:1) Zechariah asked: How might I be certain of this for my wife and I are old? The angel answered: I am Gabriel, whose place is before God. I have been sent to give you this good news. You will be without voice or language till the day when these things happen. Your lack of faith in what I say has caused this. The people were waiting for Zechariah. They were surprised he was in the Temple for such a long time. When he came out he could not speak to them. They realized he saw a vision in the temple. Instead of talking he made signs to them. When the days of his priestly service ended he went home.

Now it was time for Elisabeth to give birth. She gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and her relatives heard that Jehovah magnified his mercy towards her; and they rejoiced with her. On the eighth day they circumcised the child. They planned to call him Zechariah, after the name of the father. read more.
His mother spoke up and said: He shall be called John. They all said: None of your relatives are called by this name. They made signs to his father, what he would have him called. He asked for a writing tablet, and wrote, His name is John. They were all amazed. Immediately his tongue loosed, his mouth opened and he spoke, blessing God.


As they spoke to the people, the chief priests, the captain of the temple, and the Sadducees came to them.

Then the captain with the officers brought them in without violence. They feared the people lest they should have been stoned.

Jesus spoke to the chief priests, captains of the temple and elders who came against him: Did you come as you would against a robber with swords and clubs?

When the high priest and the captain of the temple and the chief priests heard these things, they doubted them. They wondered what this would come to.



It was wintertime. Jesus was walking in the temple on Solomon's porch (the Colonnade of Solomon).

The beggar held on to Peter and John while all the people came to them at the place called Solomon's Colonnade.


Jesus said: See these great buildings? Not one stone will be left upon another. They will all be thrown down.

Concerning these things you see, the days will come, in which there shall not be left here one stone upon another, that shall not be thrown down.




They continued blessing God in the Temple.


It magnified itself, even to the prince of the host. It took the continual burnt offering from him and the place of his sanctuary was thrown down. The host was given over to it together with the continual burnt offering through transgression. It cast down truth to the ground, and whatever it wanted to do and prospered. Then I heard a holy one speak and another holy one said to it: How long will the vision be concerning the continual burnt-offering and the transgression that makes desolate to give both the sanctuary and the host to be trampled under foot? read more.
He said to me: Two thousand and three hundred evenings and mornings. Then the sanctuary will be cleansed. After I, even I Daniel, had seen the vision I sought to understand it. Behold, there appeared before me a man standing.

For ships of Kittim will come against him. He will be grieved and will return. He will have indignation against the holy covenant and will do what he pleases. He will even return, and show favor to those who forsake the holy covenant. His armed forces will stand with him, and they will profane the sanctuary, even the fortress, and will take away the continual burnt offering. They will set up the abomination that makes desolate.


Then the Devil took him into the holy city and had him stand on top of the Temple. If (since) you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. The Scriptures say: 'God will give orders to his angels about you and they will hold you with their hands, so that not even your feet will strike the ground.' Again it is written, Jesus replied, 'you must not put Jehovah your God to the test.' (Deuteronomy 6:16)

He led him to Jerusalem and set him on the pinnacle (highest level) of the temple. Then he said to him: If you are the Son of God, cast yourself down from here. It is written, he shall give his angels charge concerning you to guard you. They will carry you with their hands so you do not dash your foot against a stone. read more.
Jesus replied: It is said you should not test Jehovah your God. (Deuteronomy 6:16)


As he left the temple one of his disciples said to him: Teacher look at these stones and the great buildings!

Some spoke of how wonderful the temple was. How it was adorned with beautiful stones and offerings, Jesus replied:



Go stand in the temple and speak to the people all the sayings about this life. When they heard that, they entered into the temple early in the morning, and taught. But the high priest came, and those who were with him. He called the council together and all the senate of the children of Israel and sent to the prison to have them brought.


Then Paul took the men and became purified with them. They went into the temple, declaring the fulfillment of the days of purification, until the offering was offered for every one of them. When the seven days were almost over, the Jews from Asia, when they saw him in the temple stirred up the entire crowd and laid hands on him. They shouted: Men of Israel, help! This is the man who teaches all men everywhere against the people, and the law, and this place; and moreover he brought Greeks also into the temple, and defiled this holy place. read more.
They had previously been with him in the city Trophimus the Ephesian, whom they supposed that Paul had brought into the Temple. The entire city was aroused, and the people ran together from all directions. They laid hold on Paul and dragged him out of the Temple. Immediately the doors were shut.


The blind and the crippled came to him in the Temple, and he made them well. The chief priests and the scribes saw the powerful works he did. They heard the children crying out in the Temple: Glory to the son of David. This made them very angry.


