* Passages # 05 & # 06 – John 2:13-16 & Matthew 21:12-13 ( see also Matthew parallels at Mark 11:15-17 & Luke 19:45-46 ) … While some critics claim that these passages represent a Biblical contradiction – with John ’ s “ Temple cleansing ” occurring near the beginning of Jesus ’ ministry , and the nearly identical “ cleansing ” found in the Synoptic Gospels occurring some three years later near his ministry ’ s end – many scholars are of the different opinion that these passages show Jesus actually removing the soon-to-be-sacrificed animals & their human “ masters ” from the Temple on two separate occasions . More importantly , when we look more closely at these passages , a few interesting yet oft-overlooked facts are revealed …
First of all , it is intriguing to see that it was innocent animals that Jesus freed from the Temple ( in effect a slaughterhouse in Jesus ’ day ) in the 2 nd chapter of John – chasing them out with a self-made whip – echoing the powerful wisdom of Hosea 6:6- 10 as he did so : “ I desire mercy ; not sacrifice ” … Secondly , it is just as interesting to realize that the word “ thieves ” Jesus uses to repudiate those in the Temple who are changing currencies &/ or selling animals for sacrifice is actually the Greek word “ lestes ”* in the ancient manuscripts ( Strong ’ s # 3027 ) – a word that did not indicate a mere “ thief ”, but rather described a brutally violent “ marauder ; one who exploits the vulnerable with violence ”; a term that quite aptly describes every single slaughterhouse worker to this day .
[* More support for this definition comes from two other instances in the Bible where the same Greek word is found – first , Jesus ’ not-so-subtle criticism of the violent group of heavily armed “ thieves ” who came to haul him off to his crucifixion ( Luke 22:52 & Matthew 26:55 ) and second , to describe the two “ thieves ” who were later crucified with him on Golgotha ( see Mark 15:27 & Matthew 27:44 – remembering that crucifixion was a particularly painful form of execution that the Romans reserved for political insurgents &/ or violent criminals )]
* Passage # 07 – John 21:5-14 … Admittedly , this particular passage – more so than the previous six -- does indeed seem to have Jesus openly supporting the eating of fish , and yet proponents of this opinion should also consider the following : first , please note that most scholars are in agreement that the entire 21 st chapter of John was added to that Gospel many years after it was originally penned , and secondly , please note that nowhere in this passage does it say that Jesus himself ate the fish he apparently offered to his disciples . Finally , it is especially intriguing that the disciples caught exactly 153 fish here , considering the fact that numbers in most if not all Biblical texts were placed purposefully therein by their authors , and yet the significance of catching exactly this many fish is a topic of much depth * best reserved for another day .
* 153 was a sacred number in Pythagorean communities , a number with special significance . The fish , and the number , are references to a mathematical principle often used in sacred-mystery texts called Vesica Piscis , or the “ measure of the fish ”, a form which occurs when two equal circles are joined so that the perimeter of one passes the epicenter of the other , producing a third , intermediate section which resembles the shape of a fish . The mathematical ratio of this section ’ s width to its length is 265:153 , which yields the number 1.73203 -- or exactly the square root of 3 . This symbol was used in ancient mystery schools to represent the unification of divine principles . Indeed , three was a number of very special spiritual significance to the Jews of Jesus ’ day .
134