John Calvin Commentary John 2:17

"His disciples remembered that it was written, Zeal for thy house shall eat me up." — John 2:17 (ASV)

And his disciples remembered. It is pointless for some people to trouble themselves with the question of how the disciples remembered a passage of Scripture, the meaning of which they were until now unacquainted. For we must not understand that this passage of Scripture came to their memory at that moment; but afterwards, when, having been taught by God, they reflected on what the meaning of this action of Christ was, this passage of Scripture occurred to them by the direction of the Holy Spirit.

Indeed, it does not always happen that the reason for God’s works is immediately perceived by us, but afterwards, in the course of time, He makes His purpose known to us. And this is an exceedingly well-suited restraint for our presumption, so that we may not grumble against God if, at any time, our judgment does not entirely approve of what He does.

We are also reminded that when God holds us, as it were, in suspense, it is our duty to wait for the time of more complete knowledge and to restrain the excessive haste that is natural to us. For the reason God delays the full manifestation of His works is so that He may keep us humble.

The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up. The meaning is that the disciples eventually came to know that the zeal for the house of God, with which Christ burned, stirred Him to drive those profanations out of it. By a figure of speech, in which a part is taken for the whole, David uses the name of the temple to denote the entire worship of God, for the entire verse reads as follows:

The zeal of thy house hath eaten me up, and the reproaches of them who reproached thee have fallen on me (Psalms 69:9).

The second clause corresponds to the first; or rather, it is simply a repetition explaining what has been said. The substance of both clauses is that David’s anxiety about maintaining the worship of God was so intense that he cheerfully laid down his head to receive all the reproaches which wicked men threw against God; and that he burned with such zeal, that this single feeling swallowed up every other. He tells us that he himself had such feelings, but there can be no doubt that in his own person he described what strictly belonged to the Messiah.

Accordingly, the Evangelist says that this was one of the signs by which the disciples knew that it was Jesus who protected and restored the kingdom of God. Now observe that they followed the guidance of Scripture to form the opinion concerning Christ that they ought to hold. Indeed, no one will ever learn what Christ is, or the purpose of what He did and suffered, unless he has been taught and guided by Scripture.

Therefore, to the extent that each of us desires to make progress in the knowledge of Christ, it will be necessary for Scripture to be the subject of our diligent and constant meditation. Nor is it without good reason that David mentions the house of God when the divine glory is concerned; for though God is sufficient for Himself, and does not need the services of anyone, yet He wishes His glory to be displayed in the Church.

In this way He gives a remarkable proof of His love towards us, because He unites His glory—as it were, by an indissoluble link—with our salvation.

Now, as Paul informs us that in the example of the Head, a general doctrine is presented to the whole body (Romans 15:3), let each of us apply this to the invitation of Christ, so that—as far as lies in our power—we may not permit the temple of God to be polluted in any way.

But, at the same time, we must be careful that no one transgresses the bounds of his calling. All of us ought to have zeal in common with the Son of God, but not all are at liberty to seize a whip so that we may correct vices with our own hands, for we have not received the same power, nor have we been entrusted with the same commission.