PER039

The merchants driven out of the Temple

Pericope 39 studies Jesus’ cleansing of the Temple as reported by John (John 2:14–22). The author argues for two distinct events three years apart. The first takes place during the first Passover of Jesus’ ministry (7 April 30). The article explores the historical context of Herod’s Temple, the role of Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin, and two key lessons: Jesus’ zeal for God’s house and the prophetic announcement of his resurrection.

4 min Temple merchants cleansing of the Temple John 2 Passover Jesus 2 verses 2 books

Resources

You can consult:

Biblical texts

Matthew
Matthew (King James Version) not cited in the book
Mark
Mark (King James Version) not cited in the book
Luke
Luke (King James Version) not cited in the book
John
John 2.14-22 (King James Version)

And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables;

And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father’s house an house of merchandise.

And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

But he spake of the temple of his body.

When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

King James Version (1769), domaine public — texte : eBible.org

Technical details

Location: Jerusalem in Judea

Date: Passover, Friday, 7 April 30

Method: We continue with John

Note on the method: John alone gives us information about this first Passover festival.

Bar chart for the year 30

In Caiaphas’ time, the merchants stood under the arches of Solomon’s Portico, but also encroached on the Court of the Gentiles.

The merchants driven out of the Temple by Jesus the Messiah

The merchants driven out of the Temple

Comments

At the beginning of his account, the apostle John relates this episode, which the authors of the Synoptic Gospels placed at the end of Jesus the Messiah’s ministry. If John recorded it at this point, knowing his friends’ writings, it simply means that Jesus the Messiah drove the merchants out of the Temple twice, three years apart.

Although there are similarities between the two incidents, we chiefly observe differences incompatible with the theory that they describe the same event.

The main phase of the Temple’s renovation had been completed about three years before the event John describes; nevertheless, various smaller works would continue until the year 63. These improvements would no longer disrupt the activities of Jewish worship.

The traders and money changers had secured an even larger place beneath Solomon’s porticoes, with the permission of the high priest Caiaphas and the .

Many devout Jews disapproved of this decision, so Jesus the Messiah, in courageously opposing these merchants’ presence on the Temple esplanade, would have their support if trouble arose. Aware of this explosive situation, the Jewish merchants remained cautious in their reactions.

During the great festivals, traders moved onto the Temple esplanade to attract buyers. This place of contemplation and prayer became a deafening market. The animals’ smells and noise, and their droppings, intensified the transformation. Many Jews rejected this decision by the .

We might be surprised that the Master drove the traders out of the Temple twice. We think he would actually have needed to remove them every year, since such an act was unlikely to change so profitable a practice.

This event reminded the disciples of two important points: their Master’s zeal and his announcement of his resurrection. Only after Jesus the Messiah’s death did they understand many of his words and actions.

The words ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up’ mean ‘Kill me, and on the third day I will rise again!’ This recalls the reference in Matthew 12.40 to Jonah’s three days and three nights.

The first Passover that Jesus the Messiah celebrated in Jerusalem during his ministry remains marked by the cleansing of the Temple. The same would be true of the fourth and last Passover.

We develop this study in the appendix ANN075 : The traders driven out of the Temple.