For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up
Of the house of the sanctuary, as the Targum; that is, the
temple, which was Christ's Father's house, where he was
worshipped and dwelt; and zeal for his Father, and his glory in
it, and indignation against those that made it an house of
merchandise, inflamed him; put him upon driving out the buyers
and sellers in it, whereby this passage had its accomplishment, (
John 2:14
John 2:17 ) ;
and this may be applied to the church of God which is the house
of God, of his building, and where he dwells; and zeal may design
the fervent affection of Christ for it, for the doctrine,
discipline, and salvation of it. His zeal for the Gospel appeared
in his warm and lively preaching it, in his assiduity and
constancy in it; in the wearisome journeys he took to spread it,
in the risks he run, and dangers he exposed himself to, for the
sake of it; in the miracles he wrought to confirm it, and in the
care he took to free it from calumny and reproach: his zeal for
the worship and discipline of God's house was shown by his
asserting the purity of worship in spirit and truth; by his
severe inveighing against the traditions, superstition, and will
worship of men, and against the vices and corruptions of
professors of religion, the Scribes and Pharisees: his zeal for
the salvation of his people is easily seen in his suretyship
engagements for them; in coming into this world to do the will of
him that sent him; in his early regards unto it, and vehement
desire, even of suffering death, in order to accomplish it, and
in his voluntary and cheerful submission and obedience, even to
the death of the cross: this zeal of his was according to
knowledge, and was cordial, hearty, and unfeigned; and this "eat
[him] up": inflamed like fire his spirit and affections; consumed
his time and strength, and even life itself;
and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen
upon me:
the same persons that reproached the one reproached the other;
and the reproaches of his divine Father were as cutting to him as
if cast on himself; it went to his heart that his Father's house
should be made an house of merchandise; that his doctrine should
be despised, his worship neglected, and his glory lessened; to
have the name of God, his ways and truth, evil spoken of, were
not pleasing to him; he took all reproach of this kind to
himself, and bore it becomingly; and yet showed zeal for his
Father's glory, and indignation against those that reproached
him; see ( Romans
15:1-3 ) .