16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.
16 To those who sold doves he said, "Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a market!"
16 And he told those who sold the pigeons, "Take these things away; do not make my Father's house a house of trade."
16 He told the dove merchants, "Get your things out of here! Stop turning my Father's house into a shopping mall!"
16 And He said to those who sold doves, "Take these things away! Do not make My Father's house a house of merchandise!"
16 Then, going over to the people who sold doves, he told them, "Get these things out of here. Stop turning my Father's house into a marketplace!"
Matthew Henry's Commentary on John 2:16
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.