And within the temple grounds He found those who were selling oxen, sheep, and doves, and the money changers seated at their tables.
Parallel translations
- WEB He found in the temple those who sold oxen, sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting.
- KJV And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:
- BSB In the temple courts He found men selling cattle, sheep, and doves, and money changers seated at their tables.
- NKJV And He found in the temple those who sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the money changers doing business.
- NLT In the Temple area he saw merchants selling cattle, sheep, and doves for sacrifices; he also saw dealers at tables exchanging foreign money.
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations taken from the (NASB®) New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995, 2020 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. lockman.org
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Quick answer
In the temple Jesus found merchants selling sacrificial animals and money changers at their tables. The sacred place had been turned into a site of commerce.
Overview
The temple courts hosted trade in animals for sacrifice and currency exchange for the temple tax — services that, however convenient, had displaced reverent worship in the court meant for prayer. Jesus' discovery of this scene sets up His decisive action. His concern is for the holiness of His Father's house and true worship of God.
Cross-references & the web
Cross-references · 6
- Luke 19:45–46He entered into the temple, and began to drive out those who bought and sold in it,
- Mark 11:15They came to Jerusalem, and Jesus entered into the temple, and began to throw out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables, and the seats of those who sold the doves.
- Mark 11:17He taught, saying to them, “Isn’t it written, ‘My house will be called a house of prayer for all the nations?’ But you have made it a den of robbers!”
- Matt 21:12–13Jesus entered into the temple of God, and drove out all of those who sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the money changers’ tables and the seats of those who sold the doves.
- Deut 14:23–26You shall eat before Yahweh your God, in the place which he chooses, to cause his name to dwell there, the tithe of your grain, of your new wine, and of your oil, and the firstborn of your herd and of your flock; that you may learn to fear Yahweh your God always.
- Mal 3:1–3“Behold, I send my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me; and the Lord, whom you seek, will suddenly come to his temple; and the messenger of the covenant, whom you desire, behold, he comes!” says Yahweh of Armies.
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John declares him plainly: the eternal Word made flesh, the Lamb of God, the great 'I AM' — bread, light, door, shepherd, way, truth, life, resurrection — that you may believe and have life in his name.
How John 2:14 points to him is part of the one story that runs through all Scripture — meet Jesus at the heart of the web, or follow a trail that traces him from Genesis to Revelation.
Original language
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