Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

John 2:16

εἶπεν. The doves could not be driven out, and to let them fly might have caused unseemly and prolonged commotion: He calls to the owners to take the cages away. Throughout He guides His indignation, not it Him. ‘The wrath of the Lamb’ is mercy here and justice hereafter, never indiscriminating passion.

μὴ ποιεῖτε. Addressed to all, not merely to the dove-sellers.

τ. οἶκ. τοῦ πατρός μου. ‘Admiranda auctoritas’ (Bengel). A distinct claim to Messiahship: it reminds us of ἐν τοῖς τοῦ πατρός μου (Luke 2:49) spoken in the same place some 17 years before. Possibly some who heard the Child’s claim heard the Man’s claim also.

οἶκον ἐμπορίου. A house of traffic. Two years later things seem to have become worse instead of better; the Temple has then become ‘a den of robbers, a bandits’ cave.’ See on Matthew 21:13 and Mark 11:17. He meets with no resistance. As in Gethsemane (John 18:6) the majesty of His appearance prevails. But His success produces opposite results: those who sympathize are confirmed in faith, those who do not take offence. Later on the Evangelist almost invariably points out this double effect of Christ’s teaching.

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Cambridge Greek Testament Commentary

John 2:16

Old Testament

New Testament