“And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.”
Then the Jews responded to him, 'What sign can you show us to authorize what you are doing?' — the Jewish authorities demand authentication of Jesus' extraordinary action through a sign (sēmeion). This introduces the sign motif's juridical dimension: signs function as credentials, proof of authority. The demand both tests and challenges Jesus, anticipating the Gospel's theme of faith tested by demand for proof.
Church Fathers on John 2:17
Our Lord on coming to Jerusalem, immediately entered the temple to pray; giving us an example that, wheresoever we go, our first visit should be to the house of God to pray. And He found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep, and doves, and the changers of money sitting.
Such sacrifices were prescribed to the people, in condescension to their carnal minds; to prevent them from turning aside to idols. They sacrificed sheep, and oxen, and doves.
The sheep, and the oxen and poured out the changers’ money, and overthrew the tables, i.e. of the money changers, which were coffers of pence.
Read all 24 entries in the readerCatena Aurea · St. Thomas Aquinas, tr. J. H. Newman · public domain
COMMUNITY REFLECTIONS
Publish a reflection on this verse
No reflections on this verse yet. Be the first to write one!