Barren Fig-Tree. Temple Cleansed.

  ^b 15 And they come to Jerusalem: and he entered into the temple, and began to cast out ^a all them that sold ^b and them that bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold the doves [three years before, Jesus had thus cleansed the temple at the first passover of his ministry, for an account of which tfg.cgi?section=T#">Section

  16 and he would not suffer that any man should carry a vessel through the temple. [The temple space being level and roomy tempted the people of Jerusalem to use it as a thoroughfare, or short-cut from one part of the city to another, but Jesus did not permit them to carry any sack, bag, jug, pail, basket, parcel or such like thing through the sacred enclosure. The Greek word skeuos which is here translated "vessel" embraces all kinds of household furniture. It is translated "goods" at Lukexvii 1:1 Matthew 12:29 and Luke xvii. 31 Matthew 31 . The LXX. uses it as equivalent to "instruments of war" at Deuteronomy 1:41 , and to "vestments" at Deuteronomy 22:5 .]

  17 And he taught, and said {^a saith}

  ^c 46 Saying unto them, It is written

[the prophecy cited is a combination of Jervii 1:1 Isaiah 56:7 and Jer. vii. 11 Isaiah 11 ],

  ^c 46 Saying unto them, It is written

{^b Is it not written,} ^c And my house shall be {^b shall be called} a house of prayer for all the nations? but ye have made {^a ye make} it a den of robbers. [The caves in certain sections of Palestine have been immemorially infested with robbers, and Jesus, because of the injustice of extortion practiced by the merchants, likens the polluted temple to such a den. The dickering and chafing and market talk were probably not unlike the grumbling and quarreling of thieves as they divide the booty.]

  ^b 18 And the chief priests and the scribes heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they feared him,

  ^c 47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him:

  48 and they could not find what they might do; for the people all hung upon him, listening ^b for all the people was astonished at his teaching.

[Overawed by the magnitude of the popular demonstration made on Sunday, the Jewish rulers feared to attempt any violent measures in dealing with Jesus. But they neglected no opportunity by appeals to Jesus himself, by treacherous questions, etc., to divert the popular favor from the Lord that they might put him to death.]

  ^c 47 And he was teaching daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the principal men of the people sought to destroy him:

  48 and they could not find what they might do; for the people all hung upon him, listening ^b for all the people was astonished at his teaching.