The Jewish temple should have been the center for worshiping God. Yet people could hardly pray there. Traders were busy taking money from the worshipers. The temple became “a market” and “a den [hiding place] of robbers” (Matthew 21:13). And so:
And making a whip of cords [ropes], he drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and oxen. And he poured out the coins of the money-changers and overturned their tables. And he told those who sold the pigeons, “Take these things away; do not make my Father’s house a house of trade” (John 2:15-16).
Leaders of the temple became angry. (After all, this young man from Galilee had not even been to their special schools, John 7:15). These leaders belonged to a religious group called Sadducees. They did not treat Scripture with proper respect. For example, they did not believe scriptures about spirits, angels, and certain miracles. They argued with Jesus about this. He proved how little they understood, and said,
“You are wrong, because you know neither the Scriptures nor the power of God” (Matthew 22:29).
A group of teachers named Pharisees also argued with Jesus. They were very strict about the Law of Moses. They tried to keep it ‘safe’ by adding many laws of their own. Jesus did not follow these man-made rules and ideas. For example, He did not follow their rules about ‘removing sin’ by washing before eating. They accused Him of leaving the old ways—“the tradition of the elders.” Jesus replied,
“Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, ‘This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines [rules] the commandments of men.’ You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men” (Mark 7:6-8).
“Hypocrites” means “actors.” Many were putting on an act of loving God. Beneath their masks they really loved earthly things. They chased after money (Luke 16:14). They were proud, and wanted important positions of power (Matthew 23; Luke 18:9-14; John 5:42-44). Their religious rules were a cover for looking good to others and for controlling others. Jesus’ pure light showed just how deep their darkness was, and how blind they were.
And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world, and people loved the darkness rather than the light because their works were evil. For everyone who does wicked [evil] things hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his works should be exposed [shown]. (John 3:19-20)
Light and darkness cannot be in the same place. The leaders hated the way that Jesus uncovered their sinfulness. They became worried when large numbers of people went to hear Jesus, so they looked for ways to kill Him (John 7:1; Matthew 26:4).