I went back to Jerusalem. Then I have a vision while I prayed in the temple. I saw the Lord. He said to me: 'Hurry and leave Jerusalem because the people here will not accept your witness about me.' I answered, 'Lord they know very well that I went to the synagogues and arrested and beat those who believe in you. read more.
When your witness Stephen was put to death, I was there, approving of his murder and taking care of the coats of his murderers.' The Lord said: 'Go! I will send you far away to the people of the nations.'


He sat down near the collection boxes and observed how the crowd dropped money into the boxes. Many that were rich dropped in much. A poor widow came along and dropped in two mites. He told his disciples: Truly I tell you this poor widow gave more then all the others who gave to the collection box. read more.
They all gave out of their surplus. She gave out of her poverty. She gave all that she owned, all her living.


After eight days the baby was circumcised. He was called by the name, Jesus. (Jesus: Jehovah is salvation) This was the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb. Following the days of their purification according to the Law of Moses they brought him up to Jerusalem. There they would present him to God. It is written in God's law that every male that opens the womb shall be called holy to God. (Exodus 13:1, 2) read more.
According to God's Law they must offer a sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves, or two young pigeons. There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout. He was waiting for God to save Israel. God's Holy Spirit was working in him. Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would not die before he saw the Christ of God. Under the power of the spirit he came to the temple. The parents brought in the child Jesus, that they obey the custom of the law. He received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said: Let your servant depart according to your word in peace. My eyes have seen your salvation. That which you prepared before the peoples. It is a light of revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel. Jesus' father and mother were amazed at the things that were spoken concerning him. Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: This child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel and for a sign that is spoken against. A sword will pierce through your mind that the thoughts of many hearts will be disclosed. Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher was a very old prophetess. She had been a widow eighty-four years. She never left the temple. She worshipped and fasted with supplications day and night. Even up to that time she gave thanks to God and spoke to all who were looking for the redemption of Jerusalem. When they had accomplished all things that were according to the law of God they returned to Galilee, to their own city Nazareth.


There was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout. He was waiting for God to save Israel. God's Holy Spirit was working in him. Holy Spirit revealed to him that he would not die before he saw the Christ of God. Under the power of the spirit he came to the temple. The parents brought in the child Jesus, that they obey the custom of the law. read more.
He received him into his arms, and blessed God, and said: Let your servant depart according to your word in peace. My eyes have seen your salvation. That which you prepared before the peoples. It is a light of revelation to the nations, and the glory of your people Israel. Jesus' father and mother were amazed at the things that were spoken concerning him. Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother: This child is set for the falling and the rising of many in Israel and for a sign that is spoken against. A sword will pierce through your mind that the thoughts of many hearts will be disclosed.


Anna the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher was a very old prophetess. She had been a widow eighty-four years. She never left the temple. She worshipped and fasted with supplications day and night.


Peter and John went up to the temple at the hour of prayer. It was the ninth hour. A man who had been crippled from birth was carried to the gate of the temple called Beautiful. There he begged for handouts from those who entered the temple. Seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple he begged from them. read more.
Peter and John looked at him and said: Look at us. He looked at them expecting to receive something from them. Then Peter said: We have no money but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth rise up and walk. He took him by the right hand, and lifted him up. Immediately his feet and anklebones received strength. He leaped up, stood and walked. He entered the temple with them walking, and leaping, and praising God. All the people saw him walking and praising God. They knew he was the one who begged at the Beautiful gate of the temple. They were filled with wonder and amazement because of what happened to him. The beggar held on to Peter and John while all the people came to them at the place called Solomon's Colonnade. When Peter saw this he spoke to the people: You men of Israel, why are you amazed at this? Why do you look at us as though our own power or holiness made this man walk? The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, has glorified his Son Jesus. You handed him over to Pilate. When he was determined to let him go you denied him. You disowned the Holy and Righteous One and requested a murderer to be released to you. You killed the Prince of life, whom God raised from the dead. We witnessed this! This man you see and know was made strong by his faith in the name of Jesus. His faith has given him total healing in your presence.


The veil (curtain) of the temple was ripped in two from the top to the bottom. The earth quaked and the rocks split.


Then the military commander came near and laid hold on him. He commanded that he be bound with two chains. He asked who he was and what he had done.


The Jews responded: It took forty-six years to build this temple and you will raise it up in three days?




After three days they found him in the temple, sitting in the midst of the teachers. He was listening and asking them questions.


They knew he was the one who begged at the Beautiful gate of the temple. They were filled with wonder and amazement because of what happened to him.


After Jesus left the temple, his disciples came to him to show him the buildings of the temple.