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Describe the place of the Temple in first-century Jerusalem’s social, economic, and political life.
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The temple was the primary place of worship and journey. It was the heart of the Jewish religion, where people from all over the world came to offer their sacrifices, celebrate and pray. It also servied as community center. The temple attracted visitors. Jerusalem relied o the temple for its economy
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The temple system benefited the citizens of Jerusalem directly. All who lived in Jerusalem were dependent either directly or indirectly upon the temple and temple life. Every citizen was dependent and knew they were dependent upon the bounties of the temple. The Sanhedrin, Sadducees and Religious Functionaries were all dependent on the temple.
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1 Kings 8:30 – “Hear the supplication of your servant and of your people Israel when they pray toward this place. Hear from heaven, your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.” At the dedication of the first Temple by Solomon. Later, when they go into Babylonian Captivity, they will remind God that if they just look in the direction of the Temple, He will hear their prayer, as Daniel himself will do in the sixth Chapter of Daniel, verse 10. The central idea of the Temple is the Abiding presence of YHWH, housed behind the veil, dwelling between the Cherubims, in the Holy of Holies. Why will Jesus tell Mary, “Why did you look for me? Didn’t you know I must be about my Father’s business?” An accurate translation is “Why did you look for me? Should you have known I would be in the Temple, my Father’s House? Again later when He turns over tables (twice), He will decry “My Father’s House is a House of prayer…” The Temple by all accounts was not just the center of life but the place YHWH chose to reside on the earth in the Midst of His people. The Temple was the center of life so much so that Haggai would have to prophesy against the people who returned from Babylon, commenced the building of the Temple, and then ceased their work on the temple to build their own homes. Haggai 1:2 “This is what the Lord Almighty says: “These people say, ‘The time has not yet come to rebuild the Lord’s house.’”<sup style=”background-color: var(–bb-content-background-color); font-family: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”>3 </sup>Then the word of the Lord came through the prophet Haggai: <sup style=”background-color: var(–bb-content-background-color); font-family: inherit; color: var(–bb-body-text-color);”>4 </sup>“Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?” This same Temple that the people had put off building NOW stands as the center of life, commerce, fellowship, education, and most of all worship. It is here the Greek Warlord Hyrcanus will sacrifice on the altar and the Jews will rebel under the leadership of Judas Maccabees, determined to defend this Temple and break off the yoke of all oppressors. The temple would seem to direct the financial transactions of the City as bankers, money changers, and sellers would occupy the Court of the Gentiles selling, trading, and changing money for high interest. Thus why Jesus turned over the tables. You can mess with a man’s domicile and daughter but not his dollar. The temple, the stable of Jewish life, tradition, and faith, housed roughly 10,000 functionaries who made up almost a third of the population. Ezra in chapter 3 verses 11, 12 the prophet describes the reaction of the people as the Temple is erected. The young “sang together…in praising and giving thanks to the Lord” for they had not known the splendor and grandeur of the Temple of Solomon since they were born into captivity. The elders, who remembered the Temple of Solomon “…wept and cried with a loud voice.” The weeping was as loud as the joy on that day. But in Jesus’ day, as they all make their way in and out of the Temple, there is little weeping…for now.
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The temple was paramount to Jerusalem's economy; all three social echelons heavily relied upon it. The rich included high priests, bankers, and tax collectors. The middle course consisted of shopkeepers, traders, and regular priests. The poor consisted primarily of day laborers and slaves. Many trades were responsible for upholding Jerusalem's economy, such as pottery, baking, oils, craftwork, and stonecutting. Most of these trades were directly or indirectly associated with the temple. For example, many pilgrims would visit the temple and use these services during their stay. Politically, an influential group of religious leaders known as the Sanhedrin ruled Jerusalem. This group consisted of 71 members and was headed by the high priest.
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Economically it had several different trades such as pottery making, baking, wool goods, olive oil, carpentry, stone cutting and others providing basic needs to the people. Much of these goods were consumed by the Temple and by tourists who were there on pilgrimages.
Social structure reflected many people from outside the city who were called because of thousands of religious functions needing workers and administrator. There were rich such as bankers, tax collectors; middle course made up of ordinary priests, small shopkeepers and traders and many poor people, day laborers and slaves. All of them fit in a network around the temple depending directly or indirectly on the activities of temple life.
Politically it was dominated by the Sanhedrin. This was the highest political body consisting of 71 members and headed by the high priest. Most were wealthy landowners. There was always a Levite who alone could enter into the Holy of Holies to make atonement for people. Then there were chief priests, Sadducees most often. They taught the twenty-four education courses offered at the temple, managed temple finances and made civil law decisions. Next level down were Sadducees, pharisees and scribes. There were singers and gatekeepers and guards amongst other functionaries. It was a unique sort of “Vatican city” had it been Roman Catholic.