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Verse Takeaways
1
Missing the Spiritual Point
The Jews' response shows a common pitfall: taking figurative language literally. Commentators explain they fixated on the physical temple, a massive structure 46 years in the making, and completely missed Jesus's profound prophecy about his own death and resurrection. Their mockery reveals a heart unwilling to see beyond the physical world to understand a spiritual truth.
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John
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Commentaries
7
Albert Barnes
On John 2:20
18th Century
Theologian
Then said the Jews... The Jews, either from the ambiguity of his language or, more probably, from a design to cavil, understood him as spe…
AT Robertson
On John 2:20
Forty and six years was this temple in building (Τεσσερακοντα κα εξ ετεσιν οικοδομηθη ο ναος ουτος). "Within forty and six years (…
Charles Ellicott
On John 2:20
19th Century
Bishop
They profess to seek a sign for evidence; they use it for cavil.
Forty and six years was this temple in building.—…
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Expositor's Bible Commentary
On John 2:20
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 th…
John Calvin
On John 2:20
16th Century
Theologian
Forty and six years. The computation of Daniel agrees with this passage (Daniel 9:25), for he reckons seven weeks, wh…
John Gill
On John 2:20
17th Century
Pastor
Then said the Jews
Unto him, as read the Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions:
forty and…
Matthew Henry
On John 2:12–22
17th Century
Minister
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 m…