Matthew Henry Commentary John 2:12-22

"After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and [his] brethren, and his disciples; and there they abode not many days. And the passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And he found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: and he made a scourge of cords, and cast all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers` money, and overthrew their tables; and to them that sold the doves he said, Take these things hence; make not my Father`s house a house of merchandise. His disciples remembered that it was written, Zeal for thy house shall eat me up. The Jews therefore answered and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. The Jews therefore said, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou raise it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he spake this; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said." — John 2:12-22 (ASV)

The first public work in which we find Christ engaged was driving the traders from the temple, whom the covetous priests and rulers encouraged to make a marketplace of its courts. Those today make God's house a house of merchandise whose minds are filled with cares about worldly business when attending religious services, or who perform divine services for love of gain.

Christ, having thus cleansed the temple, gave a sign to those who demanded it to prove His authority for doing so. 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.

People make mistakes by understanding literally what the Scripture speaks figuratively. When Jesus was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. It greatly helps in understanding the divine word to observe the fulfillment of the Scriptures.