Albert Barnes Commentary John 2:14

"And he found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:" — John 2:14 (ASV)

Found in the temple, etc. The transaction recorded here is in almost all respects similar to that which has been explained (see Barnes on Matthew 21:12).

This took place at the commencement of his public ministry, that at the close. On each occasion he showed that his great regard was for the pure worship of His Father. One great design of his coming was to reform the abuses that had crept into that worship and to bring humanity to a proper regard for the glory of God. If it is asked how those engaged in this traffic so readily yielded to Jesus of Nazareth—leaving their gains and property and fleeing from the temple at the command of one as obscure as he was—it may be answered:

1. Their consciences reproved them for their impiety, and they could not set up the appearance of self-defense.
2. It was customary in the nation to cherish a profound regard for the authority of a prophet; and the appearance and manner of Jesus—so fearless, so decided, so authoritative—led them to suppose he was a prophet, and they were afraid to resist him.
3. He had even then a wide reputation among the people, and it is not improbable that many supposed him to be the Messiah.
4. Jesus on all occasions had a most wonderful control over people. None could resist him. There was something in his manner, as well as in his doctrine, that awed people and made them tremble at his presence . On this occasion he had the manner of a prophet, the authority of God, and the testimony of their own consciences, and they could not, therefore, resist the authority by which he spoke.

Though Jesus thus purified the temple at the commencement of his ministry, yet in three years the same scene was to be repeated . And from this we may learn:

1. How soon people forget the most solemn reproofs and return to evil practices.
2. That no sacredness of time or place will guard them from sin. In the very temple, under the very eye of God, these people soon returned to practices for which their consciences reproved them and which they knew God disapproved.
3. We see here how strong the love of gain—the ruling passion of humankind—is. Not even the sacredness of the temple, the presence of God, or the solemn ceremonials of religion deterred them from this unholy traffic. So wicked people and hypocrites will always turn religion, if possible, into gain; and not even the sanctuary, the Sabbath, or the most solemn and sacred scenes will deter them from schemes of gain . So strong is this groveling passion, and so deep is that depravity which does not fear God and does not regard His Sabbaths, His sanctuary, or His law.