13 When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. 15 So
he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both
sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and
overturned their tables. 16 To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” 17 His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”[c]
18 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”
19 Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
20 They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” 21 But the temple he had spoken of was his body. 22 After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.
23 Now while he was in Jerusalem at the Passover Festival, many people saw the signs he was performing and believed in his name.[d] 24 But Jesus would not entrust himself to them, for he knew all people. 25 He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person. John 2 NIV
As a reminder, Passover is the celebration in memoriam of God freeing the Israelites from the slavery they had been held in for 400 years in Egypt. This coincides with our Good Friday and Easter, as Christ was crucified over Passover. Passover is generally in April, depending on the moons of the year. It last 7 days, and no work is allowed on the first and last days, as these are higher holy days. Jews were to purge their homes of any levening, to remind themselves that they left in great hurry. Read more on this event in Exodus ( 12 NIV ) Also, here is a description of Passover, the meal and what it means. ( Jewish Virtual Library )
The cleansing took place, it is believed, in the Royal Stoa of the Temple---which stood for a market, as well as other things. It stood grand as an opening across the length of the southern side, and was the most glorious of the porticoes. This area is also where the Gentiles were allowed to be in the Temple. ( Mack ) ( ThoughtCo )
The monies of the various countries had to be switched over to Tyrian half-shekels, which had more silver and considered not idolatrous as the coins with the marks of the various kings. The Temple is considered to have likely taken advantage of the people shifting coins, and taking more than their fare share of the money; it was acceptable to charge a price for changing money, but whether this was honestly done? The animals were often sold for more than they would have been elsewhere in the city. It is interesting to me that Christ points out the dove-sellers. Doves were to be for the ultra poor's sacrifice. ( ThoughtCo )
Ironically, the Pharisees did not approve of this act any more than Christ, but as the Saducees were in leadership, believed that they were getting approval by receiving money and leadership roles, it was a hard battle to fight. ( Mack )
Passover sacrifices must be perfect, which, of course, was judged by the Saducees, with Ananias being High Priest. It was often easier to buy an animal at the Temple, but certainly more expensive. The Temple must have brought in a lot of extra funds over Passover--Josephus estimated 3 million people were in the city during Passover. Mack suggests, too, that by the Greek word usage that all the Temple mount was being used as a marketplace--if nothing else the earlier verses are speaking of the whole of the Temple mount. The Greek hieron meant the whole Temple mount, and it is what is used for this section, with the word naos (Temple itself) in 19 and 21. ( Jay Mack ) ( Mal 3 ) ( Ps 69.9 NIV )
The Priests then come and demand of Christ why He did this, as in a mocking tone, because the You in the Greek is emphatic. It is at this point that Christ uses the term naos when speaking of the Temple (Sanctuary), stating that "Destroy this temple [Sanctuary] and I will raise it in three days."
This of course angers the Priests, who were not thinking deeply on what Christ said, but took a more literal form.
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