Expositor's Bible Commentary 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)

About the time of the Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem from Galilee for the annual feast. The narrative poses a chronological puzzle, for the Synoptic Gospels unitedly attach Jesus’ cleansing of the temple to his last visit to Jerusalem at the time of his death (Mark 11:15–19; Lk 19:45-46). It is best to acknowledge that there were two such occasions, one of which was recorded by John and the other by the Synoptics, especially since there are some significant differences between this account and those in the Synoptics (see EBC, 8:44). It is not at all improbable that Jesus may have cleansed the temple twice, two Passovers apart, and that the second so enraged the hierarchy that their animosity toward him exploded into drastic action.

The sale of cattle and doves and the privilege of exchanging money were permitted in the temple court as a convenience for pilgrims who would need animals for sacrifice and temple shekels for their dues. Under the chief priests, however, the concessions had become merely a means of making money and had debased the temple into a commercial venture.

The temple from which Jesus cast out the money changers and those selling animals had recently been lavishly remodelled by King Herod. This model, located in Jerusalem, is a reconstruction of what that temple must have looked like.