John 2:14 - Printer Friendly

ESV: In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there.

NIV: In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.

NASB: And within the temple grounds He found those who were selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables.

CSB: In the temple he found people selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and he also found the money changers sitting there.

NLT: In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money.

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

NKJV: And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business.

The presence of the livestock vendors and money changers in the temple probably started off with good intentions. Jewish people traveling long distances to the temple (Deuteronomy 16:16; John 2:13) did not always have the means to bring animals with them. It made sense to provide a way to purchase proper sacrifices. There would also be a need to help people convert their coins into local money. Apparently, turning a profit soon took over. More of a problem was that instead of conducting business near the temple, or just outside it, the marketplace had been moved inside the temple grounds.

The area in question is known as the "Court of the Gentiles," just inside the borders of the temple. This should have been the place where Israel reached out to tell others about God. It was meant to be one of the spaces set aside for God's people to focus on God's purposes. Instead, it was being used as a blatant money grab (John 2:16).

Some interpreters see a warning here for modern ministries: to avoid allowing a ministry to lose sight of its original purpose. Worse is the threat of letting business concerns outweigh spiritual concerns, or a ministry becoming entirely profit-driven.

John 2:13–23 describes Jesus driving corrupt businessmen from the temple. His wrath is not because of selling sacrifices, itself, but rather the greedy focus on money with no regard to serving God. Jesus is never depicted as out of control, but His anger is clear. It's likely that this is an early temple cleansing, and the other gospels record a second, separate incident. Jesus' right to act this way is challenged by the authorities. In typical Hebrew style, they demand a miraculous sign. Jesus instead predicts His own death and resurrection. This passage contrasts with the quiet, joyous miracle at the wedding.

Jesus attends a wedding where He performs His first miracle: turning water into wine. This symbolizes a transformation of human rituals into divine sacrifice. Few people are even aware that a miracle has occurred. Jesus then drives crooked businessmen out of the temple, scolding them for turning a sacred area into a crass marketplace.

Chapter 2 begins to show Jesus' "signs," or miracles, which will prove that He is the Savior. The miracles will become more spectacular over time, but they start quietly. Contrast is an important part of the gospel of John. The quiet, joyful miracle at the wedding is starkly different from the loud public spectacle of clearing the temple. Jesus' first miracle symbolizes His mission. During the temple clearing, He also predicts His death and resurrection. This sets the stage for Jesus' private discussion with Nicodemus, a respected and influential man.

The disciple John wrote the gospel of John decades after the gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke were written. The author assumes that a reader is already familiar with the content of these other works. So, John presents a different perspective, with a greater emphasis on meaning. John uses seven miracles—which he calls "signs"— to prove that Jesus is, in fact, God incarnate. Some of the most well-known verses in the Bible are found here. None is more famous than the one-sentence summary of the gospel found in John 3:16.