John 2:14-16

John 2:14-16

[14] And  found  in  the temple  those that sold  oxen  and  sheep  and  doves,  and  the changers of money  sitting:  [15] 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  the tables;  [16] And  said  unto them that sold  doves,  Take  hence;  make  not  Father's  house  of merchandise. 

What does John 2:14-16 Mean?

Contextual Meaning

Jesus witnessed the buying and selling going on in the temple courtyard (Gr. hieron). This was undoubtedly the outer Court of the Gentiles, not the temple building (Gr. naos). [1] Probably the custom of selling sacrificial animals and exchanging various types of silver and copper money (e.g, Persian, Syrian, Egyptian, Grecian, and Roman) for temple coinage began as a convenience for pilgrims. The priests accepted only Tyrian coins because of the purity of their silver. By Jesus" day this practice had escalated into a major business for the priests and had replaced spiritual worship in the courtyard during the Passover season. [2] The priests transformed this area from a place of quiet prayer into a noisy bazaar. It was virtually impossible for Gentiles to worship there, the only courtyard accessible to them, with all the business going on. This was probably where the Ethiopian eunuch ( Acts 8:27) and other Gentiles like him worshipped when they came to Jerusalem. The priests set up tables for the moneychangers only for about three weeks leading up to Passover. [3]
Jesus responded to this situation actively and verbally. He claimed that God was His Father and that He acted for God in what He did. John"s vivid description has inspired many painters who have drawn what they believed this action-packed scene must have looked like. John gave the reason for Jesus" deeds as His concern for the misuse of the temple. He did not mention the corruption that may have been going on as the priests bought and sold and changed money. Jesus" action constituted a major threat to the financial arrangements for the sacrificial system. [4]
"The Talmud also records the curse which a distinguished Rabbi of Jerusalem (Abba Shaul) pronounced upon the High-Priestly families (including that of Annas), who were "themselves High-Priests, their sons treasurers (Gizbarin), their sons-in-law assistant-treasurers (Ammarkalin), while their servants beat the people with sticks." (Pes. [5] 57 a) What a comment this passage offers on the bearing of Jesus, as He made a scourge to drive out the very servants who "beat the people with sticks," and upset their unholy traffic!" [5]6
By claiming God as His Father, Jesus was citing authority for His action, not claiming equality with the Father, which He did another time ( John 5:18). To those present, the issue was clearly Jesus" authority, not His identity ( John 2:18).
Though Jesus" action was violent, it evidently did not constitute a threat to the peace in the temple area. Roman soldiers from the adjoining Antonia Fortress would have intervened quickly if it had. Jesus was forceful but not cruel. There is no indication that He injured anyone with His fairly harmless scourge of cords (Gr. phragellion ek schoinion). The Greek masculine plural pantas ("all") argues for Jesus driving the traders out, not just the animals, which the neuter plural panta would identify. Schoinion ("cords") elsewhere describes the ropes on a ship ( Acts 27:32).
"It is clear that it was not so much the physical force as the moral power he employed that emptied the courts." [7]
The Old Testament predicted that Messiah would come and purify the Levites ( Malachi 3:1-3; cf. Zechariah 14:21). Jesus" action perhaps recalled these prophecies to the godly in Israel who may have wondered if Jesus was the Messiah. His actions did not fulfill these prophecies, however, which appear in millennial contexts. Jesus will yet return to the temple that will be standing in Jerusalem when He returns at His second coming and purify the Levites serving there then. This will be preparation for His messianic reign that will follow. Another view is that Jesus" first coming to the temple did fulfill Malachi"s prophecy. [8]