Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary John 2:19

"Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up." — John 2:19 (ASV)

The Jews’ demand for a sign is quite in agreement with their general attitude toward Jesus during his lifetime (16:1; Mark 8:11). On this particular occasion, Jesus answered enigmatically, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it in three days.” His critics assumed that he was speaking of Herod’s temple, which had been in process of construction for fortysix years and was still incomplete. Jesus, says the author, really meant the temple of his body, which he would raise up in three days’ time.