Mark 11:15

15 and they came to Jerusalem. And when he was entered into the temple, he began to cast out sellers and buyers in the temple [+and they come to Jerusalem. And when he had entered into the temple, he began to cast out men selling and buying in the temple]; and he turned upside-down the boards of changers, and the chairs of men that sold culvers;

Mark 11:15 Meaning and Commentary

Mark 11:15

And they came to Jerusalem
The Ethiopic version reads, "he came"; that is, Christ; but not alone, for his disciples were with him: Beza says, that, one exemplar he had met with, adds "again", and so one of Stephens's copies; for they had been there the day before:

and Jesus went into the temple:
the Syriac and Persic versions add, "of God"; into the court of the Gentiles, as he did the preceding day:

and began to cast out them that bought and sold in the temple, and
overthrew the tables of the money changers, and the seats of them
that sold doves;
which was done, as Matthew relates, the same day that he made his public entry into Jerusalem: wherefore it is highly probable, that upon Christ's leaving the city, they returned "again", and were the next morning sitting and doing business in the temple as before; and were drove out again by Christ, who, upon his return, found them there. They "that bought and sold in the temple", were those that bought and sold lambs for the passover, which was now at hand; and the sheep and oxen for the "Chagiga", or feast the day following; as well as doves hereafter mentioned, for new mothers, and such as had fluxes: and that part of the temple where this business was carried on, was in a large space within the area of the temple, where shops were built for that purpose: and by "the money changers", whose "tables" are said to be "overthrown", are meant, such as sat at tables to receive the half shekel, who changed those that brought whole shekels, or foreign money: and who had so much for changing, which was called "Kolbon"; from whence they had the name of "Collybistae", in the text: and "doves", as before observed, were the offering of the poorer sort of women after birth, at the time of their purification, and of profluvious persons; of which many came from all parts, at the time of the passover: upon which account, there was a great demand for these creatures; and many sat upon seats to sell them, which Christ overturned; (See Gill on Matthew 21:12).

Mark 11:15 In-Context

13 And when he had seen a fig tree afar having leaves, he came, if happily he should find any thing thereon; and when he came to it, he found nothing, except leaves; for it was not time of figs.
14 And Jesus answered and said to it, Now never eat any man fruit of thee more [Now no more without end any man eat fruit of thee]. And his disciples heard;
15 and they came to Jerusalem. And when he was entered into the temple, he began to cast out sellers and buyers in the temple [+and they come to Jerusalem. And when he had entered into the temple, he began to cast out men selling and buying in the temple]; and he turned upside-down the boards of changers, and the chairs of men that sold culvers;
16 and he suffered not, that any man should bear a vessel through the temple.
17 And he taught them, and said, Whether it is not written, That mine house shall be called the house of praying to all folks [+And he taught them, saying, Whether it is not written, For mine house shall be called the house of prayer to all folks]? but ye have made it a den of thieves.
Copyright © 2001 by Terence P. Noble. For personal use only.