14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money.
14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
14 In the temple he found those who were selling oxen and sheep and pigeons, and the money-changers sitting there.
14 He found the Temple teeming with people selling cattle and sheep and doves. The loan sharks were also there in full strength.
14 And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the moneychangers doing business.
14 In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 2:14
Commentary on John 2:12-22
(Read John 2:12-22)
The first public work in which we find Christ engaged, was driving from the temple the traders whom the covetous priests and rulers encouraged to make a market-place of its courts. Those now make God's house a house of merchandise, whose minds are filled with cares about worldly business when attending religious exercises, or who perform Divine offices for love of gain. Christ, having thus cleansed the temple, gave a sign to those who demanded it, to prove his authority for so doing. He foretells his death by the Jews' malice, Destroy ye this temple; I will permit you to destroy it. He foretells his resurrection by his own power; In three days I will raise it up. Christ took again his own life. Men mistake by understanding that according to the letter, which the Scripture speaks by way of figure. When Jesus was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered he has said this. It helps much in understanding the Divine word, to observe the fulfilling of the Scriptures